Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Timothy Bloodworth: American educator, patriot, soldier, and statesman

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Timothy BLoodworth

Timothy Bloodworth was a teacher, soldier, patriot, and statesman from the Revolutionary War. Photo Credit: Founder of the Day

Chalkboard Champions have been as much a part of American life as any other hero since the very beginnings of our country’s history. One such historical figure was North Carolina educator, patriot, and statesman Timothy Bloodworth.

Timothy was born in New Hanover County, North Carolina, in 1736. He was named after his father, who had migrated to North Carolina from Virginia in the early 1700’s. As a young man, Timothy had little formal education, but he pursued a variety of careers.  Although  he spent most of his adulthood before the Revolutionary War as a teacher, he also farmed, kept a tavern, operated a ferry, practiced medicine, and preached occasionally. He also worked as a wheelwright and watchmaker, but he was probably best known as a blacksmith.

This talented educator eventually emerged as a leader in the movement for independence from Great Britain. When war broke out in 1776, Timothy began making weapons such as muskets and bayonets for the Continental Army. According to legend, he even saw combat as a sniper in fighting around Wilmington, North Carolina.

In 1778 and 1779, he served as a member of the state legislature for North Carolina. After the war ended, he held a number of political posts until serving as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1786. Timothy was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the First United States Congress, a position he held from 1790 to 1791. After his tenure in the House ended, he returned to the North Carolina State Legislature. In 1794, Timothy was elected to the United States Senate, where he served from 1795 to 1801. From then until 1807, this chalkboard champion served as collector of customs in Wilmington.

Timothy Bloodworth passed away on August 24, 1814. During World War II, the liberty ship SS Timothy Bloodworth was named in his honor.

Trailblazing teacher Mildred Crump was also a politician and community activist

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Trailblazing educator Mildred Crumples was also a politician and community activist. Photo credit: Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance

Many excellent school teachers not only dedicate their efforts towards their students, but also work tirelessly to improve the lives of others in their community. This is the case with Mildred Crump, a trailblazing teacher who also devoted her considerable energy to her community as a community activist.

Mildred was born in Detroit, Michigan, on Nov. 3, 1938, the daughter of a union organizer. As a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University. There she was named the recipient of the David D. McKenzie Honor Society Award as the “Most Outstanding Female Student for Leadership and Scholarship.” Later Mildred earned her Master’s degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University located in Newark, New Jersey.

Mildred inaugurated her career as an educator in Detroit. She became the first African American to teach Braille there. In 1965, Mildred relocated to Newark, New Jersey, where she became the first African American teacher of Braille in the state. For many years, Mildred worked as a teacher and consultant with the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Her career as an educator spanned 42 years.

Mildred also contributed to her community through public office. She was elected Newark’s first African-American Councilwoman in 1994, the first African American to serve on the Council in the city’s 336-year history. She served in this role until 2021.

A longtime community activist, Mildred was a tireless advocate for women, children, senior citizens, the disabled, working families and others in need. She served as the president and a member of the Board of Trustees for Integrity House, Inc.; Vice Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Bridge to Recovery; and a charter member of the African American Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. As an advocate for women’s empowerment, she presented workshops on women’s issues throughout the United States, and in many international countries, including China, Ghana, and Nigeria. She was also a founding member of the New Jersey Coalition of 100 Black Women, and a Golden Heritage Life Member of the Newark Branch of the NAACP.

For her work as an educator, politician, and community activist, Mildred garnered many awards. She earned the Susan Burgess Memorial Award for Exemplary Leadership from the National Democratic Municipal Officials. She also received the Public Service Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. In 2020, she was inducted into the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Hall of Fame.

Mildred Crump passed away on Dec. 1, 2024, at the age of 86. She is interred at Glendale Cemetery in Bloomfield, New Jersey. To learn more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to Rutgers.

Chet Blalock: Teacher, veteran, and Montana State Senator

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Many talented educators have also made a name for themselves in the political arena. Such is the case for Chester Merle Blalock, better known as Chet Blaylock, a history teacher, veteran, and state senator from Montana.

Chet was born on Novembr 13, 1924, in Joliet, Montana. He served his country well as a member of the United States Navy during World War II. He earned four medals for his service in the South Pacific.

After the war, this heroic veteran earned his Bachelor’s degree in History in 1951 and his Master’s degree in Education in 1957, both from the University of Montana. He then worked as a teacher and school administrator for over 30 years in both Laurel and Chinook, Montana. He retired from the teaching profession in 1991.

During his long career as an educator, Chet served as a delegate to the Montana State Constitutional Convention in 1972, and as a member of the Montana State Senate from Laurel, Montana. He believed that every Montana child was entitled to a free, quality education, a livable environment, a good job, and affordable health care. He a spent a lifetime pursuing that objective.

In 1996, Chet became the nominee for governor of Montana. He ran on the Democratic ticket against incumbent Marc Racicot.  Sadly, on October 23, 1996, on his way to a debate with his opponent less than two weeks before the election, the former educator passed away of a heart attack at Deer Lodge, Montana. He was 71 years old. Chet Blalock was cremated and his ashes interred at Rockvale Cemetery in Rockvale, Montana. In his memory, a scholarship in the amount of $600 has been established to be awarded to a full-time student at Montana State University at Billings.

Social Studies teacher Matt Commons also serves in the Indiana State House of Reps

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Social Studies and Government teacher Matt Commons also serves his community in the Indiana State House of Representatives. Photo credit: WFYI Indianapolis

Many outstanding educators have also served their communities in political office. One of these is Matt Commons, a secondary school teacher who also serves in the Indiana State House of Representatives.

Matt was born in Bedford, Indiana. After his high school graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. There he served five years, from 2009 to 2014, as an Infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division. He completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan, and received a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in combat during his second tour there. He sustained his injuries when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) and lost his right leg.

Once he earned his honorable discharge, Matt earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Education from Purdue University in 2018. He earned his Master’s degree in History from Liberty University. He later earned a Master’s degree in Education Leadership and Administration from Indiana State University.

Matt inaugurated his career as an educator at his high school alma mater, Seeger Memorial High School in West Lebanon, Indiana, where he has taught Social Studies and Government since 2018. He also served as an Assistant Coach for the varsity football team.

In 2024, Matt was elected on the Republican ticket to represent his state’s 13th District. The District includes all of Benton and Warren counties, and portions of Fountain, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Tippecanoe, and White counties. He was sworn into office in 2024, and will serve until 2026. He is currently running for re-election. In the State House, Matt serves on the House Local Government Committee; the Natural Resources Committee; and the Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee. He declares he is also greatly interested in issues that relate to education.

 

Teacher Julia McCabe elected to the Maine House of Reps

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High school teacher Julia McCabe has been elected to serve in the Maine House of Representatives.  Photo credit: Maine House of Representatives

Many professional educators have also been elected to serve their communities in political office. One of these is Julia McCabe, a secondary public school teacher who also serves in the Maine House of Representatives.

Julia earned her Bachelor’s degree from Bates College in Lewiston in 2012. She earned her Master’s degree in Government from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2020.

After earning her degrees, Julia inaugurated her career as a teacher at the high school level in her home city of Lewiston. She has taught in public schools in there for the past 12 years. She also volunteers as a youth sports coach.

In 2024, Julia was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent District 93 in the Maine State House of Representatives. She was sworn in to office on Dec. 3, 2024, and her term will conclude on Dec. 1, 2026. In the Maine House, she serves as a member of the Health and Human Services Committee and on the Leaves of Absence Committee. In addition, Julia has served her community as a member of the Recycling and Waste Management Committee for the City of Lewiston.

In the short time that Julia has already served in the Maine House, she has supported a number of bills intended to improve conditions for young people and teachers in her state. One of these bills promotes the widespread voter registration of high school students; another decreases the retirement contributions required for teachers and state employees; and a third is an act to sustain access to children’s residential care services. She also supports increasing opportunities for vocational education for young people, free tuition for Maine’s community college students, and the expansion of work force training programs for adult learners.