Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Teacher Julie Plawecki served in the Michigan House of Reps

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Former science and math teacher Julie Plawecki also served her community in the Michigan State House of Representatives. Photo credit: Michigan State House of Representatives

Many excellent educators have also served their community in political office. Julie Plawecki, a science and math teacher from Michigan who also served in the Michigan State House of Representatives, is a fine example of this.

Julie was born on Aug. 27, 1961. As a youngster, she attended Warren Public Schools in Warren, Michigan. Once she graduated from high school, she enrolled at Michigan’s Oakland University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and General Science. She earned her teaching certificate from the University of Michigan, Dearborn.

After completing her education, Julie worked  as a medical technologist. She married and became the mother of three daughters. She was also the leader of a Brownie troop and a school volunteer.

When she went into the teaching profession, Julie taught science, math, and religion in Catholic schools at both the secondary and elementary school levels. For ten years, she taught at St. Robert Bellarmine in Redford, Michigan. She also coached the school’s Science Olympiad team. In all, her career as an educator spanned 13 years. During that time, she was a member of the National Science Teachers Association and the Detroit Area Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

In Nov., 2014, Julie was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent the 11th District, which includes Garden City, Inkster, parts of Dearborn heights, Livonia, and Westland. Even though her term of office was short, she was still able to champion issues related to education, seniors, veterans, energy, health policy, campaign reform, and the environment. She also was involved in Project Dignity Outreach, a charitable group that feeds the homeless in Detroit every weekend.

Sadly, Julie passed away on June 25, 2016, after suffering a heart attack while hiking in Smith Rock State Park in Oregon. She was only 54 years old.

 

Sp ed teacher Connie O’Brien also served in the Kansas House of Reps

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Former special education teacher Connie O’Brien served four terms in the Kansas State House of Representatives. Photo: Kansas Legislature

Many fine classroom educators go on to successful careers in politics. One of these is Connie O’Brien, a former special education social studies teacher in Kansas, who was elected to serve in her state’s House of Representatives.

Connie was born on Oct. 12, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri. While she was a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies and Secondary Education from St. Mary College of Leavenworth in 1966. Once her education was completed, she was employed as a special education teacher in Basehor-Linwood schools, and as a substitute teacher in the Leavenworth and McLouth Districts.

Connie inaugurated her career in politics when she was elected on the Republican ticket to represent her state’s 42nd District in 2008. The 42nd District covers the western half of Leavenworth County, including Tonganoxie, Easton, and a portion of Leavenworth, as well as part of Douglas County, including Eudora.

Once elected, Connie served in the Kansas State House for four terms, from 2009 to 2017. While in office, she focussed her work on issues related to education, immigration, energy, and tax reform. She served as the Chair of the Committee on Children and Seniors, and as a member of the Committees on Elections; Energy and Utilities; and Local Government. She also served as the Vice Chair on the Committee for Veterans, Military Affairs, and Homeland Security.

Today, Connie serves as the President of the Leavenworth County Republican Women and the Vice Chair of her local County Party organization. At age 76, she is now retired, and she lives on her family farm in rural Tonganoxie, Kansas, with her husband, Edward.

Maryland teacher Mary Risteau was also an adept politician

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Elementary school teacher Mary Risteau served in both the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate. Photo: National Women’s History Museum

Many excellent educators have also served their communities in political positions. One of these is Mary Risteau, an elementary school teacher who was elected to both the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate.

Mary was born April 24, 1890, in Towson, Maryland. As a young girl, she attended Towson High School, where she graduated in 1907. In 1912, she earned her undergraduate degree from Towson University, which at that time was known as Maryland State Normal School. She also completed an advanced course of study in mathematics at Johns Hopkins University in 1917. In 1938, Mary earned her LLB degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. In 1917, Mary Eliza launched her career as an elementary school teacher in Baltimore County.

Mary Eliza inaugurated her career in politics when she was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1921, just one year after the 19th Amendment granted women with the right to vote. There she represented Hartford County from 1922 through 1926, and again from 1931 through 1935, and yet again from 1951 through 1955, a total of four terms. While in the House, she successfully worked for the establishment of Maryland State Teachers College at Salisbury, and she was appointed to the State Board of Education, where she served for 16 years. She also served on the Committees on Education; Agriculture; Libraries; and Chesapeake Bay and its Tributaries.

Mary also served in the Maryland State Senate from 1935 through 1937. There she represented the 2nd District. While in the Maryland Senate, she became the Chairperson of both the Agriculture and Labor Committees, the Vice Chair of its Education Committee, and a member of the Senate Temperance Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Federal Relations Committee. In addition, she was a strong advocate for women’s rights. In fact, she was a member of both the National Order of Women Legislators and its state affiliate, the Maryland Women’s Legislation Group. Among many other organizations, she held membership in the League of Women Voters.

Sadly, Mary Eliza passed away in Jarretsville, Maryland, on July 24, 1978. She was 88 years old. In 1987, the former teacher was inducted posthumously into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame. Additionally, the Mary E. W. Risteau Multi-services Center in Bel Air, Maryland, was named in her honor.

To read more about Chalkboard Champion Mary Eliza Risteau, click on this link to Maryland’s Women’s Heritage Center.

Former Connecticut teacher Jahana Hayes now serves in the US House of Reps

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Former Social Studies teacher Jahana Hayes of Connecticut now serves in the US House of Representatives. Photo Credit: US Home of Representatives

Many talented educators have gone from the classroom into successful careers in politics. One of these is Johana Hayes, a former high school Social Studies teacher from Connecticut who currently represents her state in the US House of Representatives.

Jahana was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on March 8, 1973. Because her mother was a drug addict, she was raised by her grandmother, and they lived in public housing projects in Waterbury. Even though Jahana became a teen mother at age 17, she overcame her obstacles and worked hard in school. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Southern Connecticut State and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Saint Joseph. In 2014, she earned her Sixth-Year Certificate from the University of Bridgeport School of Education. In 2015, she earned her certification in Intermediate Administration or Supervision from the State of Connecticut.

After earning her degree, Jahana accepted her first teaching position at Southbury Training School in Connecticut. Later she relocated to John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury, where she taught Government and History. There she also served as the co-adviser of HOPE, a student service club and as the Chairperson of the Kennedy SOAR Review Board, a program for gifted students.

Jahana’s hard work in the classroom did not go unnoticed. In 2015, she garnered the John F. Kennedy Teacher of the Year award, and then the Waterbury School District Educator of the Year honors. In 2016, the teacher with the dazzling smile was named the state of Connecticut Teacher of the Year. That same year, President Obama recognized her as the US Department of Education’s National Teacher of the Year.

In 2018, Johana entered politics when she was elected to the US House of Representatives representing her state’s 5th Congressional District. She was re-elected in both 2020 and 2022. There she serves as the Chair on the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations; and she also serves on the Committee on Education and Labor; the Committee on Agriculture; the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; and the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Even though Jahana is a working US Representative, she is still a member of the National Education Association, and as a big supporter of labor unions, she is a former member of the Service Employees International Union 1199.

Governor Michael Dunleavy of Alaska was once a history teacher

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Former high school History teacher Michael Dunleavy currently serves as the Governor of the state of Alaska. Photo Credit: The Hill

Many excellent educators also go on to successful careers in politics. One example of this is Michael Dunleavy, a history teacher from Juneau, Alaska, who currently serves as the Governor of the state.

Michael was born on May 5, 1961, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Once he graduated from Scranton Central High School in 1979, he enrolled at Misericordia University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in History in 1983. He completed the requirements for his Master’s degree in Education and his teaching credential from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, in 1991.

Michael was working at a logging camp on Prince Wales Island in southeast Alaska when he accepted a position to teach within the Arctic Circle in the northwest part of the state. He invested nearly 20 years there working as a teacher, principal, and school superintendent. He also served a stint as the Director of K-12 Outreach through the University of Alaska Statewide. And he is the former Program Manager of the Alaska Statewide Mentor Project.

While working in the north, Michael married Rose Newlin, a Native American of Inupiaq heritage who was born and raised in the small community of Noorvik in Alaska’s Kabuk River Valley. In fact, the population there is only 700 people. Together, the couple have three children.

In 2004, Michael and his family relocated to Wasilla, where he founded an educational consulting firm and worked on several statewide educational projects. He also served on the the School Board for Matanuska-Susitna Borough, including a two-year stint as the organization’s president.

In 2012, Michael was elected to the Alaska State Senate on the Republican ticket, and served there from 2013 to 2018. While in the Senate, he served on the committees for  Education; Judiciary; Transportation; and Finance. He also served as the Chair of the Educational Transition Team, and he was member of the Subcommittees for Education and Early Development; Fish and Game; Administration; and Law.

Next, Michael was elected the Governor of Alaska in 2018. In 2022 he was re-elected to the office, and he continues to serve in that role. During his terms, he has placed focus on effective pandemic response, fiscal responsibility, crime prevention, and the energy issues that are particular to the state.