Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Illinois teacher Jim Marzuki was also a State Senator, WWII veteran, and accomplished sculptor

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Illinois teacher Jim Marzuki was also a State Senator, WWII veteran, and accomplished sculptor. He is pictured here in 1985. Photo credit: Art of Jim Marzuki

There are many outstanding educators who serve their community in the political arena. One of these is Jim Marzuki of Illinois, a high school fine arts teacher who also served in his state’s House of Representatives.

Jim was born on June 22, 1925, the son of Italian immigrants. After his graduation from West Aurora High School in 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He served in the military from 1943 to 1946.

Once the war was over, he returned to school on the GI Bill and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University. He also earned two Master’s degrees, one from Governors Sate University and the other from the University of New Mexico. Once he completed his second Master’s Jim returned to Illinois, ultimately landing in Park Forest.

The former veteran inaugurated his career as an educator when he accepted a position at Rich East High School in Park Forest. He taught at the school from 1956 to 1980. There he instructed courses in Industrial Arts and Fine Arts, and he also coached football.

Jim was also an accomplished sculptor. He exhibited at art fairs in the Chicago area and was active at the Art Institute of Chicago, selling his work through their rental and sales gallery. He also created some wood carvings and paintings which showed influences of Native American and Mexican influences, as well as Picasso and abstract artists.

In addition to these accomplishments, Jim was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket, where he served from 1983 to 1985. He has also served on the Park Forest Village Board and on the Park Forest Planning Commission.

Jim Marzuki passed away on July 9, 2000, after having suffered a massive stroke.. To learn more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to The Art of Jim Marzuki.

 

Educator and politician Mary Helen Garcia of New Mexico

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Former educator Mary Helen Garcia also served in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Photo credit: New Mexico Legislature

There are many examples of fine classroom teachers who also become successful politicians. One of these is Mary Helen Garcia, an elementary school teacher and principal from New Mexico, who also served in her state’s House of Representatives.

Mary Helen was born on July 14, 1937, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1960 and her Master’s degree in 1976, both from New Mexico University.

Mary Helen worked as a teacher first at Gadsden Public Schools, where she was employed from 1960 to 1961. From 1967 to 1992 she taught in Las Cruces Public Schools. She served as the Director of Instruction for Las Cruces schools from 1993 to 1999 to the present. She also served as an elementary school principal in Las Cruces from 1993 to 1999. She is now retired from the teaching profession.

In 1996, this hardworking educator was elected on the Democratic ticket to serve in her state’s House of Representatives. She represented District 34 there from 1997 to 2015. While in the House, Mary Helen was the Chairwoman for the Committee on Voters and Elections; a member of the Appropriations and Finance Committee; and a member of the Committees for Education and Business and Industry. She has also served as the Chair of the New Mexico District Democratic Party from 1997 to the present time.

In addition to her professional and political responsibilities, Mary Helen is a member of the National Education Association, the International Association of Reading, the Association of Curriculum and Instruction, the Dona Ana Arts Council, and the Pan American Round Table.

To learn more about this amazing educator, see her profile on VoteSmart.

Michigan’s Maxine Berman: English teacher, politician, and women’s health care advocate

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English teacher Maxine Berman of Michigan also served in her state’s House of Representatives. Photo credit: Jewish Historical Society of Michigan

Many talented educators leave the classroom to go on to successful careers in politics. One of these is Maxine Berman, a high school English teacher who was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives.

Maxine was born on April 17, 1946. She grew up in Oak Park, Michigan, and attended Oak Park High School. After her high school graduation, she enrolled at the University of Michigan. Once she earned her degree, Maxine returned to her alma mater, Oak Park High School, to teach English.

After several years, Maxine left the teaching profession to run for political office. She won election to the Michigan State House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket. She served there from 1983 to 1996. During her 14-year political career, the former teacher worked tirelessly as an advocate for women’s rights and other social justice issues. Representative Berman successfully pushed for mammography facilities in Michigan to be accredited, and then lobbied the federal government to require accreditation nationwide. She was a member of the House Bi-Partisan Team, which developed a new strategy for funding pubic schools. She also served on the House Elections Committee, where she created an expedited system for voter registration. Maxine also accepted the post of Chairperson for the Michigan Women’s Campaign Fund, a bi-partisan organization that raises money to assist women who run for political office.

Once Maxine completed her terms in office, she established an advocacy and consulting firm she named Capitol Strategies, Inc. She also became the leader of the Women’s Health Network of Michigan. In 2008, Maxine returned to her roots as a professional educator when she accepted a  position as the Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government at Central Michigan University. She was the first woman to ever be named to the position.

Maxine retired in 2013. Two years later she was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. More about this at www.michiganwomen.org.

Sadly, Maxine Berman succumbed to lung cancer on March 2, 2018. She was 71 when she passed away. She is interred in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

VT English teacher Leanne Harple elected to her state’s House of Reps

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High school English teacher Leanne Harple has been elected to serve in her state’s House of Representatives. Photo credit: Vermont House of Representatives

Many fine public school teachers also represent their communities in political bodies. this is true of Leanne Harple, a high school English teacher from Vermont who is currently serving in the Vermont House of Representatives.

Leanne was born and raised on a Christmas tree farm in Glover in rural Northeast Kingdom. Once she graduated from Lake Region High School, she attended Vermont’s Johnson State College, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Theater Arts and her Master’s degree in Education. She currently lives in Glover with her husband and two young children.

For more than a decade Leanne has taught English courses at Hazen Union School in Hardwick, Vermont. She has taught there for 11 years. She formerly served roles as the President and the Vice-President of the Orleans Southwest Education Association. In the past, she has served her community as a Select Board Member and she currently serves as a Justice of the Peace.

In Nov. 2024, Leanne was elected on the Democratic ticket to a seat in her state’s House of Representatives representing Orleans-District 4, which includes Albany, Craftsbury, Glover, and Greensboro.. She was sworn in on Jan., 2025, and her current term expires on Jan. 6, 2027. In her capacity as a state representative, Leanne has declared she intends to focus on such issues as affordable housing, climate action, education, health care, and mental health support, emphasizing the particular challenges faced by rural communities in Vermont. While serving, Leanne says she hopes to “address the many systemic problems that prevent kids from being ready to learn when they come to school, including childhood poverty, hunger, and anxiety.”

To read more about Leanne Harple, click on this link to an interview with her published online by the vtdigger.

US Rep and Home Ec teacher Elizabeth Andrews

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Former high school Home Economics teacher Elizabeth Andrews was the first woman to represent Alabama in the US House of Representatives. Photo credit: Encyclopedia of Alabama

Many talented educators also distinguish themselves in the political arena. One such educator is Elizabeth Andrews, a high school Home Economics teacher who became the first woman to represent Alabama in the US House of Representatives.

Elizabeth was born on February 12, 1911, in Geneva, Alabama.  After she graduated from high school, she enrolled at Montevallo College, now known as the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics in 1932.

The neophyte educator inaugurated her career at a high school in Livingston, Alabama. During the Great Depression, she relocated to a teaching position in Union Springs to earn more money.

When Elizabeth’s husband, George William Andrews, ran for office in the 78th US Congress, she worked tirelessly for his campaign. He won the election, and was re-elected 13 times. When her husband passed away in 1971, Elizabeth ran on the Democratic ticket unopposed for his position representing the 3rd Congressional District. When she won the election, she became the first woman to represent her state in the US Congress until the next one was elected in 2010.

While in office, Elizabeth served on the Committee for Post Office and Civil Service. She introduced legislation to protect benefits for Social Security and health care. She also threw her energy into funding research centers working for cures for cancer and heart disease. She sponsored legislation to designate Tuskegee University a National Historic Site. In addition, she supported withdrawal from the VietNam conflict.

Elizabeth retired from politics in 1973. She moved to Union Springs, Alabama, and became engrossed in local community affairs.

This Chalkboard Champion passed away on December 2, 2002, in Birmingham, Alabama. She was nearly 92 years old. She was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Union Springs.

To read more about Elizabeth Andrews, see this article about her in the Encyclopedia of Alabama.