Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

CA Social Studies teacher Lois Volk also a successful politician

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Former Social Studies teacher Lois Wolk also served in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. Photo credit: State of California.

Many excellent educators also enjoy careers as successful politicians. This is the case with Lois Wolk, a secondary school Social Studies teacher who has also served in both the California State Assembly and the California State Senate.

Lois was born on May 12, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Antioch College in 1968 and her Master’s degree from the School of International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in 1971.

Once she earned her degrees, Lois inaugurated her teaching career. She has taught history, Social Studies, and French in both public and private schools. She taught first at the Edmund Burke School, and, from 1979 to 198,1 she taught in the Davis Joint Unified School District.

Lois launched her career in politics when she was elected a member of the Davis City Council. Her tenure there spanned the years 1990 to 1998. Twice she was elected Mayor of Davis: 1992 to 1994 and 1996 to 1998. Next, she served as a member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. In 2002, Lois was elected on the Democratic ticket to the California State Assembly. She served there representing the 8th Assembly District from 2002 to 2008. While there, she was a member of the Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Communications. Next, she was elected to the California State Senate, where she represented the 5th Senate District from 2008 to 2012 and then the 3rd Senate District from 2008 to 2016. While there she served on the Committee for Aging and Long-Term Care; Budget and Fiscal Review; and Agriculture. Also, as a Jewish woman, she was a member of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.

In addition to her work as a legislator, Lois belongs to a number of important organizations, including the California County Boards of Education (2013); the Child Abuse Prevention Council (2013); the Rotary Club; and Soroptimist International.

Lois has also earned a number of prestigious awards, including the John Muir Heritage Award (2015); the Legislator of the Year Award from the California County Boards of Education (2013); the Legislator of the Year Award from the Child Abuse Prevention Council (2013); and the Robin Jenkins Memorial Award from Solano Partnership Against Violence (2011).

At age 75, Lois continues to live in Davis, California, with her husband, Bruce Wolk. The couple has two sons.

Retired teacher Joseph Miro served in the Delaware House of Reps

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Retired Spanish teacher Joseph Miro also served in the Delaware State House of Representatives. Photo Credit: open states.org

It should be no surprise that very often remarkable educators branch out into other spheres of endeavor. Such is the case with veteran teacher Joseph Miro, who served nearly 20 years in the Delaware State House of Representatives.

Joseph Miro was born on July 15, 1946, in Matanzas, Cuba. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 13, one of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children who fled the Communist regime of Fidel Castro between 1960 and 1962 as a part of Operation Pedro Pan.

He graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in 1970 from Lincoln University, and immediately accepted a position as a Spanish teacher in the Wilmington School District in Wilmington, Delaware. Later he transferred to the Christina School District, also in Wilmington, where he taught Spanish at Newark High School. He completed his Master’s degree at West Chester University in 1975. After a thirty-year career, Joseph retired from the teaching profession in 2001.

Multi-talented, in 1998 Joseph was elected on the Republican ticket to represent the 22nd District in the Delaware State House of Representatives, where he served until 2018. The Cuban American served there as a member of the Legislative Committees for Education; Appropriations; Health and Human Development; and Joint Finance. Prior to his election to the State House of Representatives, Joseph served on New Castle County Council from 1992 to 1998.

English teacher Nathan Anderson serves in Nevada State Assembly

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High school English teacher Natha Anderson also serves in the Nevada State Assembly. Photo Credit: votenatha.com

Many hardworking educators also make successful politicians. One example of this is Natha Anderson, a Nevada English teacher who also serves in her state’s Assembly.

Natha was born in 1972 in Reno, Nevada. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nevada at Reno.

Once she earned her degree, Natha worked as a high school English teacher. She inaugurated her career at her alma mater, Edward C. Reed High School located in Sparks, Nevada, and later moved on to Vaughn Middle School in Reno. She also became part of the opening staff of North Valleys High School in Reno. In the two decades Natha has worked as an educator, she has taught English, Advanced Placement English, and Leadership.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Natha has served as the President of the Washoe Education Association. She has also completed stints as a local Director of the National Education Association, a Board Member of the Nevada State Education Association, as a member of the Board of Directors for Truckee Meadows Tomorrow, and as a Board Member of the WCSD Education Alliance.

In 2020, Natha was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent the 30th District in the Nevada State Assembly. She assumed office on Nov. 4, 2020. Her current term ends on Nov. 9, 2022. In the State Legislature, she serves on three committees: Government Affairs, Natural Resources, and Revenue. In addition, she vigorously advocates for public education, pushing for more funding for educators and working as a strong advocate for building and repairing schools. Other issues that are important to Natha are mental health care, criminal justice reform, and climate change.

To learn more about this remarkable teacher and legislator, see her website at VoteNatha.com.

Former math teacher Drew Allbritten served in Michigan House of Reps

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Former middle and high school math teacher Drew Allbritten also served in the Michigan State House of Representatives. Photo Credit: Western Michigan University

Many fine educators have gone from the classroom into positions of prominence in government. This is certainly true of Drew Allbritten, a former math teacher from Michigan who was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives.

Drew was born on April 24, 1947. He studied at Western Michigan University, where in 1968, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Math and Sociology. In 1970, he earned a Master’s degree in Counseling and Personal Management, and in 1982, he earned his PhD in Educational Leadership, also from Western Michigan University.

From 1968 to 1971, Drew taught mathematics and science in public middle and high schools in Wyoming and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Later he worked as a college administrator.

On Nov. 7, 21978, Drew was elected on the Republican ticket to represent the 93rd District in the Michigan State House of Representatives. In the one term her served there, from 1979 to 1980, Drew served on the Committees for City Government; Consumers; and Social Services & Youth. He also served as the Minority Vice-Chair of the Committee on Urban Affairs.

From 1991 to 1998, Drew served as the Executive Director of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE). While in this role, he worked to increase federal funding for adult education by 35%. When he left that position, Drew became the Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Educators, serving there from 1998 to 2002. While in this position, he influenced political issues related to education in Georgia. In 2003, Drew became the Executive Director of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), an organization dedicated to serving professionals, organizations, and parents of children with physical, mental, and emotional challenges. This organization is based in Arlington, Virginia.

To read more about Drew Albritten, see this article about him published by Western Michigan University.

Teacher Sue Cahill serves in Iowa House of Representatives

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Elementary school teacher Sue Cahill also serves in the Iowa State House of Representatives. Photo Credit: Ballotpedia

Many fine classroom teachers go on to have successful careers in politics. One of these is Sue Cahill, an elementary teacher from Iowa who has been elected to her state’s House of Representatives.

Sue was raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She attended Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communications in 1981. In 2006 she earned her teaching credential from Buena Vista University, and in 2008 she completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Collaborative Teaching and Learning at Graceland University. She also holds certifications in Reading, Teacher Librarianship, and Computer Science.

Once she earned her degrees, Sue became a teacher in Iowa’s Marshalltown Community School District. That was in 1999. She worked as a kindergarten teacher for 12 years at Woodbury Elementary, and she also worked at Rogers Elementary. In addition to her work in the classroom, Sue has worked as a Teacher Librarian at the elementary level. Currently, she teaches as a Title 1 Reading Specialist. Her career as an educator has spanned a total of 24 years.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Sue works as a teacher leader and helps train new teachers. She also serves on the Marshalltown Youth Foundation, which helps fund music, arts and sports programs for children, The Marshalltown Read by Third Campaign, a program which supports educational success for all students. In addition, she is an active member and leader of the Marshalltown Education Association and the Iowa State Education Association. She has also participated in the Iowa Teacher Leadership Compensation Grant in the role of a Curriculum and Professional Development Leader.

Sue launched her career in politics in 2017 when she was elected to a seat on the Marshalltown City Council representing the First Ward. She served in that role for three years. On Nov. 4, 2020, Sue was elected on the Democratic ticket to serve in the Iowa House of Representatives. Since January, 2021, she represents the 71st District there. She serves on the Committees for Administration and Rules; Education; Labor; and Veterans Affairs. Her term there will last until 2023.