Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Teacher Christine Marsh elected to serve in the AZ State Senate

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English teacher Christine Marsh has been elected to serve in the Arizona State Senate. Photo credit Arizona State Legislature

Many excellent classroom teachers have also pursued a career in politics. One of these is Christine Marsh, an English teacher who was elected to serve in the Arizona State Senate in 2020.

Christine was raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from California’s UCLA in 1989, and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Grand Canyon University in 2016. She also holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Northern Arizona University.

Christine’s impressive career as an educator has spanned 30 years. For 24 years, she taught at Chaparral High School in the Scottsdale Unified School District. Her teaching assignment there included courses in Advanced Placement. Next, she taught at Cactus Shadows High School in the Cave Creek Unified School District. After three years in Cave Creek, she returned to Scottsdale Unified. In 2016, this amazing educator was recognized as the Teacher of the Year by the Arizona Educational Foundation. Following her selection, she traveled to Washington, DC, to meet President Barack Obama.

In 2020, Christine won her bid to serve in the Arizona State Senate. She ran on the Democratic ticket against Kate Brophy McGee. She assumed office on January 11, 2021. Her current term ends on January 9, 2023. Her district, LD28, includes Paradise Valley, Sunnyslope, Arcadia, and other parts of North Central Phoenix. She serves on the Senate Education Committee and the Transportation and Technology Committee. She continues to teach while serving in the State Senate!

Former teacher Lisa Cano Burkhead becomes Nevada State Lt. Governor

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Former English and Spanish teacher Lisa Cano Burkhead has just been named the 36th Nevada State Lieutenant Governor. Photo credit: lisafornv.com

Many fine classroom teachers have also distinguished themselves as capable politicians. One of these is Lisa Cano Burkhead, a former English and Spanish teacher who has just become the 36th Nevada State Lieutenant Governor.

Lisa was born and raised in Las Vegas. She is the daughter of immigrants. Her father was born in Argentina, and her mother was from Paraguay. Lisa’s parents came to Las Vegas in 1965 to give their children a better life and to pursue the American dream. Although her parents only had an elementary education, they emphasized the value of education in their children.

After her graduation from high school, Lisa earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish and her teaching credential from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. Then she returned to Nevada, where she spent a decade teaching English and Spanish in Clark County schools. Later she was named the Dean of Students and Assistant Principal at Eldorado High School. There Lisa worked with students and parents to develop leadership skills, enroll in AP and enrichment classes, and prepare to get good jobs or start their own businesses.

After a number of years working in schools, Lisa spent several years as Chief of Staff to Northwest Region Superintendent Richard A. Carranza, before returning to Fertitta Middle School as a principal. For the past six years, she served as principal at Foothill High.

For her work as an educator, Lisa was named Administrator of the Year by the Nevada Association of Student Councils in 2008. In 2016, she was awarded the prestigious Public Education Foundation’s Best in Class Award for School Leadership, which honors high performance, strategic thinking, and innovation.

In 2021, after a career as an educator that spanned 25 years, Lisa retired from the Clark County School District. In December, she was nominated by Governor Steve Sisolak to replace Kate Marshall as the 36th Nevada State Lieutenant Governor. Lisa assumed office on December 16, 2021. In this position, Lisa plans to advance the causes of public education.

Way to go, Lisa!

Former teacher Susan Holmes also served in Georgia State House of Reps

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Former teacher Susan Holmes has also served her community in the Georgia State House of Representatives. Photo credit: Ballotpedia

Many fine teachers also serve as competent politicians. One of these is Susan Holmes, a teacher from Jasper County, Georgia, who also served in the Georgia State House of Representatives.

Susan was born on Oct. 8, 1942, on a large cotton farm in northern Jasper County. She represents the seventh generation in her family to live in Jasper County. As the years went by, Susan’s family farm was transformed into a dairy business. As a member of a farming and dairy family, Susan grew up with a deep appreciation and love for rural Georgia.

After her graduation from Monticello High School in Jasper, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Education at the University of Georgia. Later she completed courses in administration and leadership from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.

After earning her degree, Susan taught school, both public and private, served as a postmaster, a legal assistant, and also served as the CFO of a family-owned insurance company. As if all that were not enough, she is a licensed real estate agent.

In 1998, Susan was elected to the office of Mayor of Monticello, a position she kept for 12 years. She was the first woman to serve her community in this role. In 2007, Susan was appointed by President George W. Bush to the position of State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency for Georgia.

In 2010, the former teacher was elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives on the Republican ticket. There she represented first District 125 and then District 129. While there, one of her most significant pieces of legislation was to provide grants and scholarships to students to help pay for their tuition.

For her service to the community, Susan has earned many accolades. She was selected Monticello Jasper County Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. She was named one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend Magazine and one of the five most outstanding women in Middle Georgia by the Girl Scouts Council. In addition, she garnered recognition as Northeast Georgia’s Most Outstanding Citizen and she earned the Georgia Downtown Association’s Outstanding Leadership Award.

Minnesota teacher Coya Knutson served in US House of Reps

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English and music teacher Coya Knutson was the first woman from the state of Minnesota to be elected to the US House of Representatives. Photo credit: Concordia College.

Many excellent classroom teachers also succeed in the political arena. One of these was Coya Knutson, a music teacher from Minnesota who was elected to the US House of Representatives.

Coya was born Cornelia Gjesdal on Aug. 22, 1912, in a farming community in Edmore, Ramsey County, North Dakota. Her parents were immigrants from Norway. After her graduation from high school, she attended Concordia College in nearby Moorhead, Minnesota. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Education in 1934. Hoping to pursue a career in the opera, Coya attended the Juilliard School in New York City for one year. When her dream of a career in opera was not realized, she returned to Minnesota.

Once she returned to the North Star State, Coya married a farmer named Andy Knutson. The newlyweds settled on his farm near Oaklee and established a small local hotel. Coya taught English and music at high schools in the area and sang in local county fairs. In 1948, couple adopted a young boy they named Terry. Unfortunately, Andy was an alcoholic and prone to domestic violence. This led Coya to find reasons to stay out of the house.

In 1942, the young teacher heard a radio speech by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who urged women to become more politically involved. The call launched Coya into community activities and local politics. She became a field representative for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, a program designed to aid the war effort, and she joined the county welfare board. When Coya was elected on the Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL) ticket to represent Minnesota’s 9th District, she was the first woman from the state to be elected to the US House of Representatives. There the former teacher served two terms, legislating from 1951 to 1959.

Shortly after she left Congress, Coya divorced her husband. She returned to Washington and accepted a position as a liaison officer in the Office of Civil Defense in the US Department of Defense. She was employed there until 1970.

Sadly, this trailblazing Chalkboard Champion passed away on Oct. 10, 1996, in Edina , Minnesota. She was 84 years old.

Former New Mexico teacher and politician Retta Ward

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Former high school biology teacher Retta Ward of New Mexico also served her state as a capable politician. Photo credit: Washington Times.

Many fine classroom teachers also earn success in political positions. Former high school teacher Retta Ward of New Mexico was one of these. After she left the classroom, she served as the State Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health.

Retta was born on May 4, 1953, in New Mexico. As a young girl, Retta grew up in the southeastern New Mexico town of Hagerman. As a high school student, Retta served her school as the editor of the yearbook, and she also claimed Homecoming Queen honors. When she graduated, she was named as the school’s valedictorian.

Retta earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health Education from the University of New Mexico, and her Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Arizona.

After earning her degrees, Retta inaugurated her career as a teacher when she accepted a position as a high school biology teacher in Cave Creek, Arizona. Later she served in middle schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In all, her career in education spanned ten years.

Retta was appointed to the position of State Secretary of New Mexico Department of Health in 2013 by Governor Susana Martinez. Retta served in the position until her passing in 2016. Previously, she served as Secretary of the state’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department. Before that, she managed the arthritis program for the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Sadly, Retta suffered a medical emergency while driving alone near Santa Fe, New Mexico. When her car was found, emergency personnel discovered that she had succumbed to a condition that was not an automobile accident. This was on March 3, 2016. Later it was determined that Retta had suffered an aortic dissection. She was 62 years old.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to an article published in the Albuquerque Journal.