Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Former teacher and First Lady of North Carolina Jeanelle Moore

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Former elementary school teacher Jeanelle Moore also served as the First Lady of North Carolina in the 1960’s. Photo Credit: Sate Archives of North Carolina

Many fine classroom teachers also serve as excellent politicians. One of these is Jeanelle Moore, an elementary school teacher who also filled the role of First Lady of North Carolina.

Jeanelle was born on July 13, 1911, in Pikeville, Tennessee. As a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Western Carolina Teachers College located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It was in 1931, during her college years, that Jeanelle met her husband, Dan K. Moore. The pair were married in 1933. Once Jeanelle earned her degree, she taught second grade in Sylva, North Carolina. She left the classroom after the birth of her first child.

During her husband’s 1964 campaign for governor of North Carolina, Jeanelle traveled throughout the state making appearances and giving speeches. At one point, she accompanied Lady Bird Johnson, the First Lady of the United States, aboard Mrs. Johnson’s train, the Lady Bird Special, on a campaign tour of the state. The story goes that Mrs. Johnson was immensely impressed with the former teacher’s speaking ability. Lady Bird even told Jeanelle she would give anything to be able to speak as easily.

When Dan was elected Governor of North Carolina in 1965, Jeanelle became the state’s First Lady. She served in this capacity until 1969. During her tenure, the former teacher began a campaign to increase public awareness for the historic and cultural significance of the governor’s official residence. She established the Executive Mansion Fine Arts Advisory Committee and spearheaded fundraisers to provide for refurbishments, furnishings, and works of art for the building. In 1970, the mansion was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

After her husband left office, Jeanelle served as a trustee of the Raleigh Boy Choir. She also became a trustee on the North Carolina Museum of Art, and she served as a member of the museum’s Education Committee. In addition, she served on the Board of Advisors at Meredith College and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Raleigh Rescue Mission. For this work, she and her husband were honored with the North Carolina Award for Public Service in 1980.

Jeanelle served on the Board of Trustees for the North Carolina School of the Arts and also became a member of the school’s foundation. She was also a generous financial supporter of the school. For these contributions, she earned a Giannini Award in 1996.

This tireless Chalkboard Champion passed away on Oct. 20, 1999, in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is interred beside her husband in Historic Oakwood Cemetery.

Marilyn Johnson: Teacher, Diplomat, WWII US veteran

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Many talented classroom educators also exhibit exceptional talent in the diplomatic arena. This is certainly true of Marilyn Johnson, a high school foreign language teacher who also served our country as a diplomat. Ultimately, she became the US Ambassador to Togo.

Marilyn was born on June 19, 1922, in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Radcliffe College in 1944. As a young woman, she was quite athletic, and at one time considered pursuing a career as a physical education teacher, but chose liberal arts instead. Later, Marilyn completed courses at the University of Geneva and at the Sorbonne. Then she returned to the US and enrolled at Middlebury College in New England, where she earned her Master’s degree in French in 1952.

Marilyn was also a military veteran. During World War II, between the years of 1944 to 1946, she served in the US Navy. She trained as a midshipman, but ended up working in communications security in a job that focussed on breaking codes. She also worked for a time as a counselor at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital, where she provided occupational therapy and training to blinded servicemen.

Once she earned her Master’s degree, Marilyn accepted a position as a high school French teacher at Amherst Regional High School in Amherst, Massachusetts. There she taught French for the next seven years, while taking courses in educational psychology, the history of education, and methodology at both Harvard and Smith College. In 1960, she was selected to be part of the Fulbright teacher exchange program. Through the program, she traveled to Orleans, France, where she taught at the Lycée Jeanne d’Arc for two years. 1962, Marilyn traveled first to the African country of Cameroon and then to Mali, where she taught English as a foreign language in several schools. She left her last teaching position in 1964 when she became a diplomat in the Foreign Service.

In the Foreign Service, Marilyn accepted a position as a Cultural Affairs Officer, first in Bamako, Mali, and later in Tunis, Tunisia. She also served as a Public Affairs Officer in Niamey, Niger, and from 1971 to 1974 she served as the Deputy Assistant Director of the Information Centers Program. The following year she attended the Seminar in Foreign Policy, and after learning the Russian language, she was assigned to be a Cultural Affairs Officer in Moscow in the former Soviet Union. That was in 1976.

On Sept. 23, 1978, Marilyn was appointed to the position of Ambassador to Togo by President Jimmy Carter. She served in that position until July 29, 1981.

Today, Marilyn Johnson is 99 years old. She’s a true Chalkboard Champion!

 

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden continues to teach despite big responsibilities

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First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, a former high school English teacher and current community college professor, continues to teach despite her numerous responsibilities as America’s First Lady. Photo Credit: the hill.com

You may be familiar with Dr. Jill Biden, the nation’s current First Lady. But did you know that she is a former high school English teacher? In addition to her experience at the secondary level, Jill has been a professor of English at Community College since 2009. She has declared her intention to continue teaching during her entire tenure as First Lady.

Jill was born on June 3, 1951, in Hammonton, New Jersey. She was raised in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. After she graduated from Upper Moreland High School in Montgomery County, Pennsylvnia, in 1969, Jill earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Delaware (1975). She earned two Master’s degrees, one in English from West Chester University in Pennsylvania and one in Education from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. She completed the requirements for her PhD in Education from the University of Delaware.

After earning her degrees, Jill accepted a position teaching English and reading in high school. She taught for three years at Claymont High School in Delaware, and then at Brandywine High School in Wilmington, Delaware (1991-1993). For five years she taught adolescents with emotional disabilities at Rockford Center Psychiatric Hospital.

From 1993 to 2008, Jill taught English and writing at Delaware Technical & Community College. Since 2009, she has worked as a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College.

When her husband was elected to serve as the Vice President under the Obama Administration, Jill continued to teach full time, even though she had many responsibilities as the wife of the Vice President. She is believed to be the only Second Lady in history to hold down a full-time job while serving as Second Lady. Despite her workload in the classroom, Jill still found time for public service. During her husband’s Vice Presidential term, which spanned the years from 2009 to 2017, the hardworking educator co-founded the Book Buddies program and the Biden Foundation. She also spearheaded a nonprofit organization to support women’s health and another to support military families.

And her work as a public servant and educator continue. Dr. Jill Biden: A true Chalkboard Champion.

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!