Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

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.

Former Virginia teacher Jane Haycock Woods also a successful politician

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Former elementary school teacher Jane Haycock Woods was also a successful politician in the state of Virginia. Photo Credit: George Mason University

Many fine educators have also succeeded in the political arena. One of these is Jane Haycock Woods, an elementary school teacher who has served in the Virginia State Senate.

Jane was born on Oct. 10, 1946, in Bethesda, Maryland. As a young woman, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from American University, a private research university located in Washington, DC. Once she completed her degree in 1968, Jane taught in elementary schools in the Fairfax County Public School system for nearly two decades. Her career there spanned from 1968 to 1987, during which time she taught first grade at North Springfield Elementary School. During the course of her working life, Jane also worked with prisoners as a teacher through Metropolitan Prison Ministries, as a former Board Member and Government Counselor of Virginia Girl’s State, a member of the Advisory Board for Prevent Child Abuse Virginia, and as a Board Member of the Virginia YMCA.

Jane inaugurated her career as a politician when she was elected on the Republican ticket to represent the 37th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. She served there from 1988 to 1992. In 1992, she was elected to represent the 34th District in the Virginia State Senate. Her service in the Virginia Senate spanned from 1992 to 2000, during which time she served a portion of that time as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Health. Jane continued her career in public office when she was appointed to the position of Secretary of Health and Human Resources by Virginia Governor Mark Warner. She served in that role from 2002 to 2006.

For her public service, Jane has earned important recognition. In 1987, she was named Outstanding Woman by the City of Fairfax Commission on Women.

Elem teacher Carri Hicks serves in the Oklahoma State Senate

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Former elementary school teacher Carri Hicks now serves in the Oklahoma State Senate. Photo credit: The Oklahoman

Many excellent educators also earn acclaim in the political arena. One of these is Carri Hicks, an elementary school teacher who currently serves in the Oklahoma State Senate.

Carri earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Political Science from Oklahoma City University (OCU). She earned a Master’s degree in Leadership Management and a second Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, both from Capella University.

Once she earned her degrees in 2011, Carri accepted a position as an elementary school teacher in the Putnam City School District. After three years of teaching kindergarten at Tulakes Elementary, she transferred to the Deer Creek School District, where she taught first grade for two years and fourth grade math. She then taught science for two years at Grove Valley Elementary. During these years, Carri also served as a site representative for the Oklahoma Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union.

Outside of the classroom, Carri has worked as an adjunct professor at OCU, where she instructed courses in the College of Education. She has also earned recognition for her work as an educator. In the summer of 2019, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame designated her as a Fellow of the Gaylord McCasland Education. Her work with that organization was to reshape the museum experience for young learners. She has also been named the CEO of Rainbow Fleet, a nonprofit located in Oklahoma City that supports early childhood education and quality child care.

In November, 2018, Carri was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Oklahoma’s 40th District. There she serves on the Committees for Education; Health & Human Services; Transportation; and Finance. Her focus in the legislature has been to restore decades of budget cuts to public education, improve access to health care, and address the state’s massive labor shortage.