Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

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.

Idaho’s former First Lady: Teacher, author, and beauty queen

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Former Idaho First Lady Lori Otter is a one-time teacher and administrator, an author of children’s books, an athlete, and a former Miss Idaho USA. Photo credit: Cour d’Alene/Post Falls Press.

Many Chalkboard Champions have earned recognition for successes outside of the field of education. One such educator is Lori Easley Otter, the former First lady of Idaho. This teacher and administrator is married to former Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter.

Lori was born in Pensacola, Florida, in 1967, the youngest of four children in a military family. In the 1970’s, her family moved to Idaho when her father retired from the U.S. Navy. Lori graduated from Kimberly High School, and then enrolled in Boise State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and Physical Education, with minors in Health and English. She earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. In addition, she completed coursework in Educational Administration from Northwest Nazarene University in 2004.

Lori taught physical education, health, and English at both the elementary and secondary levels for the Meridian School District in Meridian, Idaho. She also coached girls basketball and volleyball at the junior high and high school levels for thirteen years. She spent two years as an administrator. This athletic educator also runs marathons, plays tennis, and is an accomplished equestrienne.

In 1991, Lori entered the Miss Idaho USA Pageant, winning the title and representing Idaho in the Miss USA 1991 pageant the same year. During her reign as Miss Idaho USA, Lori was introduced to Butch Otter, who was then serving as Lieutenant Governor of Idaho. After some time teaching and coaching in Arizona, Lori returned to Idaho in 1995. In 2006, Lori and Butch were married, and later that year, Butch was elected Governor of Idaho on the Republican ticket. She served as Idaho’s First Lady during Butch’s terms, from January 1, 2007 to January 7, 2019

Combining her love of Idaho and her passion for education and literacy, this gifted educator has written three children’s books. She penned Little Clyde – Horsing Around in Sun Valley, and two history books, Ida Visits the Capitol and Ida Tours the 44: A Book of Idaho Counties. Lori’s character Ida Jones is a young barnstorming pilot who seeks adventure and teaches Idaho history to fourth graders as she flies her airplane through the state.

Arkansas teacher Carol Rasco once served as president’s assistant

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Former Arkansas teacher Carol Rasco has spent her entire professional life as an advocate for children, working towards improving education, promoting early literacy, and supporting children with disabilities. Photo credit: Hendrix Alumni Association.

Many excellent classroom teachers also serve in positions in the government. One of these is Carol Rasco, a former elementary teacher and school counselor that once served as an Assistant to the President under President Bill Clinton.

Carol was born on January 13, 1948, in Columbia, South Carolina. Later her family moved to DeWitt, Arkansas. As a young woman, she skipped her senior year in high school and enrolled at Hendrix College in 1965. There she first majored in Drama, although she later changed her major to Psychology. After transferring to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Carol earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1969. She earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Counseling and Psychology from the University of Central Arkansas in 1972.

Carol began her career in education as an elementary school teacher, and later became a counselor at the middle school level. After she earned her Master’s degree, she used her expertise to set up a psychological counseling program in the public school system.

In 1983, this Chalkboard Champion accepted a position in the Arkansas Governor’s Office. She served Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton in this position for ten years. Later, when Clinton was elected to the presidency, Carol followed Clinton to Washington, DC, where she worked as an Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy from 1997 to 2000. She spent the next four years in the US Department of Education in the America Reads Challenge program. During 2001, she worked as a consultant on Government Relations for The College Board, and from 2001 to 2016, she served as the President and CEO of Reading is Fundamental. For the past five years, Carol has worked as a child advocate for Three Boys with Books.

Carol has spent her entire professional life as an advocate for children, working towards improving education, promoting early literacy, and supporting children with disabilities. She is currently 73 years old.