Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Alexander Kerr Craig: Teacher, politician, Civil War vet, and

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Teacher, Civil War veteran, and member of the United States House of Representatives Alexander Kerr Craig. Photo credit: Public Domain.

Many times talented educators serve their country valiantly, and also distinguish themselves in the political arena. Such is the case with Alexander Kerr Craig, a teacher from Claysville, Pennsylvania, who also served his country as a Civil War veteran. He was also elected to the US House of Representatives.

Alexander Craig was born near Claysville, Buffalo Township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, on February 1, 1828. As a young boy, he attended local common schools and was educated by a private tutor. He was only 16 years old when he became a teacher in his community, conducting classes during the winter months. Later he worked as a principal in Claysville public schools. During these years, he also studied law and engaged in agricultural pursuits.

In February, 1865, after the Civil War broke out, Alexander enlisted on the Union side in the Eighty-Seventh Regiment, Company H, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered in on March 13, 1865, and mustered out on June 29, 1865. After the completion of his military service, Alexander returned to his home town of Claysville, where he resumed his career as an educator by serving as a school director and the justice of the peace.

Many years later, Alexander was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Pennsylvania in the 52nd United States Congress, where he served from February 26, 1892, until he passed away on July 29, 1892, at the age of 64. He is buried in Claysville Cemetery.

To read more about Alexander Kerr Craig, follow this link to the US House of Representatives.

Teacher LaWanna Shurtliff served in Utah’s House of Reps

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Many superb educators also achieve successful careers in politics. One was Utah’s LaWanna Shurtliff, a high school English teacher who was elected to her states House of Representatives. Photo credit: Utah House of Representatives.

Many superb educators also achieve successful careers in politics. One of these was Utah’s LaWanna Shurtliff, a high school English teacher who was elected to her state’s House of Representatives.

LaWanna was born in Smoot in Star Valley, Wyoming, on June 13, 1935. As a youngster, she spent much of her childhood on her grandfather’s farm engaged in various farm chores. She milked cows, tended sheep, fed chickens, gathered eggs, and hauled hay. That’s how she learned the value of hard work.

After she graduated from Star Valley High School in 1953, LaWanna attended Utah State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1957. She inaugurated her career as an educator at Roy Junior High in Utah, and later transferred to Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah. There she taught English, accounting, and business. Her career as an educator spanned from 1966 to 1994, a total of 29 years. In addition to her classroom duties, she was elected the President of the Ogden Education Association, the Director of the Utah Education Association, and a member of the National Education Association.

For her work in the classroom, LaWanna earned many accolades. Over her lifetime, she received the Alumni Merit award from Utah State University; the Lt. Governor’s Volunteer Recognition Certificate for her work with the Weber County League of Women Voters; the Lewis W. Shurtliff Award for Contributions to Education; the Utah Domestic Violence Council Award; the Weber County Commissions’ Hero Award; the UEA honor Roll; the Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence; and the Order of the Pearl Kappa Delta Sorority.

In 1998, LaWanna was elected to the Utah State House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket. She represented District 10 until 2008. Her decision to pursue politics sprang from her background in education and her wish to increase funding for public schools and Utah teachers. During her time in the legislature, the former educator passed bills that assisted victims of domestic violence and increased funding for Utah schools and teachers. The legislation she championed showed her fierce determination to protect women and children.

Sadly, LaWanna succumbed to pneumonia on Dec. 30, 2020. She was 85 years old. To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this article about her published by The Salt Lake Tribune.

Kentucky teacher and politician Tina Bojanowski

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Elementary school teacher Tina Bojanowski also serves in the Kentucky State House of Representatives. Photo credit: tinaforkentucky.com

Many fine educators also achieve success in careers in politics. One of these is Tina Bojanowski, an elementary school teacher who also serves her community in the Kentucky State House of Representatives.

Tina was born August 29, 1964, and she was raised in Louisville, Kentucky. After she graduated from Louisville Central High School in 1982, Tina earned first her Bachelor’s degree in 1986, and then her Master’s in Business Administration in 1991, both from the University of Louisville. In 2010, she earned a second Master’s degree, a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Education, and in 2017, she graduated with her Ph.D. Both the MAT and the Ph.D. were from Bellarmine University. Even as a student, Tina’s talent as an educator was evident. In 2009, she garnered the Bellarmine Outstanding Prospective Educator Award.

As an educator, Tina teaches Special Education at Watterson Elementary School in Louisville. The school is part of the Jefferson County Public School District. She has taught there for the past 11 years. Previously, she served as the Manager and Head Coach of the Kentucky Gymnastics Academy, a position she held for 29 years.

In 2018, Tina was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket. There she represents District 32. Her term will continue to 2022. Among the committees she is a member of are the Committee on Education; Transportation; and Health, Welfare, and Family Services. As a legislator, Tina steadfastly supports education. High quality public education for all is a critical component of our society,” she declares. “It is time to shift the focus in education away from testing and toward deeper learning for all students,” she continues.

This hardworking educator also belongs to several community organizations. For example, she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Jefferson County Teachers Association and a member of the Board of Directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

To learn more about Tina, see this article written about her published by Emerge Kentucky.

 

DC’s Sharon Ambrose: English teacher and politician

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High School English teacher Sharon Ambrose established herself as a distinguished political leader on the Council of the District of Columbia. Photo credit: The Washington Post.

Many hardworking educators leave the classroom to establish themselves in politics. One of these was Sharon Ambrose, a teacher from Illinois who went on to become a distinguished political leader on the Council of the District of Columbia.

Sharon was born on Sept. 3, 1939, on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. In 1961, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Saint Xavier University in Chicago. Saint Xavier is a private Catholic women’s school. While in high school and college, Sharon was actively involved in forensics and public speaking. In fact, she met Mike Ambrose, the man she eventually married, at a forensics event. Following her graduation, Sharon worked as a high school English teacher and a PTA leader in Chicago for several years.

In 1964, Sharon’s husband accepted a job with the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, DC, and the family relocated to that city. Almost immediately, Sharon launched herself into volunteer work for the presidential election, a supporter of Lyndon Johnson. She also became very involved with volunteering at the school her children attended, teaching an elementary after-school writing program and becoming president of the school’s PTA. Later she taught courses at the city’s Friendship House that helped individuals earn their GED, a high school equivalency program.

Sharon was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Council of the District of Columbia representing Ward 6. She held this post from 1997 to 2007. When the former teacher took office, the city was struggling to recover from insolvency. Sharon became the Chair of the Council’s committee on economic development, opposing projects that she saw as unreasonably expensive. At the same time, she successfully lobbied for major developments in her ward, which includes Capitol Hill and the Southwest Waterfront and Navy Yard. She was largely responsible for persuading the Washington Nationals to locate their ballpark in a formerly industrial section of the waterfront.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Politician passed away on April 4, 2017, in Washington, DC. She was 77 years old. To learn more about this amazing educator and politician, see this interview published by the Capitol Hill History Project.

Chet Blalock: Teacher, veteran, and Montana State Senator

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Many talented educators have also made a name for themselves in the political arena. Such is the case for Chester Merle Blalock, better known as Chet Blaylock, a history teacher, veteran, and state senator from Montana.

Chet was born on Novembr 13, 1924, in Joliet, Montana. He served his country well as a member of the United States Navy during World War II. He earned four medals for his service in the South Pacific.

After the war, this heroic veteran earned his Bachelor’s degree in History in 1951 and his Master’s degree in Education in 1957, both from the University of Montana. He then worked as a teacher and school administrator for over 30 years in both Laurel and Chinook, Montana. He retired from the teaching profession in 1991.

During his long career as an educator, Chet served as a delegate to the Montana State Constitutional Convention in 1972, and as a member of the Montana State Senate from Laurel, Montana. He believed that every Montana child was entitled to a free, quality education, a livable environment, a good job, and affordable health care. He a spent a lifetime pursuing that objective.

In 1996, Chet became the nominee for governor of Montana. He ran on the Democratic ticket against incumbent Marc Racicot.  Sadly, on October 23, 1996, on his way to a debate with his opponent less than two weeks before the election, the former educator passed away of a heart attack at Deer Lodge, Montana. He was 71 years old. Chet Blalock was cremated and his ashes interred at Rockvale Cemetery in Rockvale, Montana. In his memory, a scholarship in the amount of $600 has been established to be awarded to a full-time student at Montana State University at Billings.