Many fine classroom teachers also establish excellent careers as diplomats. One of these was Eileen Donovan, a teacher from Massachusetts who once served as the American ambassador to Barbados.

Eileen was born in Boston. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Boston Teachers College in 1936. She earned her Master’s degree in Education in 1937. In addition, Eileen attended Harvard Graduate School of Public Administration, an institution now known as the John F. Kennedy School of Government. There she became a foreign Service Institute Fellow, and she earned a Master’s degree of Public Administration.

From 1938 to 1943, Eileen worked as a history teacher in the Boston Public Schools. During World War II, the intrepid educator joined the Women’s Air Corps. “I went down to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and trained and was lucky enough to be sent to the Officer Candidate School in Des Moines, came out as a 2nd Lieutenant,” Eileen once remembered. “Then I did various things in this country, like teaching at Oglethorpe such
fascinating subjects as Military Customs and Courtesies and Articles of War and things
like that.” She also served as the primary assistant to General Douglas MacArthur at the Tokyo headquarters of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.

The former educator began her career in the Foreign Service in 1948, serving in the Philippines, Italy, and Japan, where she was a political liaison officer. In the late 1950’s she became chief of the Southern Europe branch of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research within the State Department.

From 1965 to 1969, Eileen served as Assistant Director of the State Department’s Office of Caribbean Affairs before her assignment to Barbados as Ambassador. With that assignment, she became the highest ranking woman in the Foreign Service. She served as the American Ambassador to Barbados from 1969 to 1974.

This remarkable educator and diplomat passed away from cardio-respiratory arrest on Dec. 19, 1996, in Spring Hill, Florida. She was 81 years old. To read more about this chalkboard Champion, read this interview published by The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, Foreign Affairs Oral History Project, Women Ambassadors Series.

One-time high school teacher and former Massachusetts State Senator John M. (Jack) Quinlan. Photo credit: Public Domain.

American history abounds with stories of talented classroom teachers who also made a mark in politics. This is true of John M. Quinlan, a teacher who was elected as a member of the Massachusetts State Senate.

John was born on July 11, 1935, in Natick, Massachusestts. All his life he preferred to be called “Jack.” When John was a child, he attended public school in Dover, Massachusetts, and later he transferred to Sacred Heart High School, a private high school located in Kingston, Massachusetts.

As a young man, John enrolled at Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1957. Once he earned his degree, John accepted a position as a teacher at Franklin High School, a public high school located in Franklin, Massachusetts. He taught there for four years.

Once he left the classroom, John inaugurated his career in politics. His first position was as an assistant to United States Senator Leverett Saltonstall, a fellow Republican from Massachusetts. But in 1964, John was elected on his own merit on the Republican ticket to the Massachusetts State Senate. He served there until 1974. While serving in the Senate, John dedicated his effort primarily to campaign finance reform. In 1968, John accepted a position as the state chairman for United Citizens for Nixon-Agnew. That year, he also worked toward the election of the governor and the lieutenant government.

Once his term in the State Senate was complete, John served as an aide to Margaret Heckler, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services. He also worked in 1990 as the campaign director for Jim Rappapport, another Massachusetts Republican, in his campaign for the US Senate.

This Chalkboard Champion is still living in Massachusetts. He is 85 years old.

Many fine educators have achieved success in areas outside of the classroom. One of these is Tracy Kraft-Tharp, a former middle school teacher who was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives. Photo credit: coloradopolitics.com.

Many fine educators have achieved success in areas outside of the classroom. One of these is Tracy Kraft-Tharp, a former middle school teacher who was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives.

Tracy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, and Education from Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota. She earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Denver. In 2000, she earned Juris Doctorate from the University in Denver.

Tracy inaugurated her career as an educator when she accepted a position as a middle school teacher. From there, she became a social worker at the Tenneyson Center for Children, where she worked with at-risk children. Next, she served as the Director of Adolescent Services at Gemini House. She also worked as the Director of Battered Women Services at the Women in Crisis women’s shelter. Later, Tracy taught college courses as a professor at Metropolitan State University located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is also a former professor at Regis University in Denver.

In 2012, Tracy was elected to represent the 29th District on the Democratic ticket. She served in that body from Jan., 2013 to Jan., 2021. There she worked tirelessly for job growth. She passed legislation to support the Re-Hire Colorado program, which provides job coaching and training to unemployed and underemployed Colorado residents. She also sponsored legislation creating a suicide prevention task force to reduce the rate of suicide in Colorado. In addition, the former middle school teacher was appointed to serve on the Jefferson County School District Strategic Planning and Advisory Council.

In addition to her professional affiliations, Tracy is a member of many organizations, including the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Council; the Jefferson County Parent Teacher Association; the League of Women Voters; and the Human Services Council.

Since 2000, Tracy has run her own consulting firm, working with small businesses and nonprofits to increase strategic planning, facilitation, policy development, ED mentoring, and facilitation.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to the website for Tracy Kraft-Tharp.