Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Jim Hammond: Educator and Idaho State Senator

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Jim Hammond: Educator and former Idaho State Senator.

There are many excellent classroom teachers who have made their mark in the world of politics. One of these is Jim Hammond, a teacher from Post Falls, Idaho, who has served in the Idaho State Senate.

Jim was born on June 18, 1950, in Missoula, Montana. He was raised there, graduating from the city’s Loyola High School. After his high school graduation, Jim earned his Bachelor’s degree in Education from Carroll College, a Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Helena, Montana, in 1973. He earned his Master’s degree in Educational Administration in 1977 from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington.

Once he completed his education, Jim inaugurated his career as a teacher in the Post Falls School District in Post Falls, Idaho. He taught there from 1973 to 1975. For the next four years he was employed in Coeur d’Alene Schools in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He then returned to post Falls School District as a principal. He stayed there until 1981. From 1981 to 1996, Jim returned to Spokane, Washington, where he served as a principal in the East Valley School District.

Jim entered the political area when he was elected to a seat as a council member for the City of Post Falls in 1982. He served in this position from 1982 to 1991. Next, the talented educator was elected to the position of Mayor of the City of Post Falls, where he served 1991 to 1996. He was the City Administrator in Post Falls from 1996 to 2006. From 1996 to 2012, the former educator represented District 5 in the Idaho State Senate. In that body, he served on the Committees for Finance; Health and Welfare; and Legislative Oversight. During these years, Jim was also a founding member of the Post Falls Education Foundation and served on the Idaho State Board of Education. In 2002, this Chalkboard Champion was named Post Falls Citizen of the Year.

Throughout his lengthy career as a politician, Jim has always been a strong supporter of public education. “We’re in the business of providing an education to our children, first of all, so they can be active citizens in our government, and secondly so that they know how to live in this modern day world,” he once expressed. “Teaching is worthy of greater respect from our society than what we currently give it,” he declared.

To read more about Jim Hammond, see this posting at Ballotpedia.

Educator, activist, and member of New Mexico House of Reps Miguel P. Garcia

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Educator, activist, and member of the new Mexico House of Representatives Miguel P. Garcia.

Many fine classroom teachers have also been successful in the political arena. This is certainly true of Miguel P. Garcia, a Spanish teacher from Albuquerque, New Mexico who has served in his state’s House of Representatives since 1997.

Miguel earned his Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, in 1973. He earned his Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, in 1993.

While still an undergrad, Miguel became an active participant in the civil rights struggle of Chicano people in the late 1960’s, 1970’s, and early 1980’s. In 1972, he was arrested at a sit-in at the Office of the President while protesting discrimination in the employment of Latinos at his university. He also worked for the creation of a Chicano Studies Program at the school. He chaired the Chicano Student Organization (AHORA) for two years. In those two years, his group created tutorial programs in the barrio schools of North Portales, and they opened a community center operated by the North Portales community.

Miguel has taught Spanish in Albuquerque Public Schools since 1989. Prior to becoming an educator, he worked as a real estate broker from 1985 to 1992. He was also employed as the Director of Casa Armijo Community Center from 1979 to 1985.

In 1996, Miguel was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket. He continues to serve his constituents in District 14 there to this day. In the legislature, he is a member of the Labor Committee, the Veterans and Military Affairs Development Committee, and serves as the Chair of the Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committees. To learn more about this Chalkboard Champion’s political activities, follow this link to a Q&A published in the Albuquerque Journal.

Accomplished teacher and Florida politician LeAnna Cumber

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Accomplished bi-lingual education teacher and Florida politician LeAnna Cumber.

Many fine classroom teachers also achieve success in the political arena. One example of this is LeAnna Cumber, an elementary bilingual education teacher who serves as a Councilwoman in Jacksonville, Florida. She also served in the Department of Transportation during the administration of President George W. Bush.

LeAnna was born on February 3, 1973, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After her high school graduation, she enrolled at the University of Texas, Austin, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Government. After her college graduation, LeAnna accepted a position at a shelter for battered women in Nacogdoches, Texas. Next, she taught third grade bilingual education in the Nacogdoches Independent School District. Then she taught in rural east Texas, and then fifth grade bilingual education in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

In 2001, LeAnna completed the requirements for her Juris Doctorate at the University of Southern California. While in law school, the former teacher worked with prisoners at the California Institute of Women. She represented clients in a variety of civil proceedings, including child custody and parole hearings.

As a politician, LeAnna was elected in 2019 to the Jacksonville City Council in Jacksonville, Florida. She represents District 5. Her current term ends in June 2023. As a Councilwoman, she serves as Vice-Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee. She also currently serves as President of the San Marco Preservation Society and as a member of Jacksonville’s Children’s Commission. In addition, during the administration of President George W. Bush, LeAnna was selected to serve as a legislative counselor for the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Transportation.

To read more about this amazing Chalkboard Champion, see this article printed in the City of Jacksonville, Florida.

North Dakota’s Laura Eisenhuth Alming: Teacher, Pioneer, Politician

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Laura Eisenhuth Alming: Teacher, pioneer, politician

Many talented classroom teachers also find success as politicians. One of these is Laura Eisenhuth Alming, a 19th century educator who was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction for the state of North Dakota.

Laura was born on May 29, 1859, in Blenheim, Ontario, Canada. She was just a toddler when her family moved to DeWitt, Iowa. As a young woman, she completed college courses and then accepted a teaching position at DeWitt High School.

The young educator first traveled to Dakota Territory in the summer of 1885. There she staked a claim on 160 acres of land near the town of New Rockford. She continued to live and teach in Iowa for the next two years, returning to her Dakota homestead for the summers. In 1882, the pioneer teacher married Willis Eisenhuth, a fellow teacher who had moved from Pennsylvania to Carrington, North Dakota. In Dakota he established and operated a drugstore.

After her marriage, Laura, already a veteran educator with 11 years of experience under her belt, accepted a position as a temporary teacher in Carrington. There she taught 80 students in a one-room schoolhouse. The next year she was re-hired, but fortunately the townspeople acquired an assistant to help with instructional activities.

Carrington’s citizens were so impressed with Laura’s work in the classroom that they elected her Superintendent of Schools for North Dakota’s Foster County in 1889. During the years she held this office, the innovative educator organized and oversaw a series of teacher-training institutes to improve public school instruction.

In 1892, Laura was elected her state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. In this period of history, women in the United States enjoyed very few voting privileges. In North Dakota, women could vote only on school issues. In her position as Superintendent, Laura continued to emphasize professional development. She also championed improved hygiene in schools and supported the introduction of fencing into the curriculum.

When Laura’s husband became very ill, Laura resigned from her office to focus on helping him recuperate. She found employment as a teacher and an Assistant Principal of Carrington High School. Her husband passed away in 1902. Five years later, Laura married Ludwig Alming, and the newlyweds moved to Jacksonville, Oregon. Laura lived the rest of her life there.

This amazing Chalkboard Champion passed away on September 30, 1937, in Medford, Oregon. She is interred in Siskiyou Memorial Park.

To read more about Laura Eisenhuth Alming, see this article printed in the Bismarck Tribune.

Jill Biden: Educator and wife of presidential candidate

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Jill Biden: Educator, former Second Lady of the United States, and wife of current presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Many dedicated and talented educators also make excellent politicians. This is true of Jill Biden, a former high school English teacher who has also served as the Second Lady of the United States. She is the wife of Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate currently running for the office of President of the United States.

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. 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 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.

Currently, Jill is engaged in campaigning for her husband as he runs for the office of President of the United States. If her husband is elected, would Jill continue teaching in addition to her role as First Lady? “I would love to. If we get to the White House, I’m going to continue to teach,” Biden said during a CBS Sunday morning interview. “And I want people to value teachers and know their contributions and to lift up the profession.”

Click on this link by ABC News to learn more about Jill Biden’s work in the current campaign.