Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Bette Cato: Teacher and former member of the Alaska House of Representatives

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Bette Cato: Retired teacher and former member of the Alaska House of Representatives.

Many excellent educators also serve as competent politicians. One of these is Bette Cato, a teacher who served in the Alaska House of Representatives.

Bette Maxine Cato was born on May 9, 1924, in Odessa, Washington, District of Columbia. She was the daughter of William Dallas and Ann (Reimer) Millhorn. As a young girl, she attended Eaton Rapids High School in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. After her graduation, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Eastern Washington College in 1960. She also completed postgraduate coursework at Alaska Methodist University and Lawrence University.

In 1957, Bette relocated to Alaska, where she accepted a position as a teacher at Kenai High School. She worked there from 1960 to 1963. She also taught at East High School in Anchorage from 1965 to 1969, and Valdez High School from 1969 to 1979. In Valdez, her colleagues elected her president of the local division of the American Federation of Teachers.

In 1980, Bette was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket. She served there from 1981 to 1989. While in the House, the former educator served as the Chairperson of the House Transportation Committee.

From 1943-1944, when WWII was in full swing, Bette was with United States Navy. Later she joined the American Legion, where she held the position of Deputy Vice Commander in 1955. She was also the Commander of Post 2 in Valdez from 1972-1982.  In addition, Bette was a member of Beta Sigma Phi.

Bette resigned from her seat when she was diagnosed with diverticulitis in 1989. She passed away from complications due to cancer on Jan. 18, 1996. 

To learn more about this chalkboard champion, see this link to 100 Years of Alaska’s Legislature.

 

 

Peggy Bennett: Special Ed teacher and Minnesota politician

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Former Special Education teacher Peggy Bennett also serves as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Many excellent classroom teachers also serve as successful politicians. One of these is Peggy Bennett, a Special Education teacher who is currently in office as a member of the House of Representatives for Minnesota.

Peggy was born July 3, 1958. She grew up in White Bear Lake, Ramsey County, Minnesota. As a young girl, she attended Westonka High School in Mound, Minnesota. Following her high school graduation, she enrolled in Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1980. She earned a Master’s degree in Special Education from St. Cloud State University in 1981.

After she earned her degrees, Peggy accepted a position as a Special Education teacher in Albert Lea in 1981. She taught a K-1 transition class for Special Education and regular education students for seven years before becoming a first grade teacher. In 2011, Peggy garnered the Albert Lea Area Teacher of the Year award. By the time she retired in 2015, her career as an educator spanned a total of 33 years.

While in the classroom, Peggy often brought her dog, Colter, to school. The shepherd pup helped her teach first grade students how to read. Colter was even featured on an episode of Fox and Friends in June 2014.

In 2018, the talented educator was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives on the Republican ticket to represent District 27A. Representative Bennett was first elected in 2014, earning 53% of the votes in a three-candidate race, and again in 2016 with 61.7% of the votes.

As a representative, Peggy serves as the Assistant Minority Leader. She is a member of the Committees for Education Policy, Education Finance, and Capital Investment. She has focused her efforts on access to and affordability of health care, mental health for students, foster care, and increasing student access to trades education.

Elementary schoolteacher and Nevada politician Marilyn Dondero Loop

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Long-time elementary schoolteacher and Nevada politician Marilyn Dondero Loop.

There are many examples of fine educators who have also enjoyed successful careers in politics. One of these is Marilyn Dondero Loop, a long-time elementary schoolteacher. She now serves as a Nevada State Senator, and she also served in the Nevada State Assembly.

Marilyn was born in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, in 1951. As a young girl, she attended Las Vegas Vegas High School. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Marilyn has worked as an elementary school teacher for the Clark County School District from 1974 to 2004. During her 30-year career in teaching, this chalkboard champion mentored new teachers, worked on education and community projects, and raised a family.

The former teacher was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Nevada State Assembly representing District 5 in 2008. She served there until 2014. While in the Legislature, she was Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee, Chair of Transportation, Vice-Chair of Education, and a member of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. In addition, she served as the Vice-Chair of the Council of State Government’s Education Committee and a Commissioner for the Education Commission of the States. In fact, more than half of the measures she sponsored in each legislative session were related to education. For example, Marilyn was an avid supporter of teacher licensing, which she said ensured the best available educators are in the classrooms.

In 2018, Marilyn was elected to represent District 8 in the Nevada State Senate, where she currently serves. There she acts as the Chair of the Revenue and Economic Development Committee, the Vice Chair of the Commerce and Labor Committee, and a member of the Judiciary Committee.

For her commitment to education, Marilyn garnered the Lifetime Achievement Award for Advancement & Support of Education from the Nevada Association of School Superintendents in 2014.

To read more about Marilyn, read her biography on her campaign website.

Victoria Kornfield: Former English teacher and Maine State Rep

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Former English teacher and Maine State Representative Victoria Kornfield, second from left, with students from James F. Doughty School in Bangor.

Many excellent teachers also establish successful careers in politics. One of these is Victoria Kornfield, an English teacher from Maine who is now serving her fourth term in her state’s House of Representatives.

This chalkboard champion earned her Master’s degree in Teaching and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration. After she earned her degrees, Victoria worked as a teacher of English and public speaking in the Bangor Public School System. Her career spanned a total of 37 years, 30 of those at Bangor High School.

In 2012, Victoria was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent District 125, which includes part of the town of Bangor in Penobscot County. Currently she is serving her fourth term. As a member of the House, Victoria has been selected the Chair of the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. Formerly she was the House Chair of the Task Force to End Student Hunger in Maine.

To read more about Victoria Kornfield, click on this link: James F. Doughty School News.

Former teacher, Iowa State Senator, and Ambassador Mary E. Kramer

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Former teacher, Iowa State Senator, and Ambassador Mary E. Kramer.

There are many accomplished educators who have also enjoyed successful careers in politics. One of these is Mary E. Kramer, a teacher and administrator who served as an Iowa State Senator and an ambassador.

Mary was born on June 14, 1935, in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa, and was raised in Iowa City. As a young girl, she attended Iowa City High School. Upon her high school graduation, she enrolled at the University of Iowa where she majored in Piano Performance. There she earned both a Bachelor’s degree, and also a Master’s degree in Education.

Once she completed her education, Mary worked as a music teacher and school administrator in her home town. Her career as an educator spanned nearly 20 years. Mary left the teaching profession in 1975 to accept a position as Corporate Personnel Director for Younkers, Inc. She also worked for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, where she served first as Vice President of Human Resources and then as Vice President of Community Investments.

In 1990, Mary was elected to the Iowa State Senate on the Republican ticket. She represented the cities of Clive, Des Moines, and West Des Moines. While serving in the Senate, the former teacher championed issues related to education, health care, and economic development. In 2002, Mary was appointed by President George W. Bush to be the Chairperson of the White house Commission for Presidential Scholars. In 2003, the President selected her the US Ambassador to the Seven Island Nations of the Eastern Caribbean. She remained in that post until she retired from politics in 2006.

In addition to her other accomplishments, Mary has also authored two books. Her first book, More than a Walk on the Beach: Confessions of an Unlikely Diplomat, was published in 2010. Her second book, An Unlikely Ambassador and Her Diplomatic Daughter: Stories & Recipes for the Life You Want. The volume, published in 2015, was co-authored with her daughter Krista Kramer-Hartman.

This chalkboard champion was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2015 was named a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Iowa. To read more about her, view this link at the Archives of Women’s Political Communication.