Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Stuart W. Hunt, Sr.: Gifted teacher, coach, veteran, businessman, and politician

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Stuart Hunt

Stuart W. Hunt, Sr.: Gifted teacher, coach, military veteran, businessman, and politician.

There are many examples of fine classroom teachers who have a made a name for themselves in arenas outside of education. This is true of Stuart W. Hunt, Sr.,a  high school teacher and coach who also served as a legislator for his home state of Vermont.

Stuart Hunt was born in Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont, on April 28, 1927. As a young man, he attended Brattleboro High School, where he excelled in sports. When he graduated in 1945, he was honored with the Stolte Memorial Cup, given to the best all-around athlete.

Because World War II was in full swing in 1945, immediately after his graduation, Stuart enlisted in the military. Throughout the war, he served in the US Army Air Forces.

When the war ended, Stuart earned his Bachelor’s degree from Arnold College, now known as the University of Bridgeport, located in Connecticut. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1952. Once he earned his degree, Stuart settled in Guilford, Vermont, and accepted a position as a physical education teacher at his alma mater, Brattleboro High School. He also coached football and basketball there. In addition to coaching, Stuart was instrumental in starting the Auto Mechanics Training Program at the Vocational Center at the high school, and he was one of the founders of the Brattleboro Little League Post 5 program.

In addition to his classroom and coaching responsibilities, Stuart worked in the real estate and insurance fields. Also, he was very active in town and state government, serving as a selectman, a trustee of the Guilford Fire Department, a trustee of the Guilford Fair Association, a Justice of the Peace, and a Member of the Board of Civil Authority. As if all this were not enough, Stuart was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives on the Republican ticket. He also served in the Vermont State Senate.

This gifted teacher, coach, military veteran, businessman, and politician passed away of natural causes in Vernon, Vermont, on December 9, 2014. He was 87 years old.

Lindsay Reynolds, Melania Trump’s Chief of Staff, is a former school teacher

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Lindsay Reynolds

Lindsay Reynolds, Chief of Staff for First Lady Melania Trump, is a former third grade school teacher.

Many times an excellent educator may find a second career in politics, and on occasion this career may even lead to the White House. This is true of Lindsay Reynolds, a former third grade teacher from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is currently serving as the Chief of Staff for First Lady Melania Trump.

Before her appointment to her current position in 2017, Lindsay served as the Associate Director of the White House Visitors Office under President George W. Bush. She had been in that position since 2004. It was the former educator’s 14 years of experience in political fundraising, event management, and logistical expertise that makes her a great choice for Chief of Staff.

Lindsay’s foray into politics is an outgrowth of her experimentation as an event planner. As the story goes, she was on summer vacation from her job as a third grade teacher at St. Vivian School in Finneytown, Ohio, when her in-laws asked if she would help plan a little get together at their house. The get-together turned out to be a fundraiser for former First Lady Laura Bush. The party was a smash, and before long President and Laura Bush were scheduling so many events for Lindsay that she had to take a leave of absence from her classroom. The rest is, as they say, Washington DC history.

Former elementary school teacher Olivia Diaz served in the Nevada State Assembly

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Olivia Diaz

Former elementary school teacher and Nevada State Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz

There are many examples of excellent classroom teachers who have gone on to have careers in politics. One of these is Olivia Diaz, an elementary school teacher who also served in the Nevada State Assembly.

Olivia was born in 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a young woman, she attended inner-city schools, graduating as the salutatorian from Rancho High School. Following her high school graduation, Olivia earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Nova Southeastern University, a private university with its main campus in Davie, Florida. While still in college, Olivia did volunteer work for AmeriCorps, a federal program that offers opportunities for public service.

Once she earned her degrees, Olivia accepted a position in the Clark County School District as an English Language Learner Specialist at Ronnow Elementary School. For the next 15 years, she devoted her energy to her students as a teacher of at-risk kids.

In 2009, Olivia was elected to the Nevada State Assembly to represent District 11 on the Democratic ticket. She was elected to four consecutive terms, serving from 2010 to 2018. While in office, Olivia worked on the Committee for Education, the Committee for Commerce and Labor, the Judiciary Committee, and the Subcommittee on K-12/Higher Education. She was also a member of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.

“As one of the first Latinas ever elected to the Nevada State Legislature, she has been a trailblazer and role model for many aspiring leaders,” expressed Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly Jason Frierson, Olivia says she is grateful for the opportunity to serve her community. “Investing in education, fighting to protect and expand health care, and working to ensure that Nevada’s economy works for everyone has been an honor and a privilege,” she says.

On December 3, 2018, Olivia resigned her position in the Assembly to run for a position on the Las Vegas City Council.

Public school teacher and politician Mabel Desmond

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Mabel Desmond

Public school teacher and politician Mabel Desmond

Many talented educators have also served our country in the political arena. One of these is Mabel Desmond, a teacher who served four terms in the Maine House of Representatives.

Mabel was born on January 30, 1929, in Southampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. After her high school graduation, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1964 from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and her Master’s degree in Education in 1975 from the University of Maine at Orono. She then taught public school from 1949 to 1994. In addition, from 1991 to 1994 she served as an adjunct professor at her university alma mater.

While teaching, Mabel became a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an organization that promotes leadership opportunities for women educators. She was also a member of the Advisory Committee for the Prevention of Chemical Abuse, and she served as the secretary and past president of the University of Maine-Presque isle Alumni Association.

Mabel was elected to the Maine House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket in 1994. She represented District 146 for four terms, until 2002. While in the legislature, the former teacher served on the committees for education and cultural affairs. She was also appointed by Maine’s Governor John Baldacci to the Maine State Board of Education, and she served as the Chair for the Maine Education Research Institute.

At age 90, Mabel is still going strong, and lives in the little town of Mapleton, Aroostook County, Maine.

For Women’s History Month, let’s remember Iowa educator Julia Addington

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Julia Addington

Iowa educator and school superintendent Julia Addington

Women’s History Month offers the opportunity to reach back into history and explore the lives of many remarkable women. One of these was Julia Addington, a school teacher from Iowa who was the first woman elected to public office in that state.

Julia was born on June 13, 1829, in New York state. She was the oldest of seven children born to William Addington, Sr., and Alvira (Potter) Addington. Her family moved first to Wisconsin, and then to Iowa, where her father established a farm.

Once in Iowa, Julia taught school in Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Des Moines, and finally at Cedar Valley Seminary, a private high school located in Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa.

In 1869, at the age of 40, Julia was serving as the temporary superintendent of schools when her supporters encouraged her to run for the office in her own right. Once the votes were counted, it was discovered that she and her opponent, Milton M. Browne, had each garnered exactly the same number of votes. A flip of the coin decided the election in Julia’s favor. Unfortunately, many of Mitchell County’s residents did not accept these results because Julia was a woman, but Iowa state Attorney General Henry O’Connor ruled that her election was legal because the law did not expressly state that the candidate must be a man.

During her two-year term as school superintendent, Julia oversaw 76 schools, including three log schoolhouses, with 2,231 students and 122 teachers. She visited and inspected each school in the county at least twice a year. In addition, Julia tested applicants for teaching certificates, made an annual report to the state superintendent, and examined plans for new school buildings. Under her tenure, 17 new schools were built.

An innovative educator, Julia encouraged her teachers to read educational journals, and one of her teachers attended the Normal School at Winona, Minnesota—something she correctly predicted would become a more widespread practice in the future. She also organized week-long institutes offering lectures and discussions about best practices, which were well-attended. As superintendent, Julia viewed her role as an observer—watching, examining, and recommending. Rather than criticizing, she gave advice and made suggestions that were encouraging to the teacher and beneficial to the school. She saw to it that Mitchell County teachers were better paid, and turnover for teachers in her district was greatly reduced.

Julia Addington certainly made a positive impact on the teachers and students she was responsible for, not only as a teacher, but also as a school superintendent.

This remarkable educator passed away on September 21, 1875, at her home in Stacyville, Iowa. She was 46 years old.