Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Record number of educators hope to be elected today

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This year, a record number of educators are hoping to be elected to public office in today’s mid-term elections, according to an article published online by Education Week on July 17, 2018. At least 167 teachers, retired teachers, and administrators nationwide threw their hats into the political ring this year. Of these, 40 won their primaries, and 64 ran unopposed.

Educators are typically the most civic-minded individuals in any community, and many of those who have run for public office say their motivation for getting involved in politics sprang from a desire to make a significant positive impact on their communities. Many of these campaigns resulted from teacher activism in states where school funding and teacher pay are hotly-contested issues. For example, of the 167 educators who originally mounted campaigns, a whopping 67 of them made bids for public office in the state of Oklahoma and 20 mounted campaigns in Kentucky. Arizona, Colorado, and West Virginia have also seen an uptick in teacher candidates.

“We’ve got plenty of business people, we have plenty of rich people, we have plenty of lawyers,” pointed out Lily Eskelsen Garcia, President of the National Education Association. “Why not have somebody with that common-sense community grounding that a school teacher would have?”

To view the entire article, see www.educationweek.org. To view a list of educators running for public office compiled by Education Week, click on the link Teachers Running for Public Office.

And don’t forget to VOTE today!

 

Susan Rubio: Educator and candidate for California State Senate

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Susan Rubio

Susan Rubio: Educator and candidate for California State Senate

This year a record number of educators are mounting campaigns for public office. One of these is Susan Rubio, a fourth grade teacher from Baldwin Park, a suburb of Los Angeles, California. After winning her primary, Susan, a Democrat, is running to represent District 22 in the California State Senate.

Susan was born in Juarez, Mexico. Her parents were immigrants to the United States; her father came to Texas through the Bracero program, working as a farmer. After the program was discontinued, the Rubio family settled in California. While she was growing up, Susan says, her parents taught her the importance of hard work and determination.

Susan is the product of public schools. After her graduation from high school, she attended Azusa Pacific University. There she earned a Master’s degree in Education and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. During her college years she worked as a bookkeeper doing payroll and taxes for a private company. After earning her degree, the neophyte teacher inaugurated her 17-year career as an educator. Currently she is a fourth grade teacher at Broadoaks Elementary School in the Monrovia Unified School District.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Susan has experience as a public servant. She was first elected to represent the city of Baldwin Park as their City Clerk. In 2009, she was selected to be a Council Member for the city, where she helped balance the city budget during the recession. In addition, Susan has a long record of volunteerism and partnership with local non-profits, providing mentorships and college scholarships for local students.

Susan can claim two decades of experience as a community leader, classroom teacher, and public servant. She also describes herself as “a lifelong champion for children, working families, economic justice, and the environment.”

You can learn more about Susan Rubio at her campaign website at the following link:  www.susanrubio.com.

Arizona teacher Michelle Udall seeks re-election to State Legislature

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Michelle Udall

Arizona teacher Michelle Udall seeks re-election to State Legislature.

This election year has seen an unprecedented number of educators running for public office. Among them is Michelle Udall, a high school math teacher from Mesa, Arizona, who is seeking re-election to Arizona’s House of Representatives representing District 25.

Michelle was first elected to the Arizona House in 2016. There she is a member of three committees: Education; Health; and Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources. Michelle’s priorities in the state legislature are supporting student academic achievement, increasing funding and accountability; ensuring Arizona students that graduate from high school are prepared to be successful in college or the work force; increasing continuing education and training opportunities; expanding early literacy policies; reforming English learner instruction; and improving parent engagement.

“Serving in the legislature is rewarding because I am constantly learning new things and working with others to solve problems,” declares Michelle. “I hope to get the chance to continue the work I am doing to improve our children’s education, use taxpayer money responsibly and with transparency, and create a low-regulation environment where businesses can flourish while still protecting the vulnerable,” she continued.

MIchelle describes herself as a “math and science geek.” She attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she expressed interest in Aerospace Engineering, but soon shifted her focus to Materials Science and Engineering. After serving a mission in the Philippines, she returned to school, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree at Arizona State University. She completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University.

Michelle’s professional history as an educator includes a stint as a math teacher for Mountain View High School in Mesa. She is also a former member of the Mesa School Board, a post she held for four years.

To learn more about Michelle Udall, visit her government website at House Member Michelle Udall.

Teacher John Waldron bids for seat in Oklahoma House of Reps

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John Waldron

Teacher John Waldron bids for a seat in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives.

Today’s political atmosphere has opened up a myriad of opportunities for dedicated, hardworking educators to run for political office. One educator who has decided to take advantage of these opportunities is John Waldron, a Tulsa high school social studies teacher who is bidding for a seat in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives.

John is running on the Democratic ticket to represent District 77. The seat is currently held by Representative Eric Proctor. Proctor, also a Democrat, has reached his term limits and asked the respected educator to run as his replacement.

If elected, John intends to make funding for education one of his priorities. “I hope to be part of a movement that reverses policies of tax cuts for the rich and service cuts for everyone else,” declares John. “I hope to make Oklahoma more fair, more equitable and more mindful of its responsibility to future generations.”

John earned his Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Virginia in 1990 and his Master’s degree in International Relations and Affairs from George Washington University in 1995. His first teaching position was at the School Without Walls in the DC Public School System. He worked there from 1991 to 1999. Since 1999, the candidate has worked at Booker T. Washington High School in the Tulsa Public School District, where he teaches courses in World History, European history, and the History of East Asia and Oceania for the school’s International Baccalaureate program.

“After 20 years of teaching, I still appreciate the chance to help a kid move along his or her path of development,” says John. “Kids need to be taught to believe in their own capacity to shape the world. They need a little discipline, perhaps, but there is nothing more exciting than seeing a child begin to envision how they might change the world,” he says.

To learn more about John Waldron and his campaign for public office, you can visit his website at www.waldron4ok.com.

Educator Janna Lind runs for seat in the Montana House of Reps

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Janna Lind

Educator Janna Lind is running for a seat in the Montana House of Representatives.

This year’s mid-term elections have offered a multitude of opportunities to dedicated and civic-minded educators who hope to make a significant positive impact on their communities. One of these educators is Janna Lind, a high school social studies teacher from Montana. Janna is running for a seat in her state’s House of Representatives.

Janna is running on the Democratic ticket to represent District 56. She faces off against Republican candidate Sue Vinton. If elected, Janna intends to work towards increased school safety, improving the economy, strengthening Montana’s infrastructure, and providing better health care for the state’s citizens. “I am running to be a voice for those who are underrepresented in Montana: the youth and young mothers, and the disenfranchised,” declares Janna.

Janna graduated from high school in Hysham, Treasure County, Montana. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from Rocky Mountain College located in billings, Montana. She earned her Master’s degree in School Counseling from the University of the Southwest located in Hobbs, New Mexico.

For the past seven years, Janna has taught government and social studies at Hardin High School in Hardin, Montana. In addition, she currently serves as a Lockwood School Board Trustee in Yellowstone County, Montana. She has also worked at the Boys and Girls Club in Lockwood.