Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Washington teacher Jamie Smith bids for seat in State House of Reps

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Jamie Smith

Washington teacher Jamie Smith runs for a seat in her state’s House of Representatives.

Today’s political climate has spurred many talented and hardworking educators to run for public office. One such educator is Washington teacher Jamie Smith, who is bidding for a seat in her state’s House of Representatives. After winning the Democratic primary last August, Jamie will face off against Republican Kelly Chambers to represent the state’s District 25A.

Jamie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Pacific Lutheran University in 2004. She majored in both history and secondary education, and she minored in communications. In 2007 she earned a Master’s degree in Leadership Development Program from the same university. In addition, Jamie is a National Board Certified Teacher.

Jamie has spent her twelve-year career as an educator  teaching history, civics, and government at Puyallup and Rogers High Schools. She has also served as a cross country and track coach there. In addition, she has been employed as a Regional Curriculum Trainer for the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, a national non-profit which helps to develop courage, commitment, citizenship, integrity, and patriotism in students.

If elected, Jamie says her priorities will be education, the economy, homelessness, rising housing costs, lack of transportation, the opioid crisis, and the environment. “Our state faces many tough choices,” asserts Jamie. “As a teacher, I know our schools desperately need support to provide the best education to our children, wages have stagnated and we need more living wage jobs, small businesses need support to compete in the 21st century economy, (and) we must take action to protect our environment from the ravages of climate change,” she continues. “We need leaders who care about our needs. I am the advocate who will make sure every child in our state gets a high quality education. I will fight for workers and help Washington grow,” she concludes.

Chalkboard Champion Jacobi Crowley runs for Oklahoma State Senate

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Jacobi Crowley

Chalkboard Champion Jacobi Crowley, a crisis behavior specialist, runs for state senator in Oklahoma.

This year’s mid-term elections have seen a record number of talented and hardworking educators running for public office. One of these is Jacobi Crowley, a special education teacher and crisis behavior specialist from Oklahoma. The Chalkboard Champion is bidding for a seat in the Oklahoma State Senate.

Jacobi garnered the Democratic nomination for Oklahoma State Senate District 32 in his state’s primary elections last June. If the 26-year-old wins the general election in November, he will be the youngest state senator in Oklahoma history. His opponent is Republican state Representative John Montgomery. Jacobi’s two biggest priorities, if elected, would be education funding and criminal justice reform. “I’m running on things that truly affected my life and that truly affected a lot of people’s lives in the state,” he told ABC News in a July 4, 2018, interview.

Jacobi was born to a struggling single parent in 1992 in Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma. As a youngster, Jacobi had very few positive male role models. He was raised by his grandmother, who passed away when he was just eight. “My grandmother taught me to be very strong, very precise in what I wanted, and be goal-oriented,” Jacobi remembers. “As an eight-year-old, that’s what I did. And I kept doing things within my life, moving forward, and I always wanted to be somebody and do something with my life.” And, even at a young age, he knew education was the ticket to his success.

After his high school graduation, Jacobi attended Southeastern Oklahoma University, where he graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Behavior Management. While in college, Jacobi participated in the debate team, joined the Young Leaders of America, and played football and basketball.

After college, Jacobi returned to his home town, and for the past three years he has worked with at-risk youth as a crisis behavior specialist in the Lawson Public School District. During that time, he has also coached football and track, refereed basketball games, hosted a weekly radio show, and become an ordained minister.

To learn more about Jacobi Crowley, visit his campaign website at www.jacobi4ok.com.

Teacher Erik Bohen elected to the New York State Assembly

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Erik T. Bohen

Teacher Erik Bohen elected to the New York State Assembly.

Educators, as a group, are among some of the most civic-minded individuals in our communities, so it should come as no surprise that many of them have decided to run for public office today. One of these dedicated educators is Erik T. Bohen, a special education teacher from New York who has already been elected to a seat in his state’s Assembly.

“I am honored to be representing the people of the 142nd District,” declares Eric. “I am committed to reforming New York’s educational system, helping the middle-class by working to lower the tax burden on families, and creating jobs so our children can remain home in Western New York.”

Eric earned his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Special Education from St. Bonaventure University located in St. Bonaventure, New York, in 2004, and his Master’s degree in Special Education from Canisius College located in Buffalo, New York, in 2007. He earned his teaching credentials at Erie Community College located in Buffalo, New York, in 2014.

In his younger days, Eric worked as a game-day usher for the Buffalo Bills football team, as a groundskeeper for the City of Buffalo Parks Department, and as a camp counselor for both Cradle Beach Camp in Angola, New York, and Blue Mountain Cross County Camp in Poyntelle, Pennsylvania. He also did a six-year stint as the Head Coach for the Cross Country and Track and Field teams of Mt. Mercy Academy, a private school located in Buffalo, New York. For 13 years he worked as a special education teacher in the Buffalo Public School system. Most recently he taught at Lorraine Academy, PS 72.

For his work in the classroom and in the community, Eric has earned many accolades. He garnered the 2017 Tim O’Neil Good Samaritan Award from the Ryan Purcell Foundation; the 2014 Mt. Mercy Academy Spirit Award form Community Service; and other public service citations from such bodies as the US Congress, New York State Assembly, the Erie County Legislature, and the Buffalo Common Council.

To learn more about Erik Bohen, visit his website at Assemblymember Eric T. Bohen.

Educator Dayna Polehanki runs for Michigan State Senate

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Dayna Polehanki

Educator Dayna Polehanki is running for a seat in the Michigan State Senate.

Many talented and dedicated educators have decided to throw their hat into the ring in this year’s mid-term elections. One of these is Dayna Polehanki, a high school English teacher who is making a bid for a seat in the Michigan State Senate.

Dayna is running on the Democratic ticket to represent her state’s District 7. This district, previously held by term-limited Senator Patrick Colbeck, includes the communities of Livonia, Canton, Plymouth, Northville, and Wayne. In the upcoming November general election, Dayna will face off against two opponents: Republican Laura Cox and Libertarian Joseph LeBlanc. Impressively, for this election Dayna has earned the endorsement of President Barack Obama.

Dayna is a long-time resident of Michigan. She graduated from Flushing High School in Flushing, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Central Michigan University; her teaching credentials from Alma College, a private liberal arts college in Alma, Michigan; and her Master’s degree in Teaching from Marygrove College in Detroit. She also earned an administrator credential from the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals. Dayna has taught English in the New Haven Community Schools District for the past 16 years. She currently teaches twelfth grade English at New Haven High School.

For her work in the classroom, Dayna has earned many accolades. In 2018, she was recognized as the Teacher of the Year for New Haven Community Schools, and the year before, she was one of two recipients of the Michigan Schools and Government Educator Advantage Scholarship.

Before Dayna became a teacher, she was the manager of Features Casting at Paramount Pictures. She is also the owner of a small business. For the past ten years she has been the owner of Detroit Casting Company, and she has also served as the Michigan casting director of such productions as Alex Cross, Into the Storm, and The End of the Tour.

To learn more about this chalkboard champion and political candidate, visit her campaign website at www.daynaforsenate.com.

Educator Amy Perruso runs for seat in Hawaii State House of Reps

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Amy Perruso

Educator Amy Perruso runs for a seat in the Hawaii State House of Representatives.

Because of today’s highly-charged political climate, educators are becoming more and more interested in serving their communities in public office. One such educator is Amy Perruso, a high school social studies teacher running for a seat in the Hawaii State House of Representatives.

Amy’s drive to serve her students and her community is palpable. “I ran for office because the children in our public schools need strong advocates,” declares Amy. “Teachers have always stepped up to do this work, and entering the political arena in this way, as teachers who are union leaders, is a natural reflection of how teachers lead in our community and the ways in which our union advocates for the common good,” she continues.

Amy advanced to the November elections when she won the Democratic primary last summer, beating Lei Learmont. In the general election she will face off against Republican John Miller.

In a career that has spanned 18 years total, Amy has spent the last 14 of them as a teacher at Mililani High School in Mililani, Hawaii. Among the several courses she teaches is Advanced Placement Government and APUSH. Amy has also served as a reader for the College Board on the APGOV exam, and she has been as a member of the Hawaii State Social Studies Work Group. She is also a member of the Every Student Succeeds Act Team, which is responsible for creating a blueprint for the future of Hawaii’s public schools. In addition to all this, Amy has served three terms as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

Amy’s talent and dedication as an educator has not gone unnoticed. She was a Fulbright Scholar and a finalist for the Gilder-Lehrman National History Teacher of the Year Award.

To learn more about this candidate, visit her website at www.amyperruso.com.