Elementary school teacher and indefatigable women’s health activist Mary Jo Codey is the former First Lady of New Jersey.  Photo credit: Public Domain.

Many times gifted and active educators find themselves immersed in the world of politics. This is certainly the case with Mary Jo Codey, an elementary schoolteacher who once served as the First Lady of New Jersey. Mary Jo served her state during the administration of her husband, Governor Richard Codey, a Democrat who was in office from 2004 to 2006. Governor Codey took office upon the resignation of former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey.

Mary Jo was born on August 14, 1955, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and was raised in West Orange. After her high school graduation, she enrolled in Caldwell College, where she earned first her Bachelor’s degree and then her Master’s degree in Elementary Education. She has also earned certification as a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC) from Seton Hall University.

Once her husband took office, Mary Jo taught part time. Simultaneously she served as the ambassador for the Governor’s Book Club, which encouraged reading and literacy skills among elementary school children. This position gave her an opportunity to visit schools all over the state and read aloud to children. She also worked tirelessly to promote awareness for women’s mental health issues, particularly postpartum depression and breast cancer.

After her husband left office, Mary Jo accepted a teaching position at a private elementary school in West Orange, New Jersey.

Throughout her career, Mary Jo has contributed to a wide variety of causes. When her sons were young, she was active in Cub Scouts as a den mother and in her children’s school parent teacher associations. She is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Essex County, which honored her for her mental health advocacy efforts in 1995. Mary Jo also served as the first facilitator for a postpartum depression support group that was established at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in 1994 and continues to operate today. Currently, she is an active member of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, see this biography of her at the official website for the state of New Jersey.