Many fine educators have achieved success in areas outside of the classroom. One of these is Tracy Kraft-Tharp, a former middle school teacher who was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives. Photo credit: coloradopolitics.com.

Many fine educators have achieved success in areas outside of the classroom. One of these is Tracy Kraft-Tharp, a former middle school teacher who was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives.

Tracy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, and Education from Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota. She earned a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Denver. In 2000, she earned Juris Doctorate from the University in Denver.

Tracy inaugurated her career as an educator when she accepted a position as a middle school teacher. From there, she became a social worker at the Tenneyson Center for Children, where she worked with at-risk children. Next, she served as the Director of Adolescent Services at Gemini House. She also worked as the Director of Battered Women Services at the Women in Crisis women’s shelter. Later, Tracy taught college courses as a professor at Metropolitan State University located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is also a former professor at Regis University in Denver.

In 2012, Tracy was elected to represent the 29th District on the Democratic ticket. She served in that body from Jan., 2013 to Jan., 2021. There she worked tirelessly for job growth. She passed legislation to support the Re-Hire Colorado program, which provides job coaching and training to unemployed and underemployed Colorado residents. She also sponsored legislation creating a suicide prevention task force to reduce the rate of suicide in Colorado. In addition, the former middle school teacher was appointed to serve on the Jefferson County School District Strategic Planning and Advisory Council.

In addition to her professional affiliations, Tracy is a member of many organizations, including the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Council; the Jefferson County Parent Teacher Association; the League of Women Voters; and the Human Services Council.

Since 2000, Tracy has run her own consulting firm, working with small businesses and nonprofits to increase strategic planning, facilitation, policy development, ED mentoring, and facilitation.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to the website for Tracy Kraft-Tharp.