Marilyn Howard
Office 123rd Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction
Term start 1January 4, 1999[1]
Term end 1January 1, 2007
Preceded 1Anne C. Fox
Succeeded 1Tom Luna
Birth dateApril 18, 1939
Birth placeMackay, Idaho, U.S.
Death dateJuly 13, 2020 (aged 81)
Death placeEagle, Idaho, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Alma materUniversity of Idaho (BA, MA)
Brigham Young University (EdD)

Marilyn Lenore Howard (April 18, 1939 – July 13, 2020) was an American politician from Idaho who served as the 23rd Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1999 to 2007. She is the last Democrat to hold or be elected to statewide office in Idaho.

Early life

Marilyn Lenore Howard was born on April 18, 1939, in Mackay, Idaho.[2][3] In 1960, Howard graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Idaho and later with a master's degree in 1966. In 1986, she graduated with a doctorate in education from Brigham Young University. She completed postgraduate work at Idaho State University.[4][5]

Career

Education

In 1960, Howard became a history and language arts teacher in Lewiston, Idaho. In 1988, she became the principal of the West Park Elementary School in Moscow, Idaho. In 1992, she became the supervisor of the Moscow school district's developmental preschool.[4]

Superintendent of Public Instruction

In 1997, Howard announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction and defeated Wally Hedrick in the Democratic primary.[6][7] In the general election she defeated incumbent Republican Superintendent Anne C. Fox.[8] On January 29, 2002, she announced that she would seek reelection and won in the general election after defeating Republican nominee Tom Luna.[9][10]

In 2000, Howard was listed as the 26th most influential Idahoan.[11] In 2002, she was listed as the 12th most influential Idahoan.[12] During her tenure she and Governor Dirk Kempthorne attempted to create a position in the state Department of Education to oversee the education of Native American students, but the Idaho Legislature voted against it. However, the position would be later created by Tom Luna in 2007.[13] In December 2006, she was criticized for distributing $120,098 in merit bonuses to 135 of her employees.[14]

On October 25, 2005, Howard announced that she would not seek reelection.[15] When she left office in 2007 she was the last member of the Democratic Party to hold statewide office in Idaho.[4]

Later life

In 2006, Howard underwent surgery for breast cancer.[16] On July 13, 2020, Howard died in Eagle, Idaho, at age 81.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Howard Takes Office". The Times-News. January 8, 1999. p. 9. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  2. ^ Former State Superintendent Marilyn Howard Dies
  3. ^ "Marilyn Lenore Howard"
  4. ^ "Former State Superintendent Marilyn Howard dies". Idaho News. July 13, 2020. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  5. ^ "Education". The Times-News. November 1, 1998. p. 37. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  6. ^ "Moscow principal joins superintendent race". The Times-News. October 22, 1997. p. 5. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  7. ^ "Primary results 1998". Idaho Secretary of State. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  8. ^ "Election results 1998". Idaho Secretary of State. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Democratic schools superintendent to run for re-election". South Idaho Press. January 30, 2002. p. 2. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  10. ^ "Election results 2002". Idaho Secretary of State. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  11. ^ "The votes are in for the 100 most influential Idahoans". The Times-News. February 12, 2000. p. 6. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  12. ^ "The top 100". The Times-News. January 5, 2002. p. 5. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  13. ^ "Idaho to create position to oversee American Indian education". South Idaho Press. January 24, 2007. p. 3. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  14. ^ "Idaho school chief defends year-end bonuses". South Idaho Press. December 5, 2006. p. 2. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  15. ^ "Howard plans retirement". The Times-News. October 25, 2005. p. 9. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020. – via Newspapers.com
  16. ^ "State's top education official undergoes breast cancer surgery". South Idaho Press. August 15, 2006. p. 2. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2020. – via Newspapers.com