Denise Juneau

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Denise Juneau

| image = Denise Juneau, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction 5.3.2010.jpg

| caption = Juneau in 2010

| office = Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools

| term_start = July 1, 2018

| term_end = May 1, 2021

| predecessor = Larry Nyland

| successor = Brent Jones (acting)

| office1 = 16th Superintendent of Public Instruction of Montana

| governor1 = Brian Schweitzer
Steve Bullock

| term_start1 = January 5, 2009

| term_end1 = January 2, 2017

| predecessor1 = Linda McCulloch

| successor1 = Elsie Arntzen

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|4|5}}

| birth_place = Oakland, California, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| education = Montana State University (BA)
Harvard University (MEd)
University of Montana (JD)

| parents = Stan and Carol Juneau

}}

Denise Juneau (born April 5, 1967){{cite news|title=Denise Juneau bio|url=http://missoulian.com/denise-juneau-bio/article_466750f4-46fc-11e1-b4b9-001871e3ce6c.html|accessdate=May 10, 2016|publisher=The Missoulian|date=January 24, 2012}} is an American attorney, educator, and politician from the U.S. state of Montana who served as the state's Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2009 to 2017.{{cite news|last1=Cates-Carney|first1=Corin|title=Juneau Discusses 'Campaign Of Firsts'|url=http://mtpr.org/post/juneau-discusses-campaign-firsts#stream/0|accessdate=May 10, 2016|publisher=Montana Public Radio|date=March 10, 2016}} She is a Democrat and the first female Native American elected to statewide office in the United States.{{cite news|last1=McKee|first1=Jennifer|title=Montana under new management|url=http://mtstandard.com/politics/montana/montana-under-new-management/article_15e675df-3bdc-5f3e-af99-72de139f418c.html|accessdate=May 10, 2016|publisher=Montana Standard|date=January 4, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_fe8e7626-9e66-11de-8caa-001cc4c002e0.html|title=Denise Juneau, Joe Medicine Crow named educator, elder of the year|author=Missoulian State Bureau|date=September 11, 2009|work=missoulian.com|accessdate=November 5, 2015}}{{cite web |title=Milestones for Women in American Politics |url=https://cawp.rutgers.edu/facts/milestones-for-women |website=Center for American Women and Politics |publisher=Rutgers University |accessdate=19 July 2019}} Her mother is Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara, while her father is Blackfoot.{{cite web|url=http://www.nativetimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2587:niea-names-denise-juneau-indian-educator-of-the-year&catid=50&Itemid=26|title=NIEA names Denise Juneau Indian Educator of the Year|author=Publisher|work=nativetimes.com|accessdate=November 5, 2015}}

On November 4, 2015, Juneau announced her candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in the 2016 congressional election.{{Cite web|title = Denise Juneau launches campaign for Montana's U.S. House seat|url = http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/government-and-politics/denise-juneau-launches-campaign-for-montana-s-u-s-house/article_559f8ac1-b5de-5959-bdb9-34f58dd3d5fe.html|website = The Billings Gazette| date=November 4, 2015 |accessdate = November 19, 2015}} Juneau was defeated by incumbent Republican Ryan Zinke in the 2016 general election.

In April 2018, the Seattle Public Schools board unanimously voted to elect Juneau as the next superintendent of Seattle Public Schools. She began on July 1, 2018. She resigned from the post on May 1, 2021.{{cite web |last1=Bazzaz |first1=Dahlia |title=Denise Juneau, Seattle school superintendent, resigning earlier than planned |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/denise-juneau-seattle-school-superintendent-resigning-earlier-than-planned/ |website=The Seattle Times |date=March 19, 2021 |access-date=June 11, 2021}}

Early life and education

Denise Juneau was born on April 5, 1967, in Oakland, California, to parents Stan and Carol Juneau. Her family moved to Montana in 1969. Juneau graduated in 1985 from Browning High School in Browning, Montana, which is on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

Juneau received a bachelor's degree in English from Montana State University in 1993. In 1994, she completed her Master of Education Degree at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She took course work toward a doctorate at the University of New Mexico in 1997 and 1998. Juneau shifted her career path, attending the University of Montana Law School and completing her J.D. in 2004.

Career

= Early career =

Juneau worked on the educational support staff of Browning, Montana schools from 1986 through 1988. She was a high school teacher in New Town, North Dakota, within the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, from 1994 through 1995, and in Browning, Montana, from 1995 through 1997.

Juneau was an instructional specialist at the Montana Office of Public Instruction under Superintendent Nancy Keenan from 1998 through 2001. While at the Montana Office of Public Instruction, Juneau served as Director of Indian Education, where she oversaw the implementation of Montana's constitutionally mandated Indian Education For All program. It was designed to deliver education in the public schools on Montana's American Indian heritage.{{cite web|url=http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_7bdc89fd-145d-51ae-beb4-d03971732d7d.html|title=Native stories, our stories: Agency to design Indian education|author=Rob Chaney Missoulian|date=December 30, 2008|work=The Billings Gazette|accessdate=November 5, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_85dfcf47-9880-516a-8c78-93c4300077d5.html|title=Teachers look to get Indian info into classroom|author=Rob Chaney|date=December 7, 2008|work=The Billings Gazette|accessdate=November 5, 2015}}

Juneau was a law clerk at the Montana Supreme Court for justices Jim Regnier and Brian Morris from 2004 through 2005. She worked as an associate attorney for the law firm Monteau and Peebles from 2005 to 2006. From 2006 through 2008, she was a division administrator at the Office of Public Instruction under Superintendent Linda McCulloch. In 2009, Juneau was named Educator of the Year by the National Indian Education Association.

= Political campaigns =

In 2008, Juneau ran for Superintendent of Public Instruction. She won a four-way Democratic primary in June.{{cite web|url=http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_72acb1d8-3712-5467-a9a4-6cdc8ee9e2a1.html|title=Differences come to fore in OPI race|author=Charles S. Johnson|date=June 19, 2008|work=The Billings Gazette|accessdate=November 5, 2015}} In the November general election, the final vote tally was 234,483 for Juneau (51%), 201,091 (43.7%) for her GOP opponent, Elaine Sollie Herman, and 24,236 (5.3%) for Libertarian candidate Donald Eisenmenger.{{Cite web |url=http://sos.mt.gov/elections/archives/2000s/2008/results/2008_State_General.pdf |title=2008 Statewide General Election Canvass. Montana Secretary of State |access-date=December 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115412/http://sos.mt.gov/elections/archives/2000s/2008/results/2008_State_General.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }} She was the first American Indian woman to win a statewide office.{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Richard |title=More Native candidates are running for local office — and winning — in Washington state |url=https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/news/more-native-candidates-are-running-for-local-office-and-winning-in-washington-state-hzs7YInn-UOpd4k9-6epjw/ |website=Indian Country Today |accessdate=June 9, 2019 |language=en |date=June 9, 2019}}

In 2012, Juneau ran for re-election against Republican Sandy Welch. Juneau was narrowly re-elected, receiving 235,397 votes to Welch's 233,166 votes.{{cite web|title=2012 Statewide General Election Results|url=http://sos.mt.gov/Elections/2012/2012_General_Canvass.pdf|publisher=Montana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 10, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705235441/http://sos.mt.gov/elections/2012/2012_General_Canvass.pdf|archive-date=July 5, 2016|df=mdy-all}} Due to term limits, Juneau was ineligible to run again in 2016.{{cite news|last1=Dennison|first1=Mike|title=Democrat Denise Juneau challenged Zinke for Montana's Congressional seat|url=http://www.krtv.com/story/30435840/democrat-denise-juneau-will-challenge-zinke-for-montanas-congressional-seat|accessdate=May 10, 2016|publisher=KRTV|date=November 4, 2015|archive-date=May 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529100020/http://www.krtv.com/story/30435840/democrat-denise-juneau-will-challenge-zinke-for-montanas-congressional-seat|url-status=dead}}

Juneau was named as a possible candidate for US Senator Max Baucus's (D-Montana) seat, which was vacated upon his retirement in 2014. On August 5, 2013, she announced that she would not run for the Senate.{{cite web|last=Capriccioso|first=Rob|title=Denise Juneau Says No to US Senate Run in Montana|url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/08/05/biding-her-time-denise-juneau-opts-out-us-senate-run-150753|publisher=Indian Country|accessdate=August 9, 2013|archive-date=August 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807221159/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/08/05/biding-her-time-denise-juneau-opts-out-us-senate-run-150753|url-status=dead}}

On November 4, 2015, Juneau announced her candidacy for Montana's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.{{Cite web|title = Democrat Denise Juneau will challenge Zinke for Montana's Congressional seat|url = http://www.krtv.com/story/30435840/democrat-denise-juneau-will-challenge-zinke-for-montanas-congressional-seat|website = www.krtv.com|accessdate = November 19, 2015|archive-date = November 20, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151120090728/http://www.krtv.com/story/30435840/democrat-denise-juneau-will-challenge-zinke-for-montanas-congressional-seat|url-status = dead}} As of November 1, 2016, she ranked 6th in the country for congressional candidates raising money from donors giving $200 or less.[http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/11/01/native-americans-trump-renewable-energy-curiosity-166302 Mark Trahant, "Native Americans for Trump, Renewable Energy & Curiosity"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102172057/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/11/01/native-americans-trump-renewable-energy-curiosity-166302 |date=November 2, 2016 }}, Indian Country Today, November 1, 2016; accessed November 2, 2016 Juneau was defeated by incumbent Republican representative Ryan Zinke in the general election. Juneau won 40% of the vote.{{cite news|title=Election 2016 Results: Bullock Re-elected Governor, Zinke Cruises|url=http://flatheadbeacon.com/2016/11/08/election-2016-results-voters-cast-ballots-general-election/|accessdate=15 November 2016|publisher=Flathead Beacon|date=November 8, 2016}}

= Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction =

Since Juneau took office in 2009, she reported that Montana's graduation rate increased 4.7 percent, while the dropout rate decreased 1.3 percent since the state had started tracking these numbers in 2000.{{cite web | last = Deedy | first = Alexander | title = [UPDATED] Montana Graduation Rate Hits All-Time High | publisher = Helena Independent Record | date = January 13, 2015 | url = http://helenair.com/news/local/updated-montana-graduation-rate-hits-all-time-high/article_7279eef1-cc6e-5c22-803c-9928389c761e.html}} Juneau oversaw the development of Montana's "Schools of Promise Initiative", an $11.5 million, three-year project which used federal grant money "to help teachers' union leaders, school board officials, and administrators attempt to address students' academic and social-emotional needs in some of the state's most disadvantaged schools." The academic results of that program have been mixed.{{cite web | last = Yager | first = Sarah | title = Making New Promises in Indian Country | publisher = The Atlantic | date = March 23, 2012 | url = https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/03/making-new-promises-in-indian-country/254969/}}{{cite news|last1=Ujifusa|first1=Andrew|title=Montana Chief Denise Juneau Announces Run for Congress|url=http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2015/11/montana_chief_denise_juneau_an.html|accessdate=May 10, 2016|publisher=Education Week|date=November 4, 2015}}

Juneau gave a speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in which she praised U.S. President Barack Obama's education policy.

In 2015, Juneau was awarded the Alumni Council Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.{{Cite web|title = Juneau to Receive Alumni Council Award|url = http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/15/05/juneau-receive-alumni-council-award|website = Harvard Graduate School of Education| date=May 26, 2015 |publisher = Harvard University|accessdate = November 19, 2015}} She also received the National Education Association's 2015 Leo Reano Memorial Award.{{Cite web|url = https://www.nea.org/assets/docs/Denise_Juneau_HCR_2015_Award_Winner_Bio_sheet_rev_6-23.pdf|title = NEA|access-date = November 24, 2015|archive-date = February 14, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160214030730/http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/Denise_Juneau_HCR_2015_Award_Winner_Bio_sheet_rev_6-23.pdf|url-status = dead}}

= Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools =

In April 2018, Seattle Public Schools board unanimously voted to elect Denise Juneau as the next superintendent of Seattle Public Schools. She began on July 1, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Cornwell |first1=Paige |title=Seattle School Board approves contract with incoming Superintendent Denise Juneau |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/seattle-school-board-approves-contract-with-incoming-superintendent-denise-juneau/ |website=The Seattle Times |accessdate=June 9, 2019 |date=April 25, 2018}}

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with Washington state's schools closed, she announced that Seattle Public Schools would not transition to online learning, for equity reasons.{{Cite web|title=There's a 'moon shot' to save the school year from coronavirus, but not in Seattle|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/theres-a-moon-shot-manhattan-project-to-save-the-school-year-from-coronavirus-but-not-in-seattle/|accessdate=March 25, 2020|website=The Seattle Times|date=March 25, 2020 }}

Personal life

Juneau is an enrolled citizen of the federally recognized Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation through her mother, Carol Juneau.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bigskywords.com/montana-blog/who-are-the-montana-juneaus|title = Who are the Montana Juneau's?}} Her father, Stan Juneau, was enrolled with the Blackfeet Nation and died of COVID-19 in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://eu.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2020/11/14/william-stanley-stan-juneau-obituary-death-carol-juneau-denise-juneau-blackfeet-nation-browning/6268106002/|title=Remembering William 'Stan' Juneau of Blackfeet Nation, 'pioneer in Indian education'}} She is also a descendant of the Tlingit and Haida peoples.{{cite web|url=https://www.gse.harvard.edu/hgse100/story/commitment-education-justice#:~:text=When%20she%20was%20elected%20Montana's,office%20in%20the%20United%20States. |title=A Commitment to Education Justice |publisher=Harvard University |accessdate=2023-08-10}}

She is openly gay and the first such candidate to run for federal office in Montana.{{cite news |url=http://www.ktvq.com/story/31129370/us-house-hopeful-juneau-is-montanas-first-openly-gay-candidate-for-federal-office |title=U.S. House hopeful Juneau is Montana's first openly gay candidate for federal office |work=KTVQ |date=February 3, 2016 |access-date=February 3, 2016 |archive-date=February 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204092800/http://www.ktvq.com/story/31129370/us-house-hopeful-juneau-is-montanas-first-openly-gay-candidate-for-federal-office |url-status=dead }} In November 2015, Juneau confirmed she had twice been arrested while a college student for driving under the influence.{{cite web | last = Cates | first = Kristen | title = Juneau Confirms 2 DUI Arrests In College | publisher = Great Falls Tribune | date = November 16, 2015 | url = http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2015/11/16/juneau-confirms-dui-arrests-college/75902950/}}

Electoral history

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic primary election, 2008

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

Democratic

|Denise Juneau

|54,031

|37.54

Democratic

|Holly Raser

|35,636

|24.76

Democratic

|Sam Kitzenberg

|30,207

|20.98

Democratic

|Claudette Morton

|24,074

|16.72

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2008

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

Democratic

|Denise Juneau

|234,483

|51.00

Republican

|Elaine Sollie Herman

|201,091

|43.73

Libertarian

|Donald Eisenmenger

|24,236

|5.27

class="wikitable"

! colspan="4" |Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2012

Party

|Candidate

|Votes

Democratic

|Denise Juneau (inc.)

|235,397

|50.24

Republican

|Sandy Welch

|233,166

|49.76

References

External links

Denise Juneau, [http://denisejuneau.com candidate for U.S. House official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124065508/http://denisejuneau.com/ |date=November 24, 2015 }}
{{ballotpedia|Denise_Juneau|Denise Juneau}}

Category:1967 births

Category:Educators from Montana

Category:21st-century American women educators

Category:Harvard Graduate School of Education alumni

Category:American lesbian politicians

Category:Living people

Category:LGBTQ Native Americans

Category:LGBTQ people from California

Category:LGBTQ people from Montana

Category:Montana Democrats

Category:Montana lawyers

Category:Montana State University alumni