Californians—especially the women and children of California—lost one of their greatest champions when former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin died recently of a stroke at her home in Davis.  She was 76.

There was no more eloquent or passionate fighter for public education or for the political power of women, and no better friend to the National Women’s Political Caucus, than Delaine (always known by her first name after you first met her).  She grew up in California, and her public education included degrees from the University of California at Davis and UC Santa Barbara.  Early in her career, she taught women’s studies at a Bay Area community college, and then worked for Pacific Bell.  

Delaine entered politics as a member of the Union City Council in the early 1980s and quickly advanced to the California State Assembly at a time when women made up only a very small number of assemblymembers and had to fight for respect, especially when they demanded changes in state law to eliminate discrimination and expand opportunities for women and all other Californians with little voice in the political system.  She sought membership on the Assembly Education Committee, serving as chair before running successfully for Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) in 1994.  She was only the fifth woman elected statewide in California, and the only woman ever elected to lead the education system. 

While the SPI is responsible for California’s largest constitutionally mandated function—the education of children—a job that takes fully half the state’s General Fund budget, it is the use of the “bully pulpit” where the SPI can have their greatest impact.  And few state leaders, before or since, had as articulate or effective a voice in that bully pulpit.

During her eight years in office, Delaine managed a department of some 2000 employees supporting a thousand school districts serving 6 million K-12 students.  She traversed California visiting elementary and secondary schools, hearing for herself what they needed .  She fought to improve the quality of education and the resources to make sure every student could succeed.  She battled Governor Wilson over a goal to reduce K-3 classrooms to 20 students maximum, and when the battle was won, led the implementation of that massive change in only a few short weeks.

In a time of budget cuts and waning support for public education, Delaine celebrated the teachers, administrators, parents and students themselves who worked to make the system better.  She also mobilized research and public support to put gardens in schools, art education back in classrooms, more counselors, better resources for school libraries, and other improvements that engaged students and contributed to academic success.   

After Delaine was termed out in 2002, she led a national professional development program for school principals, became a professor of education at Mills College in Oakland, and was actively involved in political organizations that promoted women in public office.  Early in her political career, she helped found the Alameda South Chapter of NWPC, and later was a founding board chair of Close the Gap, aiming to reach gender parity in the California Legislature.

Most of all, Delaine was a hero, friend, mentor, role model, advisor, and supporter of more people, especially young people, than many touch in their lifetime.  Innumerable women sought her counsel and advice about running for office.  They were never turned down, and they often benefited from her endorsement and donations when they did run.  She continued speaking at education, political, and other events until the time of her death, and she could be counted on to jump in wherever she could help.  She was an active member of NWPC Sacramento and never turned down an NWPC request to speak or help make events successful.  

Delaine’s last NWPC event was a tour of the State Capitol and lunch in mid-March.  She had auctioned herself to raise funds for the Sacramento PAC fund and led a half-dozen women on a visit to the Assembly floor, checking out her old desk and visiting with staff who remembered her service.  As we walked the halls, a small group of men and women recognized her and immediately crowded around to tell her how important her work had been to them in their careers in special education, and how they knew she always had their backs.  Their words were echoed in the many messages and tributes that have followed the news of her death.

There will be a public celebration of Delaine’s life in the coming months, and NWPC Sacramento will be considering ways to honor her service and her legacy of courage and her strong voice.  In the meantime, those who want to honor her most should work with NWPC to elect all the pro-choice progressive women we can to every public office at every level in this most critical of election years.