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John St. Croix

Biography

"I thought I would be carried off of Capitol Hill in a box, but I was wrong," states John St. Croix. "So did everyone else." John's exit from the Hill came not in a box but with a son. When he adopted 12-year old Timothy, his work habits became incompatible with family needs. "Although my son enjoyed our proximity to Congress," John writes, "it also became clear that it would not be practical for me to continue directing one show at work and starring in another one at home."

John also remembers being told-more than once-that he would make a good teacher. He agrees that two decades in public service are a natural segue into teaching. His work as the legislative director for Congressman Tim Roemer, other members of Congress, the New York City Council, and wide political campaign experience has prepared him to teach the importance of civics and government. John notes that his time as a professional staff member of the House Science Committee, where he conducted oversight of Federal energy and space research, has made him particularly aware of the value of knowledge for the future.

John is committed to community service. He was most recently a full member of the Massachusetts State Board of Higher Education, serving as the student trustee. He served on the Board of Directors of a homeless shelter, volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, and served as a volunteer lecturer for the Close Up Foundation and the National Youth Leadership Council. He also served on the Board of Directors of the West African Childhood Development Foundation and is a former chair of the Peace and Justice Committee at the National Capital Presbytery. He has a history of volunteering on local and national political campaigns. "Service is an expression of love and of gratitude. It is its own reward. I want my son to know that, and to do so I must show him," he says. John's son is already following his lead: he is a regular volunteer in both the local blood drive and at an area senior citizen home.

John has recently been honored with the Chancellor's Scholarship and been named to on the Chancellor's List at the University of Massachusetts. He was honored twice at the university's 2003 Honors Convocation for merit both in the Political Science Department and the general student population. John was the first Salutatorian in the history of Cape Cod Community College, where he served as treasurer of Phi Theta Kappa, the National Honor Society.

When John attends the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, he plans to advance the skills he needs to be an outstanding teacher and to gain the tools necessary to be a successful advocate for public education and urban policy reform

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