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Retired educator Elaine Graham continues to teach, mentor and inspire
WORDS: Amy Bell
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
Elaine Graham may be retired
from her teaching career, but
she continues to educate and
inspire students across the community.
Graham dedicated a total of 35 years to
Manatee County middle schools. During
her lengthy tenure, she taught eighth
grade English at Bayshore Middle, Harllee
her career at the Manatee County School
District curriculum department.
finished. As soon as the retirement
Even before retiring, Graham had long
advocated for a number of local non-
Center, Planned Parenthood and the
Humane Society. However, retirement
afforded her even more time to dedicate
to volunteer work.
Passion Projects
In recent years, Graham has turned her
focus to two organizations near and
dear to her heart: Take Stock in Children
Manatee and the Bradenton Branch
of American Association of University
Women (AAUW). “Everything I do is for
education in their lives, regardless of
where they are in the socio-economic
Graham has a long-standing history
with AAUW. She served as the very
in 1973-74. As a 501(c)(3) corporation,
the AAUW advances equity for women
and girls through advocacy, education,
philanthropy and research. The foundation
awards scholarships to Manatee County
residents 25 years and older who have
completed at least 60 credit hours toward
“We offer scholarships to women for
whom life intervened,” Graham explains.
“They started school, life got in the way,
and college was put on the back burner.
Now they know they need to pursue a
family or other reasons.” The AAUW
hosts two major fundraisers each year:
Trivia Night and the annual Women of
Achievement Luncheon.
During each annual awards luncheon, a
few extraordinary women are recognized
for their outstanding contributions to the
community. In 2017, the AAUW Bradenton
branch honored their very own Elaine
Graham as a Woman of Achievement.
“That was exciting and really a thoughtful
thing for them to do,” she says.
Three years ago, the AAUW started a
new tradition: The organization hosts
an annual STEM event at University of
South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. “We
bring in middle school girls from both
Sarasota and Manatee counties on a
Saturday,” Graham explains. Considering
that women in the U.S. earn only about
35 percent of undergraduate degrees in
STEM, this is a particularly powerful event
for young girls.
in STEM activities and listen to STEM
speakers,” Graham continues. “All of our
presenters and everyone who we put in
front of the girls is a woman. I think that
sends an important message.”
in Children (TSIC) Manatee 12 years
ago. “When I retired from the school
system, this was the one thing I took
on immediately,” she recalls. Graham
started as a mentor and then worked
her way up to the leadership council.
She helped the organization secure its
501(c)(3) corporation status, became
Today, she continues to offer her time