DAVIS — Delaine Eastin, the primary woman to function superintendent of public instruction in California, died Tuesday. She was 76.
Eastin was elected to state office in 1994 and oversaw 6 million students in greater than 10,000 schools for 2 terms, her representatives said in a press release.
No other woman has held this position since her.
“As the beloved daughter of Hank and Dottie – who valued education above all else – Delaine is remembered for her boundless intellect, infinitely compassionate spirit, sharp sense of humor and courageous leadership at the local, state, national and international levels remain,” the statement said. “Her love of education, children, animals, gardens and the arts was reflected in everything she did.”
Eastin was born in San Diego and grew up primarily in San Carlos. She attended Brittan Acres Elementary School and graduated from Carlmont High School. Eastin later earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis. based on The Davis Enterprise.
After stints in education and the private sector, Eastin joined the Union City City Council in 1980, the newspaper reported. She was then elected to the State Assembly in November 1986, winning the 18th District seat over Republican Martin “Leo” Mehan.
An early legislative victory for Eastin got here in 1987, when the governor signed a bill she authored to donate a portion of state lottery proceeds to the California School for the Blind and the California School for the Deaf, schools positioned on adjoining campuses campuses of their district.
Eastin said she learned during her door-to-door campaigning that special schools didn’t receive a share of the lottery money.
“It appeared to be an oversight in lottery law,” Eastin told Mercury News reporter Lori Eickmann on the time. “The money goes to K-12 programs, community colleges, California State University and the University of California. So it seemed that special schools should also get it.” The distribution of funds began the subsequent 12 months.
The California governor's office remembered Eastin as a “trailblazing leader” in education and ladies in politics in a press release posted on social media Wednesday.
“Eastin remains the only woman to have served as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, where she fought for CA students,” the post said. “Our hearts go out to their loved ones at this time.”
Tony Thurmond, the present superintendent of public instruction, praised Eastin for advocating for universal preschool and faculty nutrition and honoring educators by establishing the state's Teacher of the Year award.
“Their dedication and vision in supporting and preparing students for the future laid the foundation for what is possible for our students today,” he said in a social media post.
In the mid-Nineteen Eighties to early Nineties, Eastin was one in every of a small group of girls who served within the state legislature. An oral history of hers was added to the state archives only a 12 months ago, in March 2023, after Secretary of State Shirley Weber announced the resumption of the archives' oral history project.
“Women were particularly close back then,” said Eastin, a Democrat who represented parts of Alameda and Santa Clara counties within the Assembly from 1986 to 1994 Hanna Kang, Orange County Register reporter. “Women took care of each other because we kind of had to, because in some cases we were dismissed or demeaned if we didn’t stand up for each other.”
Examples of sexism were plentiful.
“I remember in the early days there were people who wouldn't let me in the membership elevator because I was a girl and couldn't possibly become a member,” she said within the interview.
And then there was this time when a caucus leader referred to the ladies's caucus as a “lipstick caucus,” Eastin said. “All hell broke loose,” she remembers. “The women were angry.” According to Eastin, the lawmaker eventually apologized.
Eastin retired from elected office in 2003 but returned to politics in 2017 when she ran for governor.
A public celebration of life can be held this summer, Eastin officials said.
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