Rood, Florence (1873–1944)

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Rood, Florence (1873–1944)

American teacher and labor activist. Born 1873 in St. Paul, Minnesota; died 1944.

Served as kindergarten teacher; became demonstration teacher and critic teacher at St. Paul Normal School, MN (1913); appointed assistant supervisor in charge of kindergartens in St. Paul school system (1916); helped form Grade Teachers Organization; elected leader of Department of Classroom Teachers of National Education Association (NEA, 1910); managed pension system for St. Paul teachers (until 1939); served as 1st woman president of American Federation of Teachers (1924–26).