Mary Schrage is a life long Alaskan.  She attended both public and private schools, here in Anchorage.  She earned her nursing degree from Anchorage Community College. She is married, the mother of 3 boys who attend(ed) Service, Hanshew and Abbott Loop schools.

Her role in advocacy began on a trip to Juneau with her husband for the Fire Chief’s convention in ‘05, meeting and speaking with legislators on educational issues.  She has served as Advocacy Chair for the Alaska PTA, and is now the Presient-Elect.  She flew to Washington D.C. in ’06 where she enjoyed a wonderful new experience at a level she never imagined, advocating on the behalf of our children’s education, at the federal level.

Mary believes that one cannot complain about issues unless one is willing to actively get involved to bring about change.  She believes in moving positively forward and to do it in a fair and just way. She believes in being open about what the issues are and does her best to decipher between symptoms vs. disease and treatment vs. cure.  She also believes and has faith in our children and that if we give to them what they need, they will be equipped to carry and resolve tomorrow’s issues. She has found that students often are more open and willing to talk about what the real issues are better than their parents. She keeps in mind that looking the other way engenders problems; acknowledgement engenders solutions.

Her faith is what empowers her to move forward when all else says it will end in failure.  She holds out Hope for miracles and trusts in the Great Power that sustains her in her daily life.