C. Louise Boehringer

Cora Louise Boehringer (1878 – September 11, 1956) was an American educator who was the first female superintendent of schools in Yuma County, Arizona. She has been called "the mother of the Arizona educational system". In 2008 she was inducted into the Arizona Women's Hall of Fame.

Early life Cora Louise Boehringer was born in Morrison, Illinois, the daughter of Jacob F. Boehringer and Louise Greenawald, immigrants from Germany.

Boehringer attended primary school in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1902 she graduated from DeKalb Normal School in DeKalb, Illinois. She then attended teacher colleges in Illinois and Missouri. She studied and received degrees from Columbia University (B.S. in education, 1911), Columbia Teacher's College (professional certification in elementary supervision, 1911) and California State University at Berkeley (M.A. in education, 1930). She also served as chair of the Committee on Education, established the State School Board, created per capita funding for schools, and legitimized children born out of wedlock. In 1933 she was appointed director of curriculum for the Department of Education, a position she held for six years. In 1934 she was appointed president of the Arizona Parent-Teacher Association.

In 1926 Boehringer was legislative chairman for the Arizona Federation of Women's Clubs. In 1919, she organized and was the first state president of the Arizona Federation of Business and Professional Women's clubs in 1921 and served a second term as state president in 1924. In both positions, she helped working women to network and advocated for equal pay and education.

Boehringer was involved in many other organizations: Professor at Northern Arizona University, summer classes. State Chairman of Better Homes in America, appointed in 1928 by Herbert Hoover. Member of American Association of University Women. Member of National Education Association (N.E.A.), in 1913 she spoke at their convention in San Francisco. Founder of the State Council of Administrative Women in Education in 1915. Chairman of the College Woman's Drive for Food Conservation, Arizona, in 1917. Secretary of the Arizona State Teacher's Association, 1919. Member of Altrusa International, Inc. Member of Delta Kappa Gamma

Personal life In 1912 C. Louise Boehringer moved to Yuma, Arizona, joining her brother, George, and parents who had moved there in 1909, claiming a 40-acre ranch and establishing a dairy farm.

When in 1940 Boehringer lost for the third time in the run for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, she retired from public life and in 1953 she moved to Washington with her sister-in-law.

She died in Seattle on September 11, 1956, and is buried at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park, Seattle.