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Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus’ achievements are remarkable. In her 85 years, she spent over 27 as the first woman principal of a major high school in California. She went on to found the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA) and was named the national teacher of the year in 1954.
She believed that getting older was not a disability but rather an opportunity for dynamic maturity. In 1958, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus founded AARP when she was 73 years old. Her vision for aging with dignity and purpose continues to influence the polices and practices we still embrace today.
In our volunteer-created AARP Legacy In Action series, AARP Maine takes a deeper look at Dr. Andrus' fascinating story. We hope you enjoy each episode as we explore how Dr. Andrus successfully laid the groundwork for today’s volunteerism, advocacy, service and commitment to the needs and desires of older adults in Maine and throughout the United States.
AARP Legacy in Action: How the life’s work of one remarkable woman propels our efforts toward a new vision of aging in America
Narrated By: Erica Magnus
Dr. Erica Magnus is an educator living in Windham with her wife, Jane.
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