Barbara Lett-Simmons (June 4, 1927 – December 22, 2012) was an American politician. She was an openly faithless elector in the 2000 presidential election when she refused to cast her votes in the Electoral College. Early life Lett-Simmons was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. Lett-Simmons was an alumna of Western Michigan University which she graduated from in 1949. Lett-Simmons taught elementary school in Detroit before moving to Washington, D. C. in 1962, then worked as an elementary school teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland until 1965. She worked as an educational coordinator for the United Planning Organization, a community services and empowerment organization and for a District of Columbia poverty program. She was also the host of a local radio talk show and a cable television program. Lett-Simmons was a consultant helping to lead the search that led to the appointment of Barbara D. Sizemore as District of Columbia superintendent of schools in 1973. She was elected to the District of Columbia board of education in 1973, in which she served from 1974 to 1986. Tenure as DC Education Board Member On April to October 1978, Lett-Simmons was the subject of a drama of operatic proportions, when the school board meetings were held to look at the future of superintendent Barbara A. Sizemore, who was appointed in 1973. She was a defender of Sizemore. The superintendent, Sizemore was fired and was replaced by Vincent E. Reed. Lett-Simmons wrote a letter to The Washington Post, in which she complained about a travesty of justice and questioned whether the newspaper’s editorial board opposed Sizemore because she was black and female. In 1977, she said, "For years people wanted to suggest politics was a nasty word". Her opinion said, "the schools are the most significant institution in society, and necessarily education must be politicized". In 1978, Lett-Simmons helped to launch a piano competition for District of Columbia public school students. In 1982, she criticized a plan for a closing school, saying it favored schools in predominately white sections of the city. Lett-Simmons often clashed with school superintendents and other board members. Lett-Simmons was defeated for re-election in the District of Columbia board of education in 1985. She was part of a vanguard of public officials who sought to leave their mark on the city. Lett-Simmons aims were to broaden opportunities for inner city children, expand vocational training and make the schools more accountable to