Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Beatrice P. Tignor, Ed.D.
MSA SC 3520-12340

Extended Biography:

Dr. Beatrice Tignor, fondly called "Bea" by many, is a woman of “great substance” with an “uncanny ability to bring so many people together."¹ As an "accomplished jack-of-all-trades,"² she has worn many hats: politician, educator, community contributor.³ All of her positions and efforts have been to better the lives of Prince George’s County residents and Marylanders by "educating them, defending them, [and] clearing their paths."⁴ 

On June 2, 1940, Dr. Beatrice Tignor was born into a unique life on a 15-acre farm in Brandywine, Maryland.⁵ In this southern Prince George’s County town, she would wake-up early to help take care of the family's farm animals, and then walk approximately seventeen miles one-way to a school that was still segregated.⁶ Dr. Tignor grew up in poverty and was the oldest of six children, having three sisters as well as two brothers. Her father, Ralph Proctor, was a laborer who forbade his wife, Phyllis Proctor, to work.⁷ Mrs. Proctor would clean houses for money in secret though, trusting in Dr. Tignor to make her absence unnoticeable.⁸

Dr. Tignor’s sisters recalled that during their childhoods, "[they] didn't have that much."⁹ However, their mother was a determined figure who “wanted two things for her girls: to be able to drive a car and to have some type of job skills so [they didn’t] have to depend on people."¹⁰  Such maternal strength helped Dr. Tignor through trying years; when she was seventeen her father passed away of a heart attack, and the following year a lack of finances kept her from attending her dream school, Vassar College. She persevered and attended Bowie State University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and English in 1961.¹¹

Shortly after graduation, Dr. Tignor became a first grade teacher in Prince George’s County. She also became a Reading Specialist and eventually worked her way up to Assistant Superintendent.¹² She strove to help not only students, but adults and those who did not speak English advance their literacy skills through personal tutoring a variety of programs such as the Prince George’s County Non-Profit Literacy Program.¹³ Dr. Tignor also carried out noteworthy actions such as teaching the first pilot Junior Primary Class in Prince George’s County and teaching high school students in Puerto Rico how to speak English and to read.¹⁴

During this time, Dr. Tignor married a postal worker and had a daughter, Patricia Tignor. Tragedy struck again however; shortly after the birth of her daughter, Dr. Tignor’s husband committed suicide and one of her brothers passed away in a car accident.¹⁵ Although faced with heartbreak, Dr. Tignor recalled that "each tragedy [made her] stronger and more determined to be self-reliant."¹⁶ Indeed this was true and she proceeded to work three jobs, raise her daughter, earn a Masters Degree in Education and Reading in 1965, an Ed.S. Degree in Administration and Supervision, and an Ed.D. Degree in Higher Education: Research/Statistics in 1972, all from The George Washington University.¹⁷

In 1972, Dr. Tignor became a professor at Prince George’s Community College¹⁸ and an adjunct professor at other local colleges, such as Bowie State University.¹⁹ She became the Department Chair of Developmental Studies at Prince George’s Community College in 1980. She helped to advance the college’s educational programs through actions such as implementing a grading policy which allowed developmental students to receive an “IP” or “In Progress” grade rather than receiving a failing grade, a GED program to assist women returning to the work field, starting the Prior Learning Assessment Network (PLAN), which helped working adults gain education,²⁰ and initiating a certification program for teachers in need of teaching credits.²¹ During this time, she did proposal writing and proofread college text books for companies such as McGraw Hill, Kendall Hunt, Houghton Mifflin, Little Brown, Prentice Hall, Cambridge, St. Martin’s, and Allyn Bacon.²² She eventually co-authored community college Reading and English text books.²³

While still serving as Department Chair at Prince George’s Community College, Dr. Tignor became politically ambitious, believing that "you don't have to be an elected official to help people, but as an elected official you get the opportunity to get things done.”²⁴  Having no experience in the field at the time, she started volunteering for the 1986 state legislative campaign of Democrat Albert Wynn.²⁵ She recalled that she "started out at the bottom, just licking stamps and mailing literature."²⁶ Remarkably, in 1990 she was elected into the Maryland House of Delegates, where she represented District 25 in Prince George’s County until 1993.²⁷As a Delegate, she served on the popular Ways and Means Committee, the Women’s Caucus, the Black Caucus, the Joint Expenditure Study Group on Education and Human Resources, and the County Affairs Committee of Prince George's County Delegation²⁸ as she championed legislature which would improve state funding and better the Maryland Educational System.²⁹ 

Governor William Donald Schaefer appointed Dr. Tignor to The Maryland State Senate in 1993, to replace the very man she volunteered for, Albert Wynn, following his election to Congress. She held this position until 1995 and she served on committees such as the Budget and Taxation Committee, the Capital Budget Subcommittee, the Health Education and Human Resources Subcommittee; the Revenues and Taxes Subcommittee, and the Joint Committee on Federal Relations.³⁰

Believing that the county needed “better management of its finances and more controlled growth,”³¹ Dr. Tignor left her position in the Senate to run for the newly opened Prince George’s County Executive seat, which was  previously occupied by Governor Parris Glendenning.³² Dr. Tignor narrowly lost the general election to Wayne K. Curry by six percentage points.³³ The defeat was challenging, especially since she had faced many obstacles during the campaign such as the vandalism of her office on at least three occasions.³⁴ However, when asked about the situation she stated, "I would encourage people not to let a loss turn your life around…you've just got to stay strong, get up and help people.”³⁵

She continued to endeavor and was appointed by Douglas M. Duncan to the Director of Procurement for Montgomery County,³⁶ a position that oversees contracts, purchasing, and the minority business program for Montgomery County. She was well prepared for the position because of her time on spending committees and acknowledged that "I certainly understand money."³⁷ Her appointment was viewed as peculiar because she was not a resident of Montgomery County. It was exclaimed that "coming from another county, that's a surprise… but Bea is well qualified. Bea's a hard worker."³⁸ Although unusual, there was little objection to it and she served as the Director of Procurement from 1995-2006.   

While Dr. Tignor served as the Director of Procurement, she was appointed to Chair of the Prince George’s Board of Education in 2002. She held both positions until 2006. Throughout the duration of her time as Chair, the school system had gains in academic achievement, graduation rates, and teacher training, as well as the implementation of smaller class sizes, air conditioned classrooms, and middle school intramurals.³⁹ Additionally, the school system witnessed advancement of technology in schools, improved school policies, and beneficial administrative reorganization.⁴⁰As one more testament to her success in this role, when she began there was a $30 million deficit, but she left the Board with a $50 million surplus. Following the above mentioned position, Dr. Tignor served as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of General Services, Maryland, from 2007-2011 and was a City Manager in Glenarden, Maryland from 2009-2001.⁴¹ 

Throughout her career, Dr Tignor also found time to help her community. She fundraised for many groups including the Maryland NARAL-Pac, Business and Professional Women, Planned Parenthood of Maryland, MD Democratic Party, Women’s Caucus, Fetal Alcohol Pac, and Minority, Female, and Disabled Persons.⁴² Further, she was a member of groups such as the Faculty Advisory Council to Maryland Higher Education Commission, the Board of Mental Health, and the Task Force of Feasibility of Future Consolidation of State Psychiatric Hospitals.⁴³

Deservingly, Dr. Tignor has received many prestigious awards such as Senator of the Year, Delegate of the Year, Legislator of the Year, Educator of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Maryland Women of Achievement, Prince George’s Women of Achievement,⁴⁴ and Prince Georgian of the Year.⁴⁵ Additionally, in 2013 she was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame.

Dr. Tignor continues to hold multiple roles as she helps the community: Presently, she serves on the Prince George's County Board of Elections, a position she has held since 2011.⁴⁶ She remains a champion for notable causes such as proper education and women’s rights. Dr. Tignor had a trying past, but she unwaveringly worked through it to live a remarkable life dedicated to helping others. For that, Dr. Tignor is a striking woman who deserves recognition and applause.   

Quotes:

“She has done a significant amount of work to educate not only the young, but also the diverse in lingual and multicultural skills as well as promote gender equity in women.”⁴⁷

“She has ‘contextual and substance skills in areas that enable women to be better parents, friends, and workers.’”⁴⁸

“Like most freshmen senators, Tignor did not push through any major legislation in her first two years. Yet she scored points for her willingness to listen, her good-natured temperament and her ability to handle the Senate's oversized egos.”⁴⁹

"To critics who worry that her niceness bespeaks weakness, Tignor says they underestimate her.”⁵⁰

"She has expanded the realm of education by using it as an effective tool for all segments of society. Tignor has provided equal opportunities in education to more than a select few; indeed she has given all citizens a chance." ⁵¹

1. Robert E. Pierre, “P.G. Executive Hopeful Puts Faith in Hard Work; Tignor’s Rivals Charge Inexperience Series: VOTE ’94 Series Number: 2/4,” The Washington Post, 09 September 1994  return to text 

2.Carolyn B. Stegman, Women of Achievement in Maryland History (Maryland: Women of Achievement in Maryland History, Inc., 2002), pg 124  return to text

3. Oretha Bridgwaters, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women, October 21, 2012  return to text 

4. Stegman, Women of Achievement in Maryland History, pg 124 return to text

5. Maryland State Archives, “Maryland Manual, 1995-1996” (Annapolis, Maryland: Maryland State Archives, 1994), pg. 66  return to text 

6. Pierre, “P.G. Executive Hopeful Puts Faith in Hard Work.”  return to text 

7. Ibid.  return to text 

8. Ibid.  return to text 

9. Ibid.   return to text 

10. Ibid.   return to text 

11. Beatrice P. Tignor Resume, Maryland Commission for Women, Women’s Hall of Fame Nomination Packet  return to text 

12. Bridgewater, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

13. Ibid.   return to text 

14. Ibid.   return to text 

15. Pierre, “P.G. Executive Hopeful Puts Faith in Hard Work.”  return to text 

16. Ibid.  return to text 

17. Tignor Resume, Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

18. Pierre, “P.G. Executive Hopeful Puts Faith in Hard Work.”  return to text 

19. Bridgewater, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

20.Stegman, Women of Achievement in Maryland History, pg 124 return to text

21. Bridgewater, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

22. Tignor Resume, Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

23. Ibid.  return to text 

24. Pierre, “P.G. Executive Hopeful Puts Faith in Hard Work.”  return to text 

25. Josh Spector, “Tignor Carving New Life of Service in Montgomery County,” Capital News Service, 16 November 1995  return to text 

26. Spector, “Tignor Carving New Life”  return to text 

27. Maryland State Archives, “Maryland Manual”  return to text 

28. Ibid.   return to text

29. Pierre, “P.G. Executive Hopeful Puts Faith in Hard Work.”  return to text 

30. Maryland State Archives, “Maryland Manual”  return to text 

31. Jim Keary, “Field Crowding in ’94 Race for PG Executive: Political Machines Set to Clash,” The Washington Times, 19 September 1993  return to text 

32. Karl Vick, “Tignor in Line for Montgomery Post; P.G. Educator Chosen to Head Procurement Office, Official Says,” The Washington Post, 09 February 1995  return to text 

33. Ibid.   return to text 

34. Michael, Abramowitz, “Tignor Suspects Vandalism is Politically Motivates,” The Washington Post, 23 June 1994  return to text 

35. Spector, “Tignor Carving New Life”  return to text 

36. Vick, “Tignor in Line for Montgomery Post”  return to text 

37. Ibid.   return to text 

38. Vick, “Tignor in Line for Montgomery Post”  return to text 

39. Bridgewater, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

40. Ibid.  return to text 

41. Bridgewater, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

42. Terri Williams, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women, October 22, 2012  return to text 

43. Maryland State Archives, “Maryland Manual”  return to text 

44. Bridgewater, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

45. Maryland State Archives, “Maryland Manual”  return to text 

46. Maryland State Archives, “Maryland Manual” return to text 

47. Bridgewater, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

48. Ibid.   return to text 

49. Pierre, “P.G. Executive Hopeful Puts Faith in Hard Work.”  return to text 

50. Ibid.  return to text 

51. Stegman, Women of Achievement in Maryland History, pg 124  return to text

Biography written by 2013 summer intern Rachel Alexander.

Return to Beatrice Tignor's introductory page

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