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Clausen graduated from Centerville High School in St. Mary Parish.<ref name=parc/> He received his bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees, respectively, from the University of Louisiana at [[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge, and  the [[University of Southern Mississippi]] in [[Hattiesburg, Mississippi|Hattiesburg]], [[Mississippi]]. Clausen served in the [[United States Army]] from 1960 to 1961.<ref name=parc>{{cite web|url=http://www.parlouisiana.org/s3web/1002087/docs/Constitutional%20Amendment%20Archive/CA1979_Sept.pdf|title=Thomas G. Clausen|page=18|publisher=parlouisiana.org|accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref>​

Clausen graduated from Centerville High School in St. Mary Parish.<ref name=parc/> He received his bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees, respectively, from the University of Louisiana at [[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge, and  the [[University of Southern Mississippi]] in [[Hattiesburg, Mississippi|Hattiesburg]], [[Mississippi]]. Clausen served in the [[United States Army]] from 1960 to 1961.<ref name=parc>{{cite web|url=http://www.parlouisiana.org/s3web/1002087/docs/Constitutional%20Amendment%20Archive/CA1979_Sept.pdf|title=Thomas G. Clausen|page=18|publisher=parlouisiana.org|accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref>​

 

==Educational career==​

==Educational career==​

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Clausen taught in public school for five years and was from 1967 to 1972 an assistant professor at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux in Lafourche Parish. From 1972 to 1976, Clausen was an assistant superintendent, with duties in [[special education]], under superintendent [[Louis J. Michot]].<ref name=parc/>​

Clausen taught in public school for five years and was from 1967 to 1972 an assistant professor at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux in Lafourche Parish. From 1972 to 1976, Clausen was an assistant superintendent, with duties in special education, under superintendent [[Louis J. Michot]].<ref name=parc/>​

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Clausen first ran for superintendent in the 1979 nonpartisan blanket primary but lost in the [[general election]] to the  Democratic incumbent, James Kelly Nix, a native of West Carroll Parish in northeastern Louisiana. Clausen used a picture of a school bus on his campaign posters.He promised when elected to reform the educational system and vowed not to place blame unduly on classroom teachers. Hed stressed a "common-sense" approach to education, with emphasis on basic knowledge, classroom discipline, vocational programs, and teacher training.<ref name=parc/>​

Clausen first ran for superintendent in the 1979 nonpartisan blanket primary but lost in the [[general election]] to the  Democratic incumbent, James Kelly Nix, a native of West Carroll Parish in northeastern Louisiana. Clausen used a picture of a school bus on his campaign posters.He promised when elected to reform the educational system and vowed not to place blame unduly on classroom teachers. Hed stressed a "common-sense" approach to education, with emphasis on basic knowledge, classroom discipline, vocational programs, and teacher training.<ref name=parc/>​

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In the primary election held on October 22, 1983, Clausen handily unseated former opponent Nix in a two-candidate field. The Louisiana Secretary of State's office does not give the statewide results of this race on its website, but the outcome is provided in the returns for the individual parishes, most of which supported Clausen. In this same election, Edwin Edwards won his third nonconsecutive term as governor by handily unseating the Republican incumbent [[David C. Treen]]. Superintendent Clausen worked to implement more rigorous graduation requirements and expanded the elective subjects offered to include computer literacy, the arts, and foreign languages.  He advocated for the expansion of professional opportunities for educators. He coordinated the movement of the education department into the Louisiana Civil Service system. Clausen worked to enhance the process of school [[accreditation]]. He also provided the transition to an appointed superintendency beginning in 1988 under the administration of Edward's second successor, Governor [[Buddy Roemer]].<ref name=tomclausen>{{cite web|url=http://www.lanewsbureau.com/inst/2002SS1/SCR/00/SCR32_EN.PDF|title=Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 32, 2002|publisher=lanewsbureau.com|accessdate=October 7, 2013}}</ref>​

In the primary election held on October 22, 1983, Clausen handily unseated former opponent Nix in a two-candidate field. The Louisiana Secretary of State's office does not give the statewide results of this race on its website, but the outcome is provided in the returns for the individual parishes, most of which supported Clausen. In this same election, Edwin Edwards won his third nonconsecutive term as governor by handily unseating the Republican incumbent [[David C. Treen]]. Superintendent Clausen worked to implement more rigorous graduation requirements and expanded the elective subjects offered to include computer literacy, the arts, and foreign languages.  He advocated for the expansion of professional opportunities for educators. He coordinated the movement of the education department into the Louisiana Civil Service system. Clausen worked to enhance the process of school [[accreditation]]. He also provided the transition to an appointed superintendency beginning in 1988 under the administration of Edward's second successor, Governor [[Buddy Roemer]].<ref name=tomclausen>{{cite web|url=http://www.lanewsbureau.com/inst/2002SS1/SCR/00/SCR32_EN.PDF|title=Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 32, 2002|publisher=lanewsbureau.com|accessdate=October 7, 2013}}</ref>​

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Clausen was a member of the Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry during the administration of [[Republican Party|Republican]] Governor [[Mike Foster|Murphy J.  "Mike" Foster, Jr.]], like Clausen a native of St. Mary Parish. For the last two years of his life, Clausen was a special education teacher at Valley Park Alternative School in Baton Rouge. Upon his death of [[cancer]]<ref name=scholarships/> in Baton Rouge at the age of sixty-two, the Louisiana State Senate read a concurrent resolution in his honor/<ref name=tomclausen/>​

Clausen was a member of the Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry during the administration of [[Republican Party|Republican]] Governor [[Mike Foster|Murphy J.  "Mike" Foster, Jr.]], like Clausen a native of St. Mary Parish. For the last two years of his life, Clausen was a special education teacher at Valley Park Alternative School in Baton Rouge. Upon his death of [[cancer]]<ref name=scholarships/> in Baton Rouge at the age of sixty-two, the Louisiana State Senate read a concurrent resolution in his honor/<ref name=tomclausen/>​

Eleven scholarships in the amount of $500 each were issued in 2004 in Clausen's name by the University of Louisiana System.<ref name=scholarships>{{cite web|url=http://www.latech.edu/techtalk/archives/11_11_04/current/ul.php|title=Erin Bass, "News"|publisher=latech.edu|accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref>​

Eleven scholarships in the amount of $500 each were issued in 2004 in Clausen's name by the University of Louisiana System.<ref name=scholarships>{{cite web|url=http://www.latech.edu/techtalk/archives/11_11_04/current/ul.php|title=Erin Bass, "News"|publisher=latech.edu|accessdate=October 8, 2013}}</ref>​

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==References==

==References==​

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