Ann Sanders often speaks of her "guardian angel." She says, "I've long been interested in the political process to ensure equity to all segments of society. I've been blessed and recognized throughout my life."

Sanders grew up in Independence, Kan., and always liked "the game called school." She excelled at that "game" and was the first African-American salutatorian of her community college graduating class.

She decided to become a teacher and enrolled at Pittsburg State University, receiving scholarships to attend, majoring in American history and English. She was president of a campus organization that tutored K–12 students, collected food and clothing for needy youths, and worked to make sure young women were included in student government. She was selected homecoming queen.

"The 1960s were exciting times to be in college," Sanders said. "This was the civil rights era. Businesses in Pittsburg would not hire minority students. I volunteered to help organize a nonviolent protest in which a group of students went to various stores to gather up nonperishable goods for purchase. But at the checkout counter, each student would say, 'Oh, I forgot my checkbook,' and walk out without the goods. The next month, store owners started hiring minority students."

Then there was the time Strom Thurmond came to speak on campus. President of her dorm, Sanders helped stage another nonviolent protest.

"Our group took bed sheets, all folded neatly, to the auditorium," she recalled. "When Thurmond appeared on the stage, we stood up with the sheets covering us and walked out. We were called in by the university, but my guardian angel must have been with me. I asked about freedom of speech and expression."

The university did not recognize the Black Student Movement as an official student organization—which would have made the group eligible for funding. Sanders went with other student leaders to speak with the university president about that, and then the school did recognize the group.

Pittsburg State honored Sanders as Female Outstanding Graduating Senior, based on her grade point average and civic involvement. The institution then added her name to the university's Gold Brick Walkway.

After earning a master's degree from Pittsburg State, Sanders taught for 15 years in the Shawnee Mission School District. Eventually deciding to go into administration, she earned a doctorate from the University of Kansas.

In 1970 Ann and her husband, Mike, were married. She took time out from her professional career path when they had two daughters, Tara Ann and Theresa Annette. Her sister and mother helped with child care so she could also continue her dedication to the field of education.

Sanders became assistant principal of Blue Valley North High School in 1991. The guardian angel was working with her again, because within seven months the Blue Valley district selected her as one of its first two female high school principals and its first African-American principal. She worked for Blue Valley for six years and then moved to the Olathe School District, where she became director of senior high curriculum and instruction and supervised all aspects of the four Olathe high schools.

In 2002 Pittsburg State University chose Sanders for its Clyde U. Phillips Award for Outstanding Administrator. That same year, Kathryn Sommer included Sanders in her book, Power of Her Own, presenting 50 outstanding women in Kansas.

"Watching the national presidential debates, I admired the role of the League of Women Voters and decided to join the Johnson County League," Sanders said. "I love to learn."

Elected president of the Johnson County league in 2003, Sanders initiated the Making Democracy Work Award in the local chapter. For the league's 2011–12 year she will be first vice president, her primary responsibility that of program chair.

In 2007, Sanders moved to Baker University as director of Continuing Education. There she has developed and is teaching a course titled Program Planning and Evaluation. Her class, composed of doctoral students, evaluates educational programs in the community, including those of the Johnson County Museum, the rail exhibit and Science City at Union Station, Steamboat Arabia, Earth Works, and World War I Museum.

Sanders, who now lives in Shawnee, chairs the North Central Quality Assurance Review and leads teams that evaluate whether schools are meeting standards of quality. Her most recent recognition by the AdvancED Kansas organization is the M. Clariden Johnson Award for outstanding contribution to ensuring educational excellence. AdvancEd Kansas strives to foster educational excellence through an accreditation and school improvement process.

In nominating her for the award, AdvancED Kansas stated, "Dr. Sanders is dedicated to 'advancing excellence in education.' In fact, everything she becomes involved with exudes excellence. She always gives her best to every endeavor and expects the same from her co-workers. Within the School of Education at Baker University, they immediately know when Dr. Sanders has played a leadership role in an event. The attention to even the smallest detail is evident. She is a 'class act' and wants everything with which she is involved to be an exemplary image of the institution or organization she represents."

Ann Sanders has told her daughters, "To whom much is given, much is expected." With thanks to her guardian angel, she continues to give much to the community and to her love of education.

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