[2][3] She ran unsuccessfully for the office of Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1912, but was active in civic and state politics in the early 20th century.
[9] The school's location made her work more challenging—as Monroe explained in her letters, the building had no running water initially, and the absence of graded streets in the early 1890s made access to the school difficult: "The teachers and students waded through snow, mud, and water in rubber boots.
[12] In 1912, Monroe ran as the Democratic nominee for state school superintendent, advocating a policy of "progression and modern ideas.
[15] Monroe's platform aimed to make education more directly related to the everyday lives of students.
"[15] For urban students, Monroe favored manual training departments, and school and home gardens.
"[20] She fulfilled the same office on July 9, 1920, kindling the first fire at the campus's second dormitory, Senior Hall:[19] she then remarked "It is the wish of the friends of the girls of Senior Hall that the fireplace may scatter its light, radiate its heat, and bring good cheer to future occupants of this beautiful home.
[1] Monroe remained active in Democratic party politics after her 1912 run for State Superintendent.
[29] Later in life, Monroe served as an officer in the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane's Women's Auxiliary: she is listed as the president of that organization in 1931.
[30] She also served on Spokane's municipal parks board, chairing the recreation committee at one point: in that capacity, she assisted with the training of teachers facilitated by the Works Progress Administration in 1936.
[8] According to the Spokane Press, Monroe, when she was principal of the Lincoln School, woke up to a burglar in her home one evening.
She screamed and frightened the burglar, who the Press noted was "probably more scared than she [was]": the police were called and nothing was reported stolen.
[32] Monroe died at the age of 93 on September 11, 1953, at the Jane O'Brien Sanitarium in Spokane, from chronic myocardial degeneration.