NEA President Seeks Union Independence

Princess Moss, the new president of the National Education Association, says the union will stop aligning itself with a specific political party during her three-year term. The NEA represents three million teachers and public workers across every state. Moss calls this shift a move to become the union's own political authority. She argues that educators should focus on their professional expertise rather than party labels.

Moss assumes leadership as inflation pressures school budgets and the Trump administration dismantles the Department of Education. A new federal education tax credit also takes effect in January, directing tax dollars toward private schools. Moss describes the current environment as one where public education and its students are under attack. She frames public education as the foundation of democracy.

The new president spent more than 20 years as an elementary school music teacher in Virginia. She previously presided over the Virginia Education Association from 2004 to 2008. In that role, she worked with a Democratic governor and a Republican-controlled general assembly. Moss says that experience taught her to find allies across the aisle by focusing on shared goals for students. She plans to apply that coalition-building strategy to the national union as midterm elections approach.

Michael Petrilli, president of the Fordham Institute, views this shift as a major departure for the organization. The NEA endorsed Joe Biden in 2020 and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. Petrilli notes that the union has historically been a stalwart supporter of the Democratic Party. He says many state-level races are currently leaning toward Democrats, which puts unions in a strong position to drive education policy. He questions what the NEA will push Democratic governors to accomplish with that influence.

Moss says her strategy involves telling members to discuss their students' needs rather than partisan differences. She states that the union will work with anyone who prioritizes public education, regardless of their political inclination. The NEA will continue to advocate for professional autonomy and community organizing. Moss aims to position teachers at decision-making tables as experts in their field.