NEA President Princess Moss Vows Nonpartisan Strategy for Educators

Princess Moss, the newly elected president of the National Education Association, has declared her intention to detach the union from traditional partisan politics. She wants the organization to function as its own political authority rather than aligning with a specific party. This strategic shift comes as the union prepares for a three-year term under what Moss calls a period of 'resistance to renaissance.'

The NEA represents 3 million teachers and public workers across every state. Moss, who took office recently, faces a challenging environment where inflation is straining school budgets. Additionally, a new federal education tax credit begins in January, directing tax dollars toward private schools. Simultaneously, the Trump administration is dismantling the Department of Education.

Moss grew up in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, the daughter of two school bus drivers. Her interest in education began with her second grade teacher, Lucy T. Lewis. Moss recalls a moment in 1968 when she misspelled the word refrigerator in front of her class. Lewis told her she was smart despite the error. Moss has cited that experience as the reason she wanted to help students learn and reach their potential even when they made mistakes.

Before leading the NEA, Moss worked as an elementary school music teacher in a neighboring Virginia county for more than 20 years. She served as president of the Virginia Education Association from 2004 to 2008. During her time in state leadership, she navigated a political landscape with a Democratic governor and a Republican-controlled general assembly. She focused on building coalitions across the aisle to support public education.

Moss believes that focusing on the specific needs of students allows for unexpected alliances. She instructs union members to discuss their students and their needs rather than framing education as a partisan issue. "Talk about your students. What do your students need?" she says. "Don't make it a Democrat or Republican issue."

The departure from the union's historical ties has drawn attention from observers. Michael Petrilli, president of the Fordham Institute, a right-leaning think tank, described the change as a huge departure. He noted that the NEA has been a stalwart supporter of the Democratic Party. The union officially endorsed Joe Biden in 2020 and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.

Petrilli has long expressed reservations about teachers' unions, arguing that their positions can block changes to teaching methods and enforce strict salary rules. These rules can make it difficult to recruit for certain jobs. However, he acknowledged that the current political climate puts unions in a strong position to drive education policy. With midterms approaching and many state races favoring Democrats, Petrilli asked what the union plans to do with that power.

Moss remains focused on building a broad coalition for public schools. She stated that the NEA will work with anyone who prioritizes public education, regardless of political party or inclination. The union aims to be at the decision-making tables as the experts in the field.

The NEA's new direction will be tested in the coming months. The federal tax credit for private schools will take effect in January. State elections are also scheduled for later this year, where Democratic candidates are favored in many races. Moss plans to use this period to push for policies that support public education and professional autonomy for teachers.

Moss emphasized that the union's goal is to ensure public education is not treated as a political tool. She wants members to engage in community organizing and advocate for their students' needs. The union will continue to monitor the dismantling of the Department of Education and the impact of new federal funding structures on public schools.