Luminaries

Iona Holloway

Iona Holloway made history in 1997 as the first education support professional (ESP) elected to NEA's Executive Committee. She won a second term in 2000.

Born and raised in St. John Parish, Louisiana, Holloway was educated in public schools and attended Southern University in New Orleans.

Prior to her election, she held several Association positions, including president of the St. John Association of Educators, member of the Louisiana Association of Educators Board of Directors, and at-large member of the NEA Board of Directors. Holloway has been an education support professional for more than three decades, and in 1995 she won NEA's prestigious ESP of the Year award.

Holloway is a community activist in her home of Laplace, Louisiana, where she also works as a classroom aide and assists high school teachers with special education students.