Luminaries

Reg Weaver

Reg Weaver, a middle school science teacher, was elected president of the NEA in 2002 and re-elected in 2005.

Weaver, a strong advocate for great public schools in every neighborhood, grew up living in his grandmother's home, so that he could attend a better funded school. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in special education for the physically challenged at Illinois State University in Normal, and a master's degree at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

A 30-year classroom veteran, Weaver began his Association activism as a local president in Harvey, Illinois (1967-1971) and rose through the ranks, serving as president of the Illinois Education Association (1981-1987), on the NEA Executive Committee (1989-1995), and as NEA vice president(1996-2002).

As NEA president, Weaver traveled across the country as an ambassador for public education, stressing the Association's mission to ensure that every child in America can attend a great public school in his or her own neighborhood, with high-quality school employees and involved parents.