News Release

Van Roekel Gets Second Term as NEA Vice President

Iowa Native, Former Arizona Affiliate President Ready to Fight for Kids

LOS ANGELES -- Dennis Van Roekel, a 25-year teaching veteran, was declared elected to his second term as vice president of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest professional employee organization with 2.7 million members.

Van Roekel was unopposed in the election, and was approved by the more than 9,000 NEA members attending the annual meeting in Los Angeles. His term will last for three years, and is effective on September 1, 2005.

Before becoming an officer at the NEA, Van Roekel was a high school math teacher in Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona. He served in several key leadership positions within the NEA, including secretary-treasurer, president of the Arizona Education Association and president of the Paradise Valley Education Association.

During his first term, Van Roekel traveled all over the country, talking with thousands of NEA members about their concerns.

"One thing I always came away with from each visit was that, no matter where I was, there were amazing and wonderful things happening in our schools," he said. "Teachers and school employees all over this country are doing a fantastic job of connecting with children and getting them excited about learning. Even when they don’t have a lot of resources at hand. It’s really inspiring."

During his second term, Van Roekel intends to continue helping NEA members realize that by being active in their local associations and communities, they can be advocates for their students and improve their classrooms and schools.

"Being engaged is so important," he said. "My mentor told me that being a teacher means that you have to be active, because 'you can’t do half a job.' Our students and members depend on us to fight for them. That’s what I plan to continue doing."

Van Roekel was born in LeMars, Iowa and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He earned a master’s degree in math education from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. He and his wife, Julie, have two adult sons, Brian and Chad who live in Phoenix with their families.

July 3, 2005

Contact:
Denise Cardinal, (202) 822-7239  

###

The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.