CONTACT: Will Potter   (202) 822-7823

June 12, 2006

Thousands of Teachers, Education Employees Gather To Shape Public Education Policy

NEA's Annual Meeting includes largest democratic body in the world

WASHINGTON -- More than 9,000 delegates representing teachers, education support professionals, higher education faculty and other education employees will meet in Orlando, Fla., this month to address the top challenges facing American public education.

As part of the National Education Association's annual meeting, delegates will take part in the NEA Representative Assembly, the largest democratic body in the world. Delegates will debate and vote on critical issues facing public education, both in legislatures and in the classroom.

Highlights of the Annual Meeting include:

• A keynote address by Reg Weaver, NEA president, on protecting every child's basic right to a quality public education and calling on school employees, communities and parents to push for necessary resources.
  
  
• Finalizing NEA's strategies for reforming the No Child Left Behind Act and reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
  
  
• Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the merger between NEA and the American Teachers Association, the predominantly black teachers' association that advocated for the education of all students during segregation.
  
  
• Joint Conference on Concerns of Minorities and Women, with more than 1,000 public school and higher education employees addressing issues like teacher recruitment and retention.

WHO: More than 9,000 education professionals, including NEA President Reg Weaver

WHAT: NEA's 144th Annual Meeting

WHEN: Friday, June 30 - Wednesday, July 5, 2006

WHERE: Orange County Convention Center
              9800 International Drive
              Orlando, FL

For more information visit www.nea.org/annualmeeting.

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 2.8  million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.