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July 4, 2006

Eskelsen Secures Second Term as NEA Secretary-Treasurer

Utah teacher continues her work for great public schools

ORLANDO—Lily Eskelsen, an elementary school teacher with more than 20 years of classroom experience, was elected to a second term today as secretary-treasurer of the National Education Association.

Eskelsen, who ran unopposed, was elected by more than 9,000 delegates attending NEA's Representative Assembly.  Her three-year term begins September 1, 2006. 

"Your trust and confidence have yet again been placed in my hands," Eskelsen said.  "I believe public education should be the number one priority for lawmakers, from the local to national level.  I will continue to push towards that goal and make sure every child has access to a great public school.  We all share the responsibility of preparing this country’s future leaders."

Eskelsen’s leadership career began in 1990, when she was elected president of the 18,000 member Utah Education Association.  From there she served on the Utah Council of La Raza Education Committee and as a member of President Clinton’s White House Strategy Session on Improving Hispanic Education.

Before earning her elementary education degree from the University of Utah, Eskelsen worked as an education support professional, serving as a cafeteria worker and a kindergarten aide.  Since that time she has taught fourth, fifth and sixth grades, and was awarded Utah Teacher of the Year.  Eskelsen also taught at the Family Homeless Shelter School and at the one-room school inside the Christmas Box House, a children’s shelter for hard-to-place foster kids.

"As a teacher and an education support professional, Lily knows the challenges and difficulties they face every day," Reg Weaver, NEA president said.  "She understands how important it is to have the proper training, and the tools and resources to get the job done.  Children across the nation will benefit because they will have caring, qualified educators in every classroom."

Eskelsen worked her way through college by performing as a folk singer.  She brings that creativity to the nation's largest professional employee organization by motivating members through song.  Eskelsen also produced a CD with a song that highlights problems with the high stakes testing that accompanies the No Child Left Behind Act.

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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.