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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2002

News Release

NEA Elects Utah Teacher as Secretary-Treasurer

Lily Eskelsen to Oversee Budget for Nation?s Largest Union

Dallas - Lily Eskelsen, an elementary school teacher from Utah, won a four-way race today to serve as the new secretary-treasurer of the National Education Association.

With more than 20 years of classroom experience, Eskelsen, currently a member of the NEA Executive Committee, is one of the highest ranking Hispanic educators in the country. Her advocacy for children and public education propelled her to leadership positions within the Association, beginning with her 1990 election as president of the 18,000-member Utah Education Association. Eskelsen served in this post until 1996, when she was elected to the Executive Committee.

In addition to her work with NEA, Eskelsen was chosen Utah Teacher of the Year in 1989, was her party?s nominee for U.S. Congress in 1998, and served as a member of President Clinton?s White House Strategy Session on Improving Hispanic Education. She also has provided education-related advice to parents in newspapers and magazines, such as Women?s Day, Working Mother and Time.

Eskelsen has been the invited keynote speaker for more than 100 education events in 30 states. She often jokes that she is requested for her guitar-playing skills, which she developed working her way through the University of Utah as a part-time folk singer and legal secretary. Her education career began as a lunchroom worker and later as a kindergarten aide.

Eskelsen is a member of the Utah Council of La Raza Education Committee and was recently elected president of the Utah State Retirement System. She also teaches at the Christmas Box House Children?s Shelter, a one-room school and residential facility for K-6 children awaiting placement in foster homes.

Eskelsen and her husband Ruel live in Salt Lake City. They have two sons and one grandchild.

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