Published: August 8, 2025
First Appeared In NEA Today, August 2025
DEAR NEA MEMBERS,
I am honored to serve as your president. United, we will reclaim public education as a common good and transform it into a racially and socially just system that actually prepares every student—not one, not some, but every single student—to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world. Onward!
Becky Pringle
NEA President
Quote byBecky, in June, calling for the release of David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union California, who was arrested while protesting immigration raids in Los Angeles.
“Enough of the ICE raids. Enough of the cruelty and hate. Enough of the division and disrespect. … We will not scapegoat immigrants. We will not stand by and let you do that.”
—Becky, in June, calling for the release of David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union California, who was arrested while protesting immigration raids in Los Angeles.
FACE TO FACE WITH NEA MEMBERS
On May Day, with educators from all over the U.S. by my side, I marched to within a few hundred yards of the White House to demand that all working people be respected, safe, and celebrated—and not terrified and dehumanized, as is currently happening across the nation. I am so inspired by and grateful for the NEA members who are rallying across the country for our core values: diversity, inclusion, access, and equity. I’m also grateful for the NEA members who uphold these values in their worksites and classrooms, like the one I visited in an Anaheim, Calif., community school this spring. Find out how you can join the movement for justice at nea.org/EdJustice.
JOIN ME
3 Things To Do For Yourself and Your Union
Keep up and speak up!
Federal attacks on public education—on you, your students, and our profession—are unrelenting. Find NEA’s latest resources and take action at nea.org/Protect.
Stand up for immigrant students.
As so many of our families are targeted for illegal deportations, you can help by sharing free, pocket-sized “red cards,” which list the rights afforded to all people under the U.S. Constitution. For example, we all have the right to remain silent when questioned by immigration officers.
Make a date!
Now is the perfect time to take note of the calendar of events hosted by your local and state unions—and get them into your personal planners. Your involvement will make us all stronger!
In the News: Community Schools
“I recently visited a classroom in California where students were learning about Mendez v. Westminster, the Supreme Court school desegregation case that preceded Brown v. Board. It was such a joy to see the teacher preparing students for really high-level conversations and to see them have those discussions, in English and Spanish. … Teachers are not walking away from the core values of this country, which are diversity, inclusion, access, and equity.”
—Becky, on MSNBC’s Katy Tur Reports
What I’m Reading: On Vouchers
“I did not want to write this book.” That’s the first line of The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers, a new book from NEA’s 2025 Friend of Education, Josh Cowen. He continues, “My fear is that the weight of evidence against the schemes I write about in this book is already so heavy—and seemingly to no avail, … but I hope not.” (Me too, Professor Cowen!) In this book, Cowen provides all the evidence we need to show that vouchers aren’t about helping kids, but are all about helping billionaires. And yet, politicians persist. And yet, so do we. Learn more about how to stop the spread of vouchers at nea.org/Vouchers.
Learn More
NEA In Action
Find out how NEA is working every day for educators, students, and public schools in “NEA in Action.”
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Great public schools for every student
The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest
professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of
public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of
education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has
affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities
across the United States.