We will elect eight national leaders at the 2026 Aspiring Educators Conference:
- Aspiring Educators Chair, 2-year term
- Board of Director. 1-year term (2)
- Alternate Board of Director, 1-year term (1)
- Resolutions Committee, 1-year term (3)
- Alternate Resolutions Committee, 1-year term (1)
The Aspiring Educator Chair serves as the full-time Chair of the national Aspiring Educators program.
The NEA Board meets up to five times per year, mainly in Washington D.C., with the final meeting at the NEA Representative Assembly. Aspiring Educator members represent the view of the AE members on the NEA Board along with retired members, active teacher members, and active ESP members.
The Resolutions Committee meets twice a year including their meeting at the RA.
NEA fully funds the travel for attendance meetings, and attendance at all meetings is expected.
Elections will take place at the Aspiring Educators Conference in Denver, Colorado. Candidates are not required to attend the Conference. Candidate speeches, Q&A, and voting will take place on site at the Conference.
Candidates for Office
Alternate Board of Director, 1 year term (1 postion)
Jessica Bailey
Bio
Jessica Bailey is a Korean American non-traditional student from Virginia pursuing a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Shenandoah University. Over the past five years, she has been an active leader in the NEA Aspiring Educators Program at the local, state, and national levels.
Jessica has served in leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels, including chapter and state A president, member of the NEA Board of Directors, the NEA Advisory Committee on Aspiring Educators, the NEA Resolutions Committee, and the NEA Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus Aspiring Educator Director. Her Board experience has given her valuable insight into national leadership, collaboration, and effective member representation.
Throughout every role she has held, Jessica has remained committed to building inclusive spaces, uplifting member voices, and creating meaningful opportunities for future educators. She is passionate about equity, student voice, and ensuring all educators-especially those just entering the profession-feel seen, supported, and empowered.
As a candidate for NEA Board of Directors Alternate, Jessica is ready to continue the work with heart, integrity, and purpose. She will advocate for our members, strengthen our union, and help shape a future where every educator has what they need to thrive.
Board of Director, 1 year term (2 positions)
Madison Baca
Bio
I am a graduate student from Rutgers University, where I am earning my Masters of Arts in Elementary Education. I first earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Rutgers University in 2025. As the outgoing NJAEA President, I have led statewide initiatives such as petitioning for paid student teaching. I have also gone to the New Jersey Statehouse to lobby for paid student teaching and Tier 1 for all educators.
At the national level, I serve as the NEA A Caucus Zone 1 Director, where I advocate for the needs of future educators across the Northeast.
Before becoming the NJAEA President I first started as Embrace Kids Liaison at my local chapter from 2023-2024. I then became my local chapter's Treasurer from 2024-2025. | served as an Ambassador for NJAEA from 2023-2025 and as the Communications Committee Chair from 2024-2025.
At Rutgers I was also involved in extracurriculars, I was a member and Rituals Coordinator of Omega Phi Alpha (Service Sorority). I also served as a member and President of Charity Water: Rutgers. I am Mental Health First Aid certified and have been serving in my church nursery since 2021.
Bilal Bahar
Bio
Coach Bilal Bahar is an educator, community leader, and systems architect committed to advancing equity, student voice, and purpose-driven learning. He is currently completing his Master’s Degree in Education at Wilmington University, with concentrations in Trauma & Resilience and Equitable Practices, maintaining a 3.9 GPA.
Coach Bilal is the Founder Emeritus of Evolve Community Foundation Inc. and the creator of the B.E.A.C.H. Life (Business, Education, Arts, Community, Health) Community Engagement Operating System, a framework designed to help students, families, and communities build sustainable success through education, wellness, and real-world skill development.
With 10 years of experience as a substitute teacher in Baltimore County Public Schools, Bilal has worked directly with diverse student populations and understands the importance of culturally responsive and healing-centered education. His work emphasizes student empowerment, leadership development, and aligning education with real-life purpose.
As an Aspiring Educator candidate, Coach Bilal seeks to amplify the voices of future educators, advocate for equitable opportunities, and help shape systems that support both educators and students in achieving long-term success.
Joshua Hayes
Brooke Hess
Bio
Hello! My name is Brooke Hess and I am an AE Leader from Wisconsin. I am studying Elementary Education at the University of Wisconsin Stevens-Point. I have held roles in local, state, and national leadership experiences through both Aspiring Educators and Educators Rising. I am a trailblazer with a dedication to service, advocacy, and developing equitable education. Core skills of mine include organization, communication, and time management. I always complete the task at hand with quality, clarity, and timeliness. I believe we as pre- professionals are professionals and treatment should reflect that. I believe that through learning and experience we can shape the future. I am ready to continue the fight for Aspiring Educators mission and goals. I am ready to step into National AE Leadership to continue to grow our reach.
Gabriel Mendoza, Jr.
Bio
Gabriel Mendoza Jr. (he/him/el) is a California student leader, first-generation graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, proud Chicano, son of immigrants, transfronterizo, and aspiring bilingual preschool teacher. Grounded in his lived experience and driven by a deep commitment to justice in education, Gabriel has dedicated his leadership to building collective power for aspiring educators nationwide.
As President of the California Teachers Association (CTA) AEs and Region 4 NEA-AE Caucus Director, representing members across Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii, Gabriel has worked to strengthen chapter development, member-to-member organizing, and grassroots movements rooted in community, accountability, and commitment. His leadership is centered on turning shared values into action and building sustainable organizing power that lasts beyond elections and single-issue campaigns.
Having attended three NEA RAs and the 2025 NEA WLT/MLT, Gabriel knows that representation must be visible, transparent, and accountable. He is running for NEA-AE Director to ensure aspiring educators are represented, organized, informed, engaged, and empowered to shape the future of the profession and the fight for public education.
Susana Pacheco
Bio
Hello Aspiring Educators, my name is Susana Pacheco, and I am honored to announce my candidacy for the NEA Board of Directors.
As a Georgia AE leader, I’ve learned that advocacy means dismantling stigmas and having real conversations. These experiences have taught me that understanding policy and unionism and communicating it effectively are the essential tools for real change in perspective. With your vote, I’ll work with other AE leaders to provide information and resources to AE members across the country.
As a member of the AE Advisory Committee, I assisted NEA leadership in fostering a more accessible environment for all members. It is paramount that we include a diverse range of perspectives within AE spaces, ensuring their ability to access union resources and events.
I’ve been molded by the resilience of my Venezuelan immigrant parents and the lessons and encouragement of fellow members nationwide. They taught me that leadership is a shared journey, one that I am dedicated to fostering in the next generation of advocates. It is essential that every emerging leader receives the same encouragement and opportunity that ignited my own passion for advocacy, policy, and collaboration. Let’s work to grow our space, develop our leaders, and
Giselle Reyes
Bio
Queridos Aspiring Educators,
I am the first in my family to pursue higher education as a full time student worker aspiring to be a professor. Growing up in Santa Ana the lack of resources, difference in priorities, and racism I experienced by my classmates discouraged me from continuing my education. Working as a substitute aide and janitor in special education for TK-12, I saw similar barriers at a larger scale whether it was the students having multiple jobs to support their family or the loss in amazing teachers who were not supported to remain in the classroom. This led me to return to community college and major in Political Science. In one year I've mobilized with other states and organized aspiring educators at the state level across California with unique governing systems at their campuses to learn the skills to advocate not just for their profession but for their community to build regional union power and fight back against the ongoing attacks on Public Education. It is vital to create sustainable equitable pathways for emerging leaders in order to truly uplift Black, Indigenous, People of Color and challenge white supremacy in and out of our organizing spaces. My commitment to justice remains steadfast.
Gabriella Whisler
Bio
Gigi Whisler is an Aspiring Educator going to school at Pacific University in Oregon to become a Special Education teacher. In her freshman year after meeting OEAs president, she founded and became president of her campuses local Aspiring Educators chapter. She also attended her states RA her first year with a successful Legislative Objective on paid student teaching. As Oregon Aspiring Educators political action coordinator she has been a fierce advocate for AEs and Public education, from lobbying on Capitol Hill and in our States Capitol, to leading the fight on a bill that would establish a paid student teaching pilot program in Oregon. As a queer and disabled student Gigi understands first hand how important continued advocacy efforts are for the current moment. As a student who has had to continually advocate for compliance with her accommodations she knows how transformative standing up with and for our students and peers from all marginalized backgrounds is. She pledges to work to make our union more accessible and help aspiring educators hold their Ed prep programs accountable.
Chairperson, 2 year term (1 position)
Stephanie Chavez
Bio
¡Saludos, Aspiring Educators!
I am Stephanie Chávez, a student teacher from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. It is with the utmost humility and gratitude that I declare my candidacy for the role of NEA Aspiring Educators Chairperson.
Last year, Aspiring Educator delegates allowed me the opportunity of a lifetime to serve and represent our program on the NEA Board of Directors. In this role, I find myself in spaces where we amplify the voices of young people and members who are fighting for equitable pathways to obtaining licensure and leadership. My passion for our profession and union has grown, as a result of my experiences as a state, local, and national leader over these past four years. It is these experiences that uniquely place me in a position to take on the role of Chairperson with the commitment and skills that it requires.
As a student who attends a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), I understand the value of diversifying our membership. Making membership accessible and union education a priority will set us up to build the inclusive program we all dream of. As Chair, I will lead – but not before listening – in order to build a program that centers our members’ voices.
When we have accessible leaders who connect members with resources and build communities that transcend borders, our state and local programs thrive. Coalition building begins with us. Together, let’s build a program that is accessible and inclusive for the leaders that will come after us.
Zachary Sheriff
Bio
I, Zachary Sheriff, a first-generation college student and a dedicated leader and advocate for Aspiring Educators currently serve as the Texas Aspiring Educators State President, a role I have held for the past two years. My leadership journey began as a freshman when I first became involved at the chapter level, and I have since had the opportunity to serve as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, and President.
At the national level, I have served on the NEA Resolutions Committee, the Aspiring Educators National Advisory Committee, and the Aspiring Educators Elections Committee. Through these experiences, I have gained firsthand insight into how policy is shaped, how members are supported, and how opportunities for aspiring educators can be expanded across the country.
As a first-generation student, I deeply value education and view it as my top priority. It has shaped not only my personal journey, but also my purpose as a leader. I am passionate about ensuring that Aspiring Educators are not only recognized as future educators, but as present-day leaders who deserve access, representation, and a voice in decision-making spaces.
I believe that while Aspiring Educators may have a seat at the table, they must also be equipped with the knowledge, resources, and opportunities to meaningfully contribute and lead. My platform centers on equity, inclusion, leadership development, and national representation, with a commitment to empowering members at every level.
I invite others to join me in this work—let’s strengthen our collective voice, expand opportunity, and ensure Aspiring Educators everywhere are not just included in the conversation, but helping lead it.
Resolutions Alternate, 1 year term (1 position)
Savanah McKee
Bio
Savanah McKee is a dedicated student and aspiring educator from Delaware, currently studying elementary education at Delaware Technical Community College. Alongside her studies, she works as a daycare teacher, where she creates a supportive environment that helps children feel heard, valued, and encouraged to grow.
Passionate about reading and lifelong learning, Savanah is committed to developing engaging and creative ways to support young learners. She is known for her patience, empathy, and ability to connect with others, making her a positive role model in and out of the classroom.
Savanah also serves as the Aspiring Educators Vice President of Delaware, where she advocates for future teachers and helps build a strong, inclusive community. With her leadership skills and dedication to education, she is preparing to make a meaningful impact in the field.
Outside of her professional and academic life, Savanah enjoys expressing her personality through fun, eye-catching earrings. She is driven by a passion for helping others and is on a path to becoming an inspiring elementary educator.
Tamea Stover
Resolutions Committee, 1 year term (3 positions)
Jailyn Boseman
Bio
I, Jailyn Boseman, am committed to being a voice for aspiring educators and ensuring that every perspective is heard, valued, and represented. As a first-generation college student who went straight from high school and will earn my bachelor’s degree, I understand the importance of perseverance, support, and opportunity. My journey has shaped my passion for advocacy and my desire to create meaningful change in the field of education.
I am an aspiring educator who is eager to see growth and progress, not just on my campus or in Delaware, but across all communities. I believe that real change happens when we are willing to take action, speak up, and stand firm in what we believe in. Through this role, I will work to advocate for policies and ideas that reflect the needs of aspiring educators everywhere.
I am committed to creating a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported. I believe that community is essential in education, and I will lead with positivity, encouragement, and a willingness to uplift others. My goal is to ensure that every voice contributes to the conversation and that together, we build a stronger, more inclusive future for education.
Danyelix Echevarria Figueroa
Bio
My name is Danyelix Echevarria Figueroa, and I am a student at the University of Connecticut majoring in Elementary Education with a focus on TESOL. As a proud Latina, my passion for education is rooted in my own experiences searching for community and learning the power of feeling heard. Those experiences shape everything I do as an aspiring educator and a leader.
I currently serve as the 2025–2026 Public Relations Chair for the Connecticut Education Association Aspiring Educators Program and will be stepping into the Vice Chairperson role for 2026–2027. I've learned a lot about communication and advocacy through this work, but more than that, I've seen firsthand how much it matters to have people in the room who understand what it's like to fight for representation.
In addition to this, my involvement in cultural and minority organizations at UConn has deepened my commitment to building communities where people feel represented, supported, and empowered to use their voices.
I am running for the NEA Resolutions Committee because aspiring educators deserve to be informed and present in the national conversations that shape our profession and I am ready to serve with purpose and genuine dedication.
Shantae Ferguson
Bio
Hello! I am Shantae Ferguson, an Aspiring Educator from Indiana. I am the outgoing State Aspiring Educators President, and a member of the Indiana State Teachers Association Human & Civil Rights Committee. As an aspiring educator, | am committed to ensuring that the voices of future teachers are heard and valued. I will advocate for equitable, inclusive policies that support both educators and the diverse students we serve. I am passionate about representation and amplifying the voices of future teachers. Being involved with the aspiring educators program both statewide and nationally, I have grown so much in leadership, and I can only get better as I continue to advocate for all aspiring educators. Having me on the resolutions committee, is having a leader that will represent YOU with integrity and purpose. Thank you for your vote.
Kala Kessler
Kevin Lopez Cruz
Bio
Kevin Lopez Cruz is an Aspiring Educator from Maryland. He currently serves as the Aspiring Educator Board Observer for the Maryland State Education Association and is a member of the NEA Advisory Committee of Aspiring Educators, where he supports advocacy, coordination, planning, and information-sharing with Maryland AEs.
Throughout his time at Bowie State University, Maryland’s oldest HBCU, Kevin has built his work around public education, civic engagement, equity, and student voice. Through his service at campus, municipal, state, and national levels of governance, he has learned that the language adopted by an association as large and influential as NEA has lasting significance.
Resolutions help define what is valued, how bodies advocate, build coalitions, and respond to the conditions facing students, educators, public schools, and communities. Resolutions are, in part, statements of who we are and what we value. If done right, they also forthrightly state the things for which we are willing to fight. As a future educator, Kevin believes we have a responsibility to help shape those statements with courage, clarity, and care.
Joshua Muehlberg
Isabella Nguyen
Bio
Isabella Nguyen is a Vietnamese American college student from Alabama pursuing a bachelor's degree in the Multiple Abilities Program at the University of Alabama. With over five years of extraordinary leadership in the Aspiring Educators Program, she has built a strong reputation as an advocate for educators across Alabama.
Since the age of 15, Isabella has served in numerous leadership roles at both the local and state levels, including FTA Chapter President, FTA Executive Board Member, and SAEA Western Regional Coordinator. She currently serves as the University of Alabama's SAEA Chapter President and as SEA's 1st State Vice President.
Through her experience, Isabella hopes to pursue a national position where she can represent Alabama and the broader Southern region, bringing attention to the unique challenges educators face there. As a biracial educator, she offers a distinct perspective shaped by her own experiences navigating identity and representation.
Isabella's work is rooted in inclusivity and ensuring that all perspectives are heard. Her journey from a small Alabama town to a state leadership role has strengthened her passion for advocacy. As a candidate for the Resolutions Committee, Isabella is ready to lead and make a meaningful impact.
Taylor Pollock
Bio
Taylor Pollock is History Education major from Douglasville, Georgia, dedicated to advocating for aspiring educators and strengthening the future of public education. With proven leadership experience at both the local and state level, Taylor has developed reputation as thoughtful collaborator who values open dialogue and productive problem-solving across differing perspectives.
As strong writer with an attention to detail and precise language, Taylor understands the importance of crafting clear, meaningful resolutions that reflect the voices and priorities of future educators nationwide. Taylor is committed to ensuring that all aspiring educators feel represented, heard, and empowered within the association.
Through effective communication and solutions-oriented mindset, Taylor works to turn complex ideas into impactful action. passion for history and education has shaped Taylor’s belief that strong advocacy, collaboration, and inclusive leadership are essential to building better future for students, educators, and communities alike.
