Aspiring Educators Conference

Join us for the 2026 Aspiring Educators Conference

Aspiring Educators meet each year at the end of June before NEA's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly. The 2026 Aspiring Educators Conference will be held in Denver, Colorado, from June 28 - July 1, 2026. Registration for the Aspiring Educators Conference will open in May 2026.

To attend the NEA Aspiring Educators Conference, contact your state affiliate organizer and Aspiring Educator leadership team. Conference registration opens in early May. Invitations to register are sent to Aspiring Educator delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly and members who are nominated by state affiliates to attend.

The purpose of the Aspiring Educators Conference is to offer future educators the opportunity to connect with their colleagues, learn about their profession, and act on important education issues affecting public schools and communities.

The conference is designed to support experiential learning that provides opportunities for NEA Aspiring Educators members and leaders to develop the knowledge and skills articulated in the NEA Leadership Competency Framework and to highlight and embody the Aspiring Educators Core Values.

Aspiring Educators attending the conference seek learning and information (such as, advocacy, social and emotional learning, and classroom practice) to take home and share with other members and their communities. 

Note: The Aspiring Educators Conference is for NEA members and leaders, regardless of experience level, membership type, or educator category. 

Your art could be showcased on postcards given to all AE Conference attendees!

This year, we're distributing postcards for attendees to color in at the NEA Aspiring Educators Conference. Then, Aspiring Educator delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly (RA) will distribute postcards to fellow RA delegates to build community and a positive Aspiring Educators presence!

Submit your design! Artists do not need to be present at the conference to be chosen.

What we're looking for: 

• NEA-member designed postcards. You must be an NEA member to be considered.
• Design can be printed on a 4x6 size postcard Line art style (black & white only)
• Union Strong Quotes embedded within your art piece. Examples include:
  • When we fight, we win!
  • Solidarity forever!
  • Stand up, fight back!
• Include your signature on the piece

Submit Your Design

The 6th Annual National GramAE Awards applications have closed.

The GramAE Awards Ceremony is an awards ceremony to celebrate the hard work of Aspiring Educators, State Organizers, Chapter Advisors, and elevate the advocacy of work supporting pre-service educators. The awards ceremony takes place annually at the NEA Aspiring Educators Conference.

The 6th Annual National GramAE Awards applications have closed. Winners will be announced at the Aspiring Educators Conference.