Published: June 25, 2026
NEA's Aspiring Educators (AE) have so much to offer, but often AE voices aren't heard. It can be a struggle to become an educator-organizer and make a difference in our communities, but it's worth it. Aspiring Educators' voices matter.
Whether you’re just starting to get involved or already an expert, other AE members have advice on bringing your voice to the table. Gavin Mitsdarfer, a secondary education English language arts and special education (PreK-12) major at Pennsylvania Western University, in Edinboro, and Jessica Bailey, an elementary education major at Shenandoah University, were recently part of an AE team that explored their own experiences within union spaces, conferences, and in the classroom. Their work resulted in the key takeaways and scenarios below.
Scenario One
You are at a conference for educators discussing statewide issues. At this conference, as a member of the AE program, you are asked to sit at a table of your peers and are not included in the larger conversation.
What do you do to make your voice heard?
Aspiring Educators are sometimes overlooked in conference settings because of their age and experience. However, you have the power of your voice. You are the only one with your story and set of life experiences.
Pull your own seat up to the table, says Bailey. Don't be afraid to take up space and be heard. “As sometimes the only Aspiring Educator in these spaces, I've had to often pull up a seat to the table and make sure my voice is included and ... heard. Even if you’re not speaking up and raising your voice, you're asking questions. You want to know how this affects you as a ... future active educator,” says Bailey.
Scenario Two
You are told that as a future educator you don’t have anything to add to the table. They say they’re saving room in the conversation for active and veteran teachers.
What do you say to them in support of your own voice and the stories of your peers?
As Aspiring Educators, you are learning fresh information and practices and applying it directly. Your voice matters just as much as someone who has been teaching for 10, 15, or even 30 years.
Share your story! By speaking up, you are making the world a better place for your students. “It’s so important to step up and speak up. My involvement in the union has really helped me grow as a person and to find confidence to know that my voice is heard, and my voice is important. I think that's one of the really big pieces in the beginning,” says Bailey.
Scenario Three
Someone in one of your classes is looking to get involved with NEA or your state and local affiliates.
What would you say to get them on the right path?
You can’t do it alone! Use the resources in your area to get involved and make connections with other aspiring and active educators.
If you're already involved in the union, reach out to your fellow Aspiring Educators to encourage them to get involved. The more people who are part of the movement, the louder your voice becomes. “My biggest piece of advice would be to connect with those teachers in that area, in that district, to make sure that you understand their stories and that you're there to support them [too], as an AE member of their union, ... and their issues are one of your top priorities because they're also your issues,” says Mitsdarfer.
Scenario Four
Someone you know is interested in becoming an educator-organizer.
What does this mean, and how would you encourage them to do so?
Being an educator-organizer means standing up for the voices and rights of all students and educators. This type of educator speaks up against injustice and tries to improve their situation.
"I believe that our voice as Aspiring Educators is incredibly important because we are the future of the profession. We are the ones that are going to be in our classrooms advocating and making sure that our voices are out there and being heard. We are part of this union and, as Aspiring Educators, we are getting involved earlier. We already have been speaking up and making our voices heard. So when we get to the classroom, we are out there and we are ready to go and keep fighting for our union and our profession," says Bailey.
Scenario Five
A coworker or other Aspiring Educator says something unkind about an LGBTQ+ student or a student with a disability.
What would you do in this situation to ensure that your voice is heard, and the student feels safe and comfortable in the environment?
Your voice is your number one tool as an educator. If a coworker, other educator, or student says something bigoted or unkind, it is your responsibility to speak up to create safe spaces for youth.
“I address it to the individual ... and turn it into an educational moment as a teacher. Teach them about ... a specific word or ... microaggression. So hopefully, they can better their behavior... Overall, address how powerful and harmful language can be. You never know if that student or someone ... who has disability is in the room, and ... how that's going to impact them,” says Mitsdarfer.
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