The power of NEA-Retired was on full display at the 2025 NEA-Retired Annual Meeting, in Portland, Ore. The 306 delegates, who gathered on June 29 and 30, celebrated a win 40 years in the making. The Social Security Fairness Act became law on January 5, 2025, signed by former President Joe Biden as one of the final acts of his term.
Passed after decades of unrelenting activism and advocacy by NEA-Retired and NEA members, the law finally sunset the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) measures in Social Security law, which prevented public servants in 26 states—including educators in 15 states—from getting the Social Security benefits they earned. And the checks have already started rolling in—including one member who finally received her survivor benefits from her husband, to the tune of $44,000!
As the leaders of NEA-Retired and NEA addressed the crowd, they noted that while there is much to celebrate, public schools, educators, and students are facing challenges like never before. But the repeal of GPO and WEP shows that educators and union members know how to make change happen. And NEA-Retired members must mobilize like never before to protect students, Social Security, and Medicare. The good news is NEA-Retired is stronger than ever—with 318,674 members, it is NEA’s fastest growing membership group!
“We will stand proud and tall in our fight for justice just as we did while seeking a full repeal of GPO/WEP,” NEA-Retired President Anita Gibson told the convening. “We will take every opportunity to ensure that our current and future retirees are assured of the ability to retire and live a life with dignity. … It is not only our right, but also our responsibility, to educate others about the injustices that plague our profession and force many of our colleagues to struggle in what should be their golden years.”
Public education under attack
NEA President Becky Pringle gave an impassioned speech, laying out the challenges facing public education: “Donald Trump and his Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, want to shut down the Department of Education and leave our students with one thing: less,” she said. “No matter what we’re talking about … mental health, funding for special education, schools in low-income communities, higher education opportunities, the civil rights of LGBTQ+ students—especially our trans students, … this administration wants our students to have less than they deserve. They want to whitewash, erase, and rewrite our country’s history."
She continued, “They’re doing all of that for one reason: Because democracy takes root in public schools. Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies know that an informed society will block access to what they want most: total, unchecked, unstoppable, unrestrained power.”
A call to action
NEA Vice President Princess Moss encouraged NEA-Retired members to lean into their years of training. “Your collective wisdom, built through decades of classroom experience and union activism, provides an essential foundation for our continued work,” she said.
She reminded members that the GPO and WEP win is proof of what happens when we raise our voices in unison. “This achievement didn't happen through chance or individual heroism—it came through sustained collective action across generations of educators,” she said.
Moss lauded members’ advocacy: Nearly a half million calls and emails to Congress from NEA members; thousands of personal stories shared with legislators; countless conversations with community members explaining the impact of these unfair provisions.
“Many of you who began teaching before the internet era now lead virtual organizing efforts that connect members across geographic boundaries,” she said. “Your resilience through changing educational landscapes provides inspiration for newer members facing current challenges. The respect you've earned through decades of service strengthens our entire union's credibility.”
NEA Secretary-Treasurer Noel Candelaria asked attendees to consider this moment in history. “We are living in unprecedented times,” he said. And as we stand on the precipice of history, we must ask ourselves: What will we do in this critical moment? … The fight for racial and social justice cannot be delayed. For many, it truly is a matter of life and death, of dignity and worth, of the kind of world we want to leave behind for future generations.”
Support for pro-public education candidates and Aspiring Educators
Recognizing that this attack on public education is coming directly from the elected leaders of this country, NEA-Retired members were fired up to make their voices heard at the ballot box. Through live and virtual auctions, members contributed generously to NEA’s public action committee (PAC), which works to elect friends of public education. Click here to learn more about NEA’s PAC.
Over the last year, NEA-Retired members have also donated generously to support the next generation of educators through the Jack Kinnaman Scholarship Fund. NEA Aspiring Educators are facing rising tuition costs and need additional financial support during their student teaching. NEA-Retired members contributed enough money to increase the number of scholarships from 5 to 6, in the amount of $3,500 each. Congratulations to the 2025 scholarship winners: Gavin Mitsdarfer, of Pennsylvania Western University; Matthew Yuro, who attends The College of New Jersey; Aidan McKernan, a student at Pittsburg State University; Jessica Bagadion, of the University of Houston-Clear Lake; Camila Rodriguez, of Texas A&M University; and Anabella Chlada, at Illinois State University. To contribute to next year’s Jack Kinnaman scholarships, go to DonateKinnaman.com.
A legacy of service
One of the highlights of the annual meeting is the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor given to an NEA-Retired member. Gibson announced that this year’s recipient is Shirley George, a member of the Virginia Education Association-Retired (VEA-Retired), who has demonstrated a lifetime of leadership and commitment to her students and her union.
Gibson shared accolades from George’s colleagues, such as: “Shirley's passion for protecting educators and students is limitless,” and, "She has been an outstanding advocate for all members, especially our education support professionals."
George, who accepted the award in a live video feed, was a special education teacher and has served as president of the Education Association of Norfolk, as a UniServ director, and on the NEA Resolutions Committee. This year, she also received the VEA-Retired Martha Wood Distinguished Service Award.
Throughout her 60 years of service, she has been a fierce lobbyist and advocate for the rights of educators. She is such an avid fundraiser that at an event supporting the VEA public action committee, she even auctioned off a date with her son, the successful actor Jason George.
Gibson concluded the presentation, saying: "It is my esteemed privilege to present this prestigious award on behalf of NEA-Retired to such a deserving member. Mrs. George has certainly set the bar high for future nominees.”
New NEA-Retired leaders elected
Some of the top NEA-Retired leadership positions were up for election this year. Marilyn Warner, from Florida, was elected as the next NEA-Retired Vice President. Meg Gruber, from Virginia, and Toni Smith, from Georgia, were elected to the two open seats on the Executive Council. Brent McKim, from Kentucky, will also finish out an unexpired term on the council. John Heineman, from Nebraska, and Linda McCrary, from Tennessee, were elected to serve as NEA-Retired representatives to the NEA Board of Directors.
The winners of six seats on the NEA Resolutions Committee are (in alphabetical order): Steve Click, from Alaska; Brian Ferguson, from Utah; Linda Linn, from Iowa; Kathleen Purdy, from Ohio; Karen Solheim, from Georgia; and Donna West, from Alabama.
Congratulations to all the winners, whose terms begin on September 1, 2025.
A look ahead
As the education landscape becomes increasingly fraught, Candelaria urged members to walk bravely into the future together. “It is not enough to simply speak of solidarity; we must live it. It is not enough to merely hope for racial and social justice; we must create it,” he said. “And it is not enough to dream of a better nation; we, the NEA, must build it.”
