NEA President Princess Moss pledges nonpartisan stance for 3 million members

Princess Moss took over as president of the National Education Association with a clear mandate to shift the union’s political posture. The NEA represents three million teachers and public workers across every state. Moss plans to guide the organization away from strict party alignment during a turbulent period for public schools.

The new president described public education as under attack from multiple fronts. Inflation is straining school budgets at the local level. A new federal education tax credit taking effect in January will direct tax dollars toward private schools. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is reducing the size of the Department of Education.

Moss said the union’s foundation is the students they serve. She argued that the core of American democracy relies on accessible public education. Her strategy, which she calls resistance to renaissance, focuses on professional autonomy and community organizing. However, she wants to move the NEA into its own political authority rather than relying on a specific party.

Moss grew up in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, the daughter of two school bus drivers. She credited her second grade teacher, Lucy T. Lewis, with inspiring her career path. Lewis told Moss in 1968 that she was smart, even after Moss misspelled the word refrigerator in front of the class. Moss later worked as an elementary school music teacher for more than 20 years in a neighboring county.

She rose through the ranks of state union leadership, serving as president of the Virginia Education Association from 2004 to 2008. During that time, she worked with a Democratic governor and a Republican-controlled general assembly. Moss said that focusing on specific issues allowed her to find allies across the political divide. She is bringing that same coalition-building approach to the national stage.

With midterm elections approaching, Moss is urging members to discuss student needs rather than partisan labels. She told members to focus on what their students require. The goal is to prevent education policy from becoming a standard Democratic or Republican issue.

Michael Petrilli, president of the Fordham Institute, views this shift as a major departure. He noted that the NEA has historically been a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. The union endorsed Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024. Petrilli has long questioned whether union positions sometimes block necessary changes to teaching methods and salary structures.

Despite these reservations, Petrilli acknowledged that the current political climate favors the union’s traditional allies. Many state-level races are leaning toward Democratic candidates. He said this puts unions in a strong position to influence education policy. He remains interested in seeing how they use that power to work with new Democratic governors.

Moss said she will work with anyone who prioritizes public education, regardless of their political inclination. She emphasized that the bottom line is putting schools first. The union will continue to engage in decision-making processes where education policy is shaped.

Moss begins her three-year term in a climate of high stakes. The union will navigate budget pressures and federal changes while trying to build a broad base of support. Her first major test will come as state legislatures and governors prepare for the upcoming election cycle.