Nearly 6,000 delegates representing educators from every state and territory elected a new national leadership team during the National Education Association's 105th Representative Assembly, held July 3 through July 7 in Denver.

Princess R. Moss of Virginia was elected president, Noel Candelaria of Texas was elected vice president, and Robert Varela Rodriguez of California was elected secretary-treasurer. The newly elected officers will begin their terms on September 1.

Moss, an elementary school music teacher from Louisa County, Virginia, previously served as NEA vice president and secretary-treasurer. She is also a past president of the Virginia Education Association, where she helped advance collective bargaining rights and increase investment in public education. Throughout her career, Moss has been recognized for her leadership in public education and educator advocacy.

"It is an honor to serve as president of the National Education Association," Moss said following her election. "Together, we will continue fighting for the resources, respect, and professional voice educators deserve because when we invest in public education, we invest in the future of every student."

Candelaria, a special education teacher from El Paso, Texas, previously served as NEA secretary-treasurer and has held leadership positions with the Texas State Teachers Association and the Ysleta Teachers Association.

Rodriguez is a special education teacher in California's San Bernardino City Unified School District. A member of the NEA Executive Committee since 2018, he has also served on the NEA Board of Directors, Budget Committee, and the California Teachers Association Board of Directors.

The Representative Assembly is NEA's highest governing body and the world's largest democratic deliberative assembly. Each year, delegates elected by local and state affiliates debate and adopt policies that guide the work of the nation's largest labor union, representing nearly three million educators and education support professionals.

In addition to electing new officers, delegates considered resolutions and business items that will help shape the union's priorities for the coming year as NEA continues its advocacy for public education, educators, and students nationwide.