Virginia music teacher elected secretary-treasurer of nation’s largest union

Princess Moss, an elementary school music teacher from Louisa County, Virginia, who has long championed bringing back music and fine arts education to America’s public schools, has been elected secretary-treasurer of the National Education Association. Nearly 8,000 NEA delegates voted as part of its 152nd Annual Meeting and 93rd Representative Assembly, taking place June 26–July 6 in Denver.

“With an overemphasis on high-stakes standardized tests, we’ve seen the curriculum narrow and subjects like music, fine arts and P.E. have been stripped from our students’ public education. That’s not right,” said Moss. “NEA is leading the way to ensure all students receive a well-rounded education, and I’m honored to be at the forefront of that mission.”

Prior to her election as NEA’s secretary-treasurer, Moss previously served two three-year terms on NEA’s Executive Committee, which consists of nine members—three executive officers and six members elected at large by the Representative Assembly. The committee is responsible for guiding NEA policy and acts for the NEA Board of Directors, a body on which Moss also previously served, in between its four regularly scheduled meetings each year.

“Just like a great music teacher, Princess knows how to lead a diverse group of individuals and bring them into harmony,” said outgoing NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “Her drive and dedication to creating opportunities out of challenges and looking for new and innovative ways to improve public education will serve our members, and the students they educate, well.”

Moss has more than 21 years of classroom experience and has held leadership positions at the national, state and local levels within the association, including two terms as president of NEA’s state affiliate, the Virginia Education Association. She was appointed and re-appointed by Va. Govs. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, respectively, to serve on the Commonwealth’s P-16 Education Council, which coordinates education reform from preschool through higher education.

In her role as secretary-treasurer, Moss’s responsibilities will include overseeing the multimillion dollar budget and fiscal integrity of the organization. Moss ranks third among NEA’s leadership and succeeds Rebecca S. “Becky’ Pringle, who has been elected NEA vice president. Her election to the office of secretary-treasurer rounds out an all-female leadership for the organization. Moss will take office on Sept 1. 2014.

For more information, a full listing of scheduled events and to follow floor action at the 2014 NEA Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly, go to www.nea.org/annualmeeting.