2026 NEA Representative Assembly Report from NEA-NH President Tuttle

This year’s NEA Representative Assembly (RA) was held in Denver, Colorado over the Fourth of July. The NEA RA is the annual business meeting of the union. It is essentially our Delegate Assembly but with 6000+ more members attending!

NEA-NH was well represented by the following members: Carolyn Leite (NEA-NH VP); Melissa Alexander (NEA-NH Secretary/Treasurer); Zak Babcock (NEA-NH Director to NEA); Kim Bleier and Sarah Barnewell (Capital Region Representatives); Joanne Lazarus and Kaela Mitchell (Seacoast Region Representatives); Rhienna Miscio (North Country Representative); Lisa Dillingham and Celeste Ferron (Eastern Region Representatives); Michelle Martel and Lisa Stone (Southern Region Representatives); Tara Haarlander and Misty Crompton (South Central Region Representatives); Rebecca Vinduska (Western Region Representative); Troy Harris (Lakes Region Representative); Tracy Bricchi (NEA-NH Retired Representative); and Bob Fuller and Shauna Gagnon, local representatives from Manchester.  NEA-NH Interim Executive Director Jake Sweeney and NEA-NH Director of Governance and Administration Paula Gailing joined our delegation as well. 

Lakes Region RA Delegate Troy Harris stated: "This was one of the most educational and meaningful events that I have participated in during my three decades of teaching. I loved working on this team and even though there was a lot of work and it is exhausting to do it all, it is necessary. In the end, I think our state and hopefully our country will have a strong union pursing improving teaching, learning, and social justice for all teachers and students. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

The actual RA itself is many days and has many components. This year there was a Social and Racial Justice Pre-Conference that 4 NEA-NH delegates attended. The RA meeting itself takes place over 4 days and is split into 8 business sessions. During those sessions we debate New Business Items (NBIs), which are one-year action items. The NBIs are debated and then voted on by the 6000+ delegates in attendance. We also debated and voted on amendments to the NEA Resolutions, NEA Constitution and Bylaws, and the NEA Legislative Program.

We elected the new officers for NEA, who take office on September 1, 2026!  Princess Moss is the incoming NEA President, Noel Candalaria is the incoming NEA Vice-President, and Robert Rodriguez is the incoming NEA Secretary/Treasurer. In addition to those officers being elected, there were elections for the NEA Executive Committee and At-Large Alternate Directors.

We heard inspiring speeches from Kim Anderson (NEA Director), Leon Smith (2026 National Teacher of the Year), Rick Calhoun (2026 ESP of the Year), Dr. Clinton Smith (2026 Higher Educator of the Year), and Wanda Llorrens, the wife of the late Al Llorens who received the NEA Friend of Education Award. Al was the president of Illinois Education Association and sadly passed away this past spring.

NEA-NH was given a point of personal privilege at the end of the RA to honor one of our own – Christa McAullife. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster and while we must remember the tragedy, we need to honor her legacy. President Tuttle addressed the entire RA delegation (with the NEA-NH delegation proudly standing with her) and told the story of the apple pin that survived the explosion and was eventually returned to NEA-NH where we proudly display it in our Christa Room. Concord EA created replica pins to do just that – honor Christa’s legacy.

We also heard from outgoing NEA President Becky Pringle. This was her last RA and she gave her final keynote address. To quote Becky: “When educators stand together, there is no force in this nation that can silence us. There is no enemy who can diminish us. There is no wannabe dictator who can stop us.  Fellow unionists, the time is always now to dare to be powerful. Delegates, the time is now to lead with courage! NEA, the time is now to stand up and demand liberation! For everyone!” 

This was my last RA, too. I have been attending since 2003. I would like to thank everyone who has traveled to the RA over the years for their dedication, their thoughtful discussions, and differing viewpoints. We would not be here without you – the members. Never forget this: YOU ARE THE NEA! 

If you are interested in being an NEA-NH Delegate to future NEA RA’s, you can file your intent to run! The filing deadline is January 15 and the election is held in March. The delegate positions are for two years. Learn more here.