Princess Moss Elected NEA President With Votes From 50% of Assembly Members

Princess Moss was elected president of the National Education Association on July 5, 2026, during the union's annual representative assembly. Moss, a former elementary music teacher from Louisa County, Virginia, and outgoing NEA vice president, secured the presidency with 50.3% of votes cast by a delegate assembly comprising nearly 6,000 members. Her narrow margin above the 50% threshold allowed her to avoid a runoff election and claim outright victory in a four-candidate field.

Moss succeeds Becky Pringle, who completed two consecutive three-year terms as NEA president and became ineligible to run again under the union's term-limit rules. The election results reflect a competitive race among heavyweight candidates from major state-level teachers unions. Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association, finished second with 31.2% of the vote, while Sean Spiller, former president of the New Jersey Education Association and a past gubernatorial candidate, captured 17.4%. Tania Kappner, an Oakland Unified School District teacher, received 0.94% of votes.

The NEA's executive slate was completed with the election of Noel Candelaria, a special education teacher from El Paso, Texas, as vice president. Candelaria previously served the union as secretary-treasurer. Robert Varela Rodriguez was elected to the secretary-treasurer position vacated by Candelaria's promotion.

In her election statement, Moss emphasized continuity with the union's agenda while signaling new direction. She committed to advancing the NEA's core priorities around educator resources, professional respect, and member voice, framing public education investment as integral to broader student outcomes across all communities. Moss will assume her position heading the nation's largest teachers union when her term begins in the fall of 2026, giving her a substantial platform to influence labor relations and education policy nationwide.