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J U L Y 2 0 2 6J U L Y 2 0 2 6RA REPORTRA REPORTDear Members, The following pages capture the highlights of our incredible experience at the NEA RA in Denver, Colorado from July 2nd to July 8th. We hope you enjoy reading about these moments as much as we enjoyed living them! ....And hopefully, this can inspire some of you to join us in Indianapolis for the NEA RA 2027! Jessica Rodarte UTLA NEA VP
IntroductionWhat is the NEA RA? Once a year members of the National Education Association (NEA) meet for their yearly Representative Assembly (RA). During this assembly members gather to set the direction of NEA and to pass important New Business Items (NBI’s), Constitutional Amendments, Bylaws, and Resolutions that determine the policies of NEA and by extension our state (CTA) and local affiliates (UTLA). This year we met from July 3 to July 7 in Denver, Colorado to do important work. The days were long and the nights were short, but we had fun and accomplished some very important things, like the election of one of our own and the passing of NBI’s that will improve the lives of our members! rd th
Denver What was Denver like? Upon arriving in Denver on July 2, 2026, some of us attended the UTLA Night at Punch Bowl Social. We ate, chatted, played games, and yes, had some drinks. It was a great opportunity to enjoy each other's company and exchange thoughts and excitement about the important work ahead. On July 3, it was time to get to work! We began our days in the CA Caucus where we all discussed NBIs, Bylaws, Amendments, and Resolutions. Our hotel was a 15 minute walk from the convention center. Many chose to walk, while others chose to take the free 16 street bus to California St. and then walk two short blocks to the Convention Center Blue Bear to enter the Representative Assembly Floor! th
New Business Items Number: Title Maker Wording Outcome NBI 6 Conversion Therapy Skye Tooley NEA shall develop and publish a re-source outlining the harms of conversion therapy on queer individuals, particularly youth, highlighting how such practices infringe upon their rights and, according to leading medical and psychological organizations, contribute to increased risks of depression, anxiety, substance use, homelessness, and suicide. The resource shall be promoted on NEA’s social media. Adopted. NBI 17 LGBTQ+ Students with Disabilities Article Jacqueline Dang NEA shall include the published article advocating for LGBTQ+ Students with disabilities in the LGBTQ+ Toolbox to ensure educators have access to resources that deepen their understanding of the intersection of queer identity and disability, and provide strategies to effectively support, protect, and advocate for these students. Adopted. NBI 19 LGBTQ+ Youth in Differing Abilities Program Withdrawn. NBI 20 Transgender Family Preparedness Plan Jacqueline Dang NEA shall adapt the existing Family Preparedness Plan resource to include guidance and considerations relevant to transgender individuals and families, including legal documentation, access to affirming healthcare, and state-specific safety planning. Adopted.What is an NBI? Delegates bring New Business Items, (NBI) proposals that directs NEA to take a specific action. NBIs are brought to the RA to be voted upon. They set NEA priorities and create change throughout the country by addressing new challenges facing educators and students. These are the NBIs that UTLA delegates brought to the floor of the RA:
continue....New Business Items Number: Title Maker Wording Outcome NBI 22 Skye Tooley LGBTQ+ Website Accessibility Withdrawn. NBI 52 The Fight for Academic Freedom Lupe Carrasco Cardona & Jessica Rodarte NEA will publish at least one article quarterly in the NEA Today digital Magazine highlighting an academic freedom fight in one of the 50 states, including examples of how educators and their local affiliates are responding to censorship, while providing relevant resources and strategies for members to support and defend academic freedom. Bundled and sent to the appropriate committee where they will decide if this will be implemented. We will send educator statements to the committee to share with them the need for us to learn from each other. NBI 57 Support Native Americans Ofelia (Sofi) Ryan The NEA will create a Native American and Native Resource Landing Page to serve as a centralized repository of affiliate-submitted professional learning opportunities, promising practices, and educational resources. Submitted content will be reviewed and vetted by NEA to ensure relevance, quality, and alignment with organizational priorities. Approved resources will be selected for inclusion and publication on the landing page using cost-effective implementation and maintenance strategies. The landing page will support information sharing, professional learning, and collaboration among affiliates while increasing access to resources that meet the needs of Native American and Native educators, students, and communities. Adopted as modified. NBI 58 EMF Safety and Wired Internet Advocacy Defeated.
continue....New Business Items Number: Title Maker Wording Outcome NBI 63 Fund for DACA & other Educators affected by ICE Ingrid Villeda & Kelly Flores NEA will establish an emergency assistance fund for DACA educators and other members impacted by immigration enforcement actions, including ICE raids, detention, deportation proceedings, citations, legal expenses, weaponized delays in renewals, and family emergencies, to help sustain educators, during periods of crisis. NEA will create this fund with an initial investment of$100,000 and seek donations from local member organizations, community-based organizations, and individuals, while NEA explores additional ways to support. Adopted as modified. NBI 65 High Stakes Testing Campaign Wil Page High Stakes Testing Campaign Defeated. NBI 72 Legal Support for LGBTQ+ Members Withdrawn. NBI 78 National Legal Risk Assessment Map for Transgender Adults Skye Tooley NEA shall publish on the NEA website Erin in the Morning: National Legal Risk Assessment map for transgender adults, and youth and Lambda Legals: Trans Youth in Sports Conversation Guide. Additionally, NEA will write an article to be published online about the systemic erasure of access for transgender people across multiple states highlighting transgender youth who have been forced to leave their states or hide their identity. Adopted.
election resultsNEA Secretary-Treasurer (Three-Year Term) Elected Robert Rodriguez . . . . 3,034 (53.74%) NEA Executive Committee (Three-Year Term/Two Positions) Elected Cecily Myart-Cruz . . . 3,469 (69.78%) Elected Shannon McCann . . . 3,460 (69.60%) NEA President (Three-Year Term) Elected Princess Moss . . . . . . 2,905 (50.30%) NEA Vice-President (Three-Year Term) Elected Noel Candelaria . . . . . 3,774 (66.08%) At-Large Alternate Director Representing ESPs (Three-Year Term) Elected by Acclamation . . . . . . . Monica Altamura At-Large Director Representing ESPs (Three-Year Term/Eight positions) Elected by Acclamation . . . . .. . . . . . . Anne Badilla Elected by Acclamation . . .. . .. . Jennifer Bramson Elected by Acclamation . . . ... . . . Sidney Flournoy Elected by Acclamation . . James R. Henderson, III Elected by Acclamation . . . . .... . . . . . . Saul Ramos Elected by Acclamation . . . ..... . . . . . . . Marcie Vox Elected by Acclamation . . . . Debra Ward-Mitchell Elected by Acclamation . . . ... Charles E. Wilson, III
Cecily's big winExecutive Committee Seat At the 2026 NEA Representative Assembly in Denver, Cecily Myart-Cruz was elected to the NEA Executive Committee for a three-year term. The Executive Committee is one of the NEA's highest governing bodies. It conssts of: NEA President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and six at-large Executive Committee members.The committee acts on behalf of the NEA Board of Directors. Their responsibilities include: Implementing NEA policies adopted by the Representative Assembly and Board of Directors. Helping establish priorities and strategic direction for the union. Support organizing, collective bargaining, member engagement, and political advocacy. Cecily's election is significant because she brings California's perspective to national leadership. Cecily has extensive experience in organizing, racial and social justice, academic freedom, and coalition building. As an Executive Committee member, she will help shape NEA's work between Representative Assemblies and influence national priorities affecting educators and public education (https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/nea-ushers-new-leadership)
NEA RA LeadershipJ E S S I C A R O D A R T E UTLA NEA VICE-PRESIDENT jessica.rodarte@utla.net 213-713-4480M E L H O U S E CTA Director District J mhouse@cta.orgW I L P A G E NCUEA Pacific Region Director wil.page@utla.net M A L L O R I E E V A N S N E A D i r e c t o r C a l i f o r n i a D i s t r i c t 6 NEA-MEvans@ CTA.org
If you would like to see more of the photographs in our shared album.....https://tinyurl.com/NEA-RA-Album