Where are school teachers spending the summer? Right now, many of them are in Orlando, but they’re not all enjoying the theme parks. Instead, more than 7,000 teachers are attending the National Education Association’s 153rd Annual Meeting and 94th Representative Assembly at the Orange County Convention Center.
This is the first time since 2006 that the NEA convention has come to Orlando. The local economic impact of the 10-day event, which kicked off June 26, is estimated around $35 million.
The nation’s largest professional employee organization, the NEA represents nearly three million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, educational support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. While in Orlando, they’re addressing an assortment of issues facing schools, students and educators.
NEA’s representative assembly is the world’s largest democratic deliberative body. As the top decision maker for the NEA, it sets association policy for the coming year. Once it opens July 3, delegates will work on adopting a strategic plan and budget, resolutions, the legislative program and other policies. By secret ballot, they’ll also vote on proposed amendments to the NEA’s Constitution and Bylaws.
Delegates will be dismissed from the NEA meeting and representative assembly after the final bell sounds July 6.
Top Image: The National Education Association’s Annual Meeting is being held at the Orange County Convention Center until July 6.