Political Quotes

“I rise today to honor and recognize the career of Dennis Van Roekel, whose term is ending as president of one of the Nation's largest labor unions, the National Education Association. Mr. Van Roekel is also a member of the U.S. Department of Education's Equity and Excellence Commission, which studies how students are affected by inequitable school finance systems. His leadership knows no borders, as he has also served as vice president of Education International for North America and the Caribbean to pursue means to raise student achievement and provide adequate funding in a way that could serve as a model worldwide. Mr. Van Roekel has long been an honorable and fervent supporter of the rights of teachers and public education. Before becoming president of the NEA, he served two terms as NEA vice president and secretary- treasurer, and he has held key positions in all levels of the association, including Arizona Education Association president and Paradise Valley Education Association president. He established the Commission on Effective Teachers and Teaching to examine the teaching profession on a national scale. As a recognized leader on education issues, he has testified before Congress, served on leading boards, such as the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Executive Committee and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education Executive Board.…”