NEA President Reginald Weaver Elected To Joint Center Board Of Governors 10/2/2002
From: Liselle Yorke of the National Education Association, 202-789-6366, lyorke@jointcenter.org WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies today announced the election of Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association (NEA), to its board of governors. In welcoming Weaver's election, Elliott Hall, chair of the Joint Center's board of governors, and Eddie N. Williams, president of the Joint Center said: "We are particularly pleased to have Reg Weaver join our board because of his extensive experience in education which is one of the major issues on our public policy agenda." "I am honored to be elected to the Joint Center's board," said Weaver. "For many years, the Joint Center has been in the forefront of educational research and analysis. I look forward to working with the board to continue this excellent tradition." A 35-year classroom veteran, Weaver is a lifelong advocate for public education and one of the country's leading African American education leaders. He was elected NEA president in July 2002 and took office on September 1. He is also somewhat a union pioneer having been elected the first African American president of the 115,000-member Illinois Education Association, an NEA affiliate, in 1981. A science teacher from suburban Chicago, Weaver has held key positions in the organization at the national, state and local levels, including two consecutive terms as vice president of the NEA, which represents 2.7 million teachers and school employees nationwide. Weaver's honors and awards include the Illinois Education Association's Human Relations Award and the Ebony magazine Influential Black Educators Award. The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, conducts research and analyses on public policy issues of concern to African Americans and other minorities, promotes their involvement in the governance process, and operates programs that create coalitions within minority, business, and other diverse communities. For more information, visit http://www.jointcenter.org. EDITORS' NOTE: A color JPEG photo image of Reg Weaver is available |