Pennsylvanian Elected New NEA-Aspiring Educators Chair

CHICAGO – The National Education Association’s Aspiring Educators elected a new leader, Sabreena Shaller of Pennsylvania, at its annual conference, which took place just prior to NEA’s Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly.

A recent graduate of Pennsylvania’s Millersville University, Shaller completed her degree in early childhood education (Pre-K-4) and special education (Pre-K-8). She held numerous leadership positions at Student PSEA and currently serves on the NEA Aspiring Educators Advisory Committee.

During her two-year term as chair, Shaller will work full-time with NEA, in both Washington, D.C., and across the nation, to provide visibility on campuses and organize future educators. Shaller will lead 45,000 Aspiring Educators, who represent more than 1,000 NEA Aspiring Educator chapters on college and university campuses spanning from Maine to Maui.

“I will use my voice and our vision to continue leading with aspiring educators across this country,” Shaller said. “We need to dismantle the systemic barriers in our teacher preparation programs and create an attractive profession. Public education is the cornerstone of our communities, and we must fight to ensure all students have access to the greatest tool in the world — knowledge.” 

“Sabreena has been a tremendous Student PSEA leader, and she will be an outstanding leader of the Aspiring Educators program,” Pennsylvania State Education Association President (PSEA) Rich Askey said. “I am so pleased that Sabreena will take her talents to the national level. We are so proud of her.”

“We are so excited to learn from and lead with Sabreena,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “Our Aspiring Educators have always been the future of our schools and our students, and now are more important than ever with the growing teacher shortage. Sabreena is a brilliant young educator who promises to lead the way for 45,000 of her classmates and colleagues, and make sure the promise of public education is realized.”

The NEA Aspiring Educator program is the largest and most influential student group for future educators. It was formed by the NEA Board of Directors in 1982, when Student NEA merged with NEA. The student program aims to develop quality teachers prepared to thoughtfully educate America’s diverse student population, while also creating a new generation of leaders who will move the country, the profession, and the association forward.

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. Learn more at nea.org.