During her address at the Democratic National Convention last week, Philadelphia High School for Girls alumn Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest union, said education is at stake in the upcoming election, writes Carmen Russell-Sluchansky for WHYY.

“Kamala Harris and teacher Tim Walz understand that when our public schools are strong, our nation is strong,” said Pringle.

Pringle attended the University of Pittsburgh and earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Penn State University. She spent over three decades teaching, including in Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane section. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania State Education Association and was elected president of the NEA in 2020.

Pringle said that the NEA always attempts to remain non-partisan considering its membership is for the most part evenly split between Democrats, Republicans, and independents. There was also a NEA delegation at the Republican National Convention last month.

“We’ve supported Republican legislators,” said Pringle. “If they’re pro-education and pro-educators, we support them.”

Read more about Becky Pringle and her story in WHYY.

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