Contributor

Dennis Van Roekel, President, National Education Association

Related Link: http://www.nea.org/

Biography provided by participant

Dennis Van Roekel, a 23-year teaching veteran and longtime activist and advocate for children and public education, is president of the 3.2 million-member National Education Association. As NEA president, he leads the nation's largest labor union and advocate for quality public schools.

Van Roekel is committed to improving student learning and enhancing the professionalism of education employees. And he is guided by his belief in the NEA mission and vision. Consistent with the mission, he is inspired to "fulfill the promise of public education" and ensure that every child in America, regardless of family income or place of residence, receives a quality education.

The high school math teacher from Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Ariz., served two terms as NEA Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer, and has held key positions in all levels of the Association, including Arizona Education Association President and Paradise Valley Education Association President. His accomplishments include dramatic increases in membership among teachers and education support professionals while president of the Arizona Education Association and a notable rise in voluntary political action committee contributions during his term.

Van Roekel grew up in Iowa, where parents, teachers, and the community instilled in him a deep sense of the value of education and the understanding that education opens countless doors of opportunity. His future career path was sealed in the seventh grade when he decided to become a teacher. And for more than two decades he was able to live his dream: standing in front of high school students teaching math.

But while Van Roekel knew it was his job to impart knowledge and a love of learning, he realized early in his teaching career that delivering a quality education to all children and serving the collective needs of all school employees go hand-in-hand. He learned that the role of an educator and Association work are one and the same. And the only way to ensure that students and school employees have access to great public schools across the nation is to organize, mobilize, build relationships, and influence policymakers.

Van Roekel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City and a master's degree in math education from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

Recent Responses

February 3, 2010 11:34 AM

RE: ESEA In 2010?

Revamping ESEA Can Be Done in 2010 Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act can be accomplished in 2010. And NEA is committed to working collaboratively with the Obama administration, legislators, and other education stakeholders to overhaul this critical legislation this year. Swift action to rewrite and renew ESEA is in the best interests of children and educators. The need for change is indisputable. The current system -- where almost one-third of high school freshman don't graduate -- is failing to meet the needs of too many students. And educators are chafing under a system that unfairly measures schools and students based… Read more

January 7, 2010 01:53 PM

RE: New Year, New Priorities?

Now is the Time to Transform Our Schools 2010 promises to be extraordinary for a host of reasons. Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is predicted to be on the fast-track. And the Department of Education will be rolling out Race to the Top, the Investing in Innovation Fund, and School Improvement Grants. Against that backdrop, the top priority this year must be transforming our system of public education. The status quo, which allows millions of students to drop out before they finish high school, is unacceptable. Fortunately, I believe Congress and the Obama Administration understand this. It’s… Read more

December 17, 2009 11:37 AM

RE: Educating A Workforce

Protect Public Investment in Higher EdThe Business Roundtable rightly acknowledges the nation's urgent need for a better-educated and better-trained workforce. This fundamental belief is at the core of NEA's mission: "...to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world." Yet the recommendation to alter federal funding to reward institutions and students based on completion of college and training programs misses the mark. It is clear that the federal government plays a pivotal role in helping students attend and complete postsecondary education. In 1979, the federal Pell Grant covered 77 percent of the total… Read more

December 7, 2009 07:59 AM

RE: Do Charter Schools Deserve The Spotlight?

a recent report by Education Sector raised questions about the ability of successful charter schools and charter management organizations to replicate their success on a large scale The Administration has been absolutely correct to emphasize innovation in education - but wrong to equate innovation with charter schools. We all know there are some great charter schools. We also know there are some that aren't so good. It all depends on how well they're designed and held accountable. Charter schools are not a magic bullet, and they aren't the only schools where you can find innovative ideas at work today. The… Read more

November 16, 2009 02:10 PM

RE: Building Consensus Behind ESEA Reauthorization

When Congress takes up reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, whether in 2010 or later, the results will define the nation's education policy for years to come. One of the challenges is reconciling sharp differences about how to amend the landmark bill. How can the Obama administration and Congress put together a winning majority for reauthorization of ESEA? What should change, what should remain more or less the same, and why? As Congress and the Obama administration consider reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty,… Read more

October 19, 2009 10:14 PM

RE: How Should Teacher Effectiveness Be Assessed?

Teaching is a complex professional task and requires assessments that are designed to capture that complexity. That means we need to stop thinking simplistically about measuring teacher effectiveness and start thinking systemically. Assessments of teacher performance should include a comprehensive and collaborative approach. And assessments and evaluation should have as their central principle the improvement of teacher knowledge, skills, and classroom practice—with the ultimate goal of enhancing student learning. Assessments should also incorporate multiple sources and kinds of evidence. Why? Because all measures provide only a partial view of teacher performance. Student performance on standardized tests is an important… Read more

September 29, 2009 04:46 PM

RE: Could Common State Standards Impact Quality?

The work that has been done on Common Core Standards has the potential to provide teachers with far more manageable curriculum goals. Their broadness allows teachers to exercise professional judgment in planning instruction that promotes student success. As the standards are extended to grades K–12, NEA is optimistic that they will continue to be broader and more challenging than most of the current state standards. I believe that it is critically important that the voice of the education practitioner is included in the development of all core standards. NEAhas been active in helping to develop these standards and remains… Read more

September 22, 2009 09:48 AM

RE: What Is The Solution To The High School Dropout Crisis?

About 30 percent of high school students drop out before graduation, meaning about 1 million students fail to graduate from high school every year. Only five in 10 Black and Hispanic students graduate on time with a standard diploma. Make no mistake, this has developed into a national crisis that has far-reaching implications, not just for the individual students and their futures, but for the economy and the entire country. Addressing this crisis will require multiple approaches at the state and national level. The National Education Association has developed a 12-point action plan for reducing the school dropout rate. Foremost,… Read more

September 16, 2009 02:50 PM

RE: How Can College Completion Rates Be Improved?

There is no single reason why students are not finishing college. However, I dare say that for many the answer is simply that they can’t afford the high cost of a college education. Despite their best efforts, too many students have been forced to choose between continuing their education or putting food on the table and a roof over their heads. If we want students to finish college, we must make college more affordable. But, affordability is not the only issue. Also, we must look at the environment in which we ask college students to learn. The alarming… Read more

September 21, 2009 05:01 PM

RE: Has The P21 Movement Succeeded?

Has the P21 movement succeeded? It has helped to bring attention to an essential dimension of quality teaching and learning. The 21st Century Partnership—of which the NEA is a founding member—has been a consistent reminder that we should not succumb to the drill and kill of a narrow, test-driven curriculum, an unfortunate legacy of No Child Left Behind. All stakeholders—education reformers, policymakers, business leaders, frontline educators, parents—have an opportunity to work together to continue to encourage positive, timely and necessary change for the nation’s schools. That’s why NEA is a firm proponent of providing all students with the… Read more

September 1, 2009 07:44 PM

RE: What Are The Best Methods For School Improvement?

The NEA Foundation is focused on significant and sustainable improvement in the rates of achievement for poor and minority students through the Closing the Achievement Gaps Initiative, and we are starting to see positive results. The program is in three districts with a high number of underachieving low income and minority students: Hamilton County (Chattanooga), Tenn.; Milwaukee, Wisc.; and Seattle, Wash. Using NEA Foundation funding to create learning networks of educators, school district officials, and members of the community, Hamilton County has helped to close the achievement gaps in the school district by more than 10 percent in both reading and… Read more

August 26, 2009 01:31 PM

RE: How Should Students Be Prepared For College?

Sen. Ted Kennedy was a strong, courageous leader in protecting the basic right of all students to attend great public schools. The NEA’s 3.2 million members recognized his work with our highest honor, the Friend of Education Award, for his leadership. He was a longtime advocate for teachers and students, and he left an indelible imprint on every major education law passed since the 1960s, including Head Start, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, direct student loans and the Class Size Reduction Act. More than any single person, he shaped the modern landscape for public education. His contributions are as… Read more

August 21, 2009 05:03 PM

RE: How Would You Assess The Proposed Early Learning Challenge Fund?

The Early Learning Challenge Fund presents states with an opportunity to deliver high quality early childhood programs to the growing numbers of children who enter kindergarten already behind their peers socially and academically. This "school readiness" gap begins before children enter school and places children at risk of failure in school. Yet despite all that is known about the importance of early childhood interventions for at-risk children, the number of economically disadvantaged children enrolled in preschool remains low. Research shows that access to early learning opportunities can increase a child's success in school and in life. Studies also indicate that an effective… Read more

August 4, 2009 07:44 AM

RE: Are The 'Race To The Top' Requirements Fair?

In releasing the draft guidelines for awarding Race to the Top funds to states, the Obama Administration acknowledged a crucial truth: the current system is failing many students. We know it’s necessary for teachers to have timely, accurate data about students to help guide their practice in the classroom. But the proposal to link student achievement data to teacher and principal evaluation misses the mark. A "Race to the Top" can quickly turn into a "Race to Judgment." I’ve explained to Secretary Duncan that educators have been burned by NCLB – where the results of one high-stakes test were used… Read more

July 30, 2009 09:19 AM

RE: How Can We Close The Achievement Gap?

The achievement gaps are deeply rooted, pervasive and complex. And few people know that better than the front line educators working in America’s public schools. We go to work every day to educate the next generation of lawyers, plumbers, farmers, educators, engineers and, yes, presidents, while at the same time coping with, and at times, adjusting to the many factors beyond our control—inadequate and inequitable funding, outdated textbooks, crumbling buildings, and crowded classrooms, to name a few. While there’s no silver bullet to eradicate the achievement gaps, we know that programs—like quality prekindergarten and afterschool mentoring and… Read more

June 29, 2009 08:08 AM

RE: What's The Best Use Of Stimulus Money?

States face tough choices in tough times as they balance the desire for innovation against the need to fill budget gaps. Because of this severe recession, California faced a $24 billion shortfall in its budget for the current fiscal year. For students and educators, this means a direct and devastating hit to the classroom: class sizes will grow; 15,000 teachers and thousands of education support professionals will lose their jobs; summer school programs will be canceled; and new textbooks won’t be ordered. The reality is that the state economic outlook has worsened since ARRA was signed into law in February.… Read more

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This Education Blog is funded by support provided, in part, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the purpose of creating an educational forum for sharing research, ideas and opinions regarding issues related to college readiness and college completion. The Blog may not be used to post partisan political statements supporting or opposing candidates for public office. All statements and materials posted on the Blog, including any statements regarding specific legislation, reflect the views of the individual contributors and do not reflect the views of National Journal or the Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation. National Journal and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation take no positions regarding any legislation discussed in the Blog. National Journal reserves the right to monitor material placed on this site and to remove any posting they may deem inappropriate.