AFT Vice President
Maria Neira, an elementary school bilingual teacher who rose through the ranks of union leadership to become a nationally recognized expert on educational issues, is a vice president of New York State United Teachers, representing more than 600,000 members.

Neira oversees the statewide union's initiatives involving educational policy matters. She is NYSUT's frontline advocate in dealing with the New York Board of Regents and the state education department.

An AFT vice president and co-chair of the AFT Teachers program and policy council, Neira serves on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. She also serves on the New York State AFL-CIO executive council, the board of directors of the AFL-CIO's Workforce Development Institute and the national Coalition of Labor Union Women. She is a member of the New York State United Way board of directors and the education fund of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. She oversees NYSUT's fund-raising activities as a statewide flagship sponsor for American Cancer Society programs, including the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer annual walks.

Neira has received many awards, including the 2005 Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations.

Neira previously served as assistant to the president on education issues for the United Federation of Teachers in New York City, where she helped develop strategic plans for education reform. She also served as director of the UFT's special educator support program.

Neira began her teaching career in New York City in 1977 and later served as a fourth-grade bilingual teacher at the Bilingual Bicultural Mini School in Manhattan, where she developed and implemented a schoolwide hands-on science program for children in grades K-6.

(August 22, 2008)