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

The high school math teacher from Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona, served two terms as NEA Vice President and NEA 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.

Born in LeMars, Iowa, Van Roekel’s parents, teachers, and community instilled a deep sense of the value of education and the understanding that public 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.  “To me, teaching and being an Association activist are part of the same thing,” he says.  “As one of my mentors said early on, ‘I can’t do half a job.’”

“We need to make sure our members understand the connection between what happens in the classroom and what influences decision making,” says Van Roekel.  “It means listening to public education professionals and parents talk about what they want and then working through political action, lobbying, bargaining, and instructional advocacy to get members and students what they need.”

Van Roekel’s commitment to improving student learning and enhancing the professionalism of education employees is guided by his belief in the NEA mission and vision.  “The mission and vision of this organization absolutely define who I am, what I care about, and what I believe in,” he says.  “What a powerful statement for any organization, to say that the reason we exist is to ‘fulfill the promise of public education’ – and not just for some, but to prepare every student to succeed.  I’m proud of that.  And I want to continue that journey.”

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.