Laura Vernon - NEA Director

WEAC Leadership Team

Director
National Education Association

Laura Vernon has served in the field of education for 32 years, currently in the Division of School Safety and Security in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). She has been employed as a paraeducator and safety assistant, as well as taking the role of a leader in her community.

She is a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association-certified cheerleading coach, a track coach and a dance/pom-pom instructor/certified judge, and has been inducted into the Badgerette Hall of Fame. A Milwaukee native and graduate of Rufus King High School, Vernon attended Milwaukee Area Technical College, receiving many certifications in various job-related areas. She is recipient of an MPS School Safety Outstanding Employee award and a 25-year school service award.

Vernon’s advocacy and dedication were recognized by the National Education Association (NEA) in 2008, when it selected her as its Education Support Professional of the Year out of a field of 483,000 candidates.

It is extremely important to Vernon that the education voice of Wisconsin is an inclusive one that covers all areas and categories, teachers to education support professionals (ESP). That unified voice can best work to protect the rights of all children to a great public school and the right for all educators to teach and work for great public schools and be adequately and equitably compensated.

Vernon’s national union involvement goes back many years. It includes: National Council of Education Support Professionals (NCESP) for six years; National Council of Urban Education Associations (NCUEA) for four years; and NEA Black Caucus for nine years. She has participated in NEA training seminars and served as an alternate NEA Director for two years.

She has served as a member of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) Board of Directors for four years, and as a board alternate four years. She has been a member of the WEAC Leadership Team for two years and has served as chair of the New Board Members Committee and the Awards and Elections Committee. She is recipient of a WEAC Presidential Award and ESP of the Year Award.

As a strong member of her local, the Milwaukee Educational Assistants’ Association (MEAA), she has served on the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA) Executive Board, receiving MTEA recognition of service. She was MEAA president and secretary and has served on many committees. She is currently a member of the MEAA bargaining team.

WEAC is a professional organization representing the public policy, labor and professional interests of its more than 98,000 members. Great schools benefit everyone, and WEAC’s mission is to support public education and the men and women who work in Wisconsin’s public schools.

Updated September 2009