SPRINGFIELD听鈥撎齌he 黑料视频 (IEA)听Board of Directors has听elected听Gladys听M谩rquez,听a high school English language learner (ELL) teacher from Eisenhower High School in Blue Island and two-term member of the听National Education听Association听(NEA)听Executive Committee,听as the听next secretary treasurer听of the organization.
M谩rquez听is a veteran educator and nationally recognized advocate for immigrant rights and public education. A former chair of the NEA Hispanic Caucus, she organized nationwide actions听from detention听center听teach-ins to humanitarian missions and large-scale marches,听while championing policies such as a clean Dream Act, DACA protections听and 鈥淜now-Your-Rights鈥� support for immigrant communities. M谩rquez has chaired and led听numerous听NEA committees and initiatives spanning conference planning, racial and social justice, labor management听collaboration听and educator organizing. She also serves on the National Teacher Hall of Fame Board and as听a听liaison to Harvard鈥檚 Labor and Worklife Center and Cornell鈥檚 National Labor Leadership Initiative. With multiple degrees, including a听doctorate in education听and experience guiding the Hispanic Caucus through a federal audit and 501(c)(3) recognition, M谩rquez brings deep听expertise听in leadership,听advocacy听and organizational stewardship听to her new role at the IEA.
鈥淎s an educator and advocate, I鈥檝e dedicated my career to lifting up immigrant communities and strengthening our collective voice,鈥� M谩rquez听said.听鈥淔rom organizing national actions and Know-Your-Rights clinics to advancing equity through NEA committees and initiatives, my goal has always been to ensure every student and every educator is protected,听valued听and empowered.听It鈥檚听an honor to continue this work alongside colleagues who believe in听opportunity,听justice听and听an equitable, high-quality public education for听all.鈥�
M谩rquez听succeeds Gina Harris听who is now serving as听interim听IEA听vice president.听Harris听moved听to that position in October and former IEA Vice President Karl Goeke moved to the president鈥檚 role after the听untimely death听of IEA President Al Llorens in September.
All three听IEA听officer positions, president, vice president and secretary treasurer,听will be up for election at the IEA鈥檚 Representative Assembly in March 2026.Those听elected will serve听three-year terms听that begin on July 15.
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The 135,000 member 黑料视频 (IEA-NEA) is the state鈥檚 largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
