MSEA Convention

Princess R. Moss, an elementary school music teacher from Louisa County, Va., is vice president of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest professional organization. Previously, Princess was NEA secretary-treasurer and had primary responsibility for managing and maintenance of the Association’s multimillion dollar budget.

At the local, state, and national levels, Princess is a respected, unwavering champion of children and public education. As vice president, she helps to guide the Association’s mission of fulfilling the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world. For Princess, an important part of that work includes being a staunch, outspoken ally of students, educators, and families who represent communities that have been historically marginalized. These include Black, Brown and indigenous communities, LGBTQ+
communities, students with disabilities, and those who move through the world representing the ways in which these communities intersect.

Princess is a skilled organizer. She recognizes the opportunities and subtle power that exist within authentic one-to-one conversations. An intent listener who knows the value of storytelling, Princess frequently shares stories about the lived experiences of NEA members to make a point about the challenges faced by today’s educators. Her goal is to ensure the voices educators raise on behalf of their students, and the professional authority of educators, continue to grow. In particular, Princess focuses special attention on increasing the ranks of new educators. She understands that within their knowledgeable hands lies the future of NEA and the nation.

Elected NEA vice president in 2020, as the U.S. faced the dual pandemics of coronavirus and systemic racism, Princess is an outspoken, sought after advocate on the topics of racial and social justice in education and the ways in which awareness, capacity-building, partnership and individual and collective outcomes can help to improve public schools, and ensure that every public school student has an opportunity to achieve the American Dream. To Princess, and to the entire NEA, every child and every student —no matter their parents’ incomes, where they live, the language they speak at home, their race, religion, ethnicity, gender identification, or physical capabilities—deserves to attend a great public school. Princess believes in using every available tool—organizing, legal and legislative measures, the ballot box, and collective action—to protect the rights of students and educators and protect public education.

Princess distinguished herself with two terms on the NEA Executive Committee, where she served on the Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) Advisory Committee, steering the Association’s strategy for the law’s pending reauthorization, and the Dropout Prevention Advisory Committee, helping develop relevant tools for NEA members. She also served on the Board of Directors for the NEA Health Information Network, a non-profit dedicated to providing school communities with vital and timely information that supports successful learning environments and student achievement.

Princess is past president of the 62,000-member Virginia Education Association (VEA), where she increased VEA membership, advocated successfully for greater investment in public education at the state and local levels, and helped to lay the groundwork for the state’s collective bargaining law, passed in 2019. She also served as VEA vice president and was on the Board of Directors for NEA and VEA for over 10 years.

In 2006, Princess was tapped by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to serve on the Commonwealth’s P-16 Education Council, tasked with coordinating education reform from preschool through higher education. She also served on the Executive Committee of the Foundation for Virginia, a 501(c)4 bipartisan coalition of organizations, business leaders, and public officials promoting a better future by ensuring quality education, public safety, and other priorities. Through her wide range of experiences, Princess has developed a recognized expertise on women’s issues, minority concerns, political action, school finance, and professional development.

An advocate for a great public school for every student, Moss was appointed by Governor Tim Kaine to a term on the University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors, 2007-2011. She was reappointed by Governor Ralph Northam, 2021-2024.

As the daughter of two school bus drivers who instilled within her the core beliefs of courage, honesty, respect, and the value of getting a good education, Princess earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Mary Washington, and received the university’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2006. She also earned a master’s degree in elementary and secondary administration and supervision from the University of Virginia

MSEA’s 2025 Education Support Professional of the Year is Steph­anie Patterson—a union and civic leader in Calvert County. She is a member of the Calvert Association of Education Support Staff.

Stephanie is the secretary of Calvert County’s environmental education program CHESPAX, where she coordinates and manages logistics for more than a dozen different field experiences serving thousands of students across the district.

On a typical day, Stephanie might schedule field trips with school administrators and exter­nal partners; coordinate buses with the transportation depart­ment; communicate trip details to teachers, front office secretar­ies, chaperones, and site staff; prepare and organize instruc­tional materials; and resolve any last-minute changes or accommo­dations. She accomplishes this all while serving as that all-important bridge between teachers, students, transportation staff, community partners, front office secretaries, and administrators.

And beyond her duties at CHESPAX, Stephanie is a commit­ted union member with NEA and MSEA organizing and leadership trainings on her resume, includ­ing MSEA’s Summer Leadership Conference and Membership Organizing Workshop, as well as the NEA Zone 1 Institute. She’s a building rep, a member of the CAESS board of directors, chair of the elections and nominating committee, and a member of her local’s SPARKS committee.

ALonna Soward-Puryear, a fourth-grade teacher at Monocacy Elementary School in Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS), is the 2026 Maryland Teacher of the Year.

Soward-Puryear was selected among seven finalists for the award. This marks the first time in 15 years that a FCPS educator has received Maryland Teacher of the Year honors.

“ALonna Soward-Puryear exemplifies the transformative power of education,” said Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools. “Her leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to student success make her a beacon of excellence in Maryland’s classrooms. We are proud to have her represent our state.”

“On behalf of the State Board of Education, I extend heartfelt congratulations to ALonna Soward-Puryear,” said Dr. Joshua L. Michael, State Board of Education President. “Her dedication to fostering academic growth and supporting both students and educators is truly inspiring. We look forward to her continued impact as a leader and advocate.”

Soward-Puryear mentors novice educators and actively contributes to the School Improvement Team, STEM Team, and Systemic Blueprint Team. She has served as coordinator for summer programs designed to support prekindergarten/kindergarten readiness, and address pandemic-related learning loss. Soward-Puryear is a participant in the district’s Vanguard teacher leadership program.

She will compete for the National Teacher of the Year award in the spring and spend the upcoming year as a speaker and advisor, participating in meetings and events hosted by the National Teacher of the Year Program.