AFT Leader Says Strong Union Needed Now More Than Ever

For someone who was content in a behind-the-scenes role at the American Federation of Teachers, Edward J. McElroy has spent the past year using his skills as an organizer and negotiator to help fashion the union’s response to the No Child Left Behind Act and expand the organization’s membership.

After easily winning the presidency last year—following Sandra Feldman’s decision not to run again—Mr. McElroy quickly began to speak out strongly about problems that members were experiencing with the federal law. And he’s encouraging the union’s 1.3 million members to become more politically active.

“It’s been an interesting and difficult and rewarding year,” he said in an interview as his anniversary drew near and he presided over his first AFT Quest conference July 7-10. “I’ve been president for a year, and it seems like 10.” At the time he chose to run, many observers speculated over whether Mr. McElroy—the longtime secretary-treasurer of the AFT—would be merely a stand-in leader...