Leadership Jobs Top Agendas for NEA, AFT

The most important topic at the annual conventions of the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers next month will no doubt be the election of new leaders. But officials also expect lively debates on resolutions and initiatives on subjects ranging from the No Child Left Behind Act to union-district partnership initiatives.

Dennis Van Roekel, the vice president of the NEA, is expected to succeed Reg Weaver as president, while Randi Weingarten, the president of AFT’s New York City affiliate, is almost certain to succeed Edward J. McElroy as the leader of the 1.4 million-member union.

For the AFT, this is a historic year: Women are expected to fill the top three positions. Besides Ms. Weingarten, Antonia Cortese, the executive vice president, is running for the position of secretary-treasurer, while Loretta Johnson, the president of AFT's Maryland affiliate, is running for executive vice president. All are running uncontested at this point, though candidates can file until a...