John C. Stocks is the former executive director of the

National Education Association The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest labor union in the United States. It represents public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college st ...

(NEA). He began his career as a community organizer, political strategist, and state legislator in Idaho before taking roles at the

Wisconsin Education Association Council The Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) is an education public-sector trade union representing the public policy, labor and professional interests of its members. It is affiliated with the National Education Association. Its headquar ...

and the NEA. He stepped down from the NEA in 2019. He is the chairman of the board of directors of the

Democracy Alliance The Democracy Alliance is a network of progressive megadonors who coordinate their political donations to groups that the Alliance has endorsed. Since its founding in 2005, the Democracy Alliance has given more than $1 billion to liberal organiz ...

Career

In 1988, Stocks ran for the

Idaho Senate The Idaho State Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho Legislature. It consists of 35 senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho. Composition of th ...

, defeating a four-term incumbent. In his one session in the Idaho Legislature, Stocks joined with Republican Sen. Rachel Gilbert to protect people from losing their homes if they are made indigent by medical costs.“Ex-Idahoan will bring years of activism to bear on new role as National Education Association chief” Idaho Statesman, September 18, 2011
/ref> In 1990, Stocks joined the Wisconsin Education Association Council as assistant director. Early in his career he was also a volunteer firefighter, community organization, and executive director of Idaho Fair Share, a grassroots citizen action organization. In 2007, Stocks was honored by the Midwest Academy, a grassroots training institute. He was also honored by the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center for his work in ballot measure campaigning. From 2003 to 2019, Stocks served as an official of the

. In 2011, President Barack Obama's campaign manager Jim Messina said, "He's one of the smartest political operatives in the country." In 2019, Stocks received the Distinguished Alumni Award from The Evergreen State College.

Personal life

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Stocks is a graduate of the

Evergreen State College The Evergreen State College is a public liberal arts college in Olympia, Washington. Founded in 1967, it offers a non-traditional undergraduate curriculum in which students have the option to design their own study towards a degree or follow a ...

. He and his wife, Connie, have two children.“John C. Stocks Named NEA Executive Director” NEA.org, August 31, 2011

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stocks, John C. Living people Year of birth missing (living people)