NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira has been named to a national advisory commission tasked with helping to broaden educational opportunities for Hispanics.
At a White House ceremony last month, Neira was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as a commissioner on President Barack Obama's Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for Hispanics.
The Commission is composed of 30 members who will work closely with the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics to meet Obama's goals to have the best-educated workforce in the world by 2020, and to once again lead the world in the number of college graduates. Through its work, the Commission will provide advice to Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
In renewing the initiative, the president has demonstrated strong support for the role Hispanics play in the overall prosperity of the nation, Neira said. It highlights his commitment to expanding education opportunities and improving education outcomes for all students. The Commission will convene at least twice annually. In addition, the group will work through task forces composed of Commission members.
"This is indeed an honor for me, as an educator and a unionist, to be part of this essential work," Neira said.
Neira was also named to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's Advisory Council. CHCI promotes programs that develop the next generation of Latino leaders.
It offers extensive scholarship, fellowship and internship programs, in addition to its Towards 2030 initiative, which aims to address the critical need for higher education and improved graduation rates for the fastest growing and youngest demographic — Latinos.