IEA Board of Directors elects Gina Harris as interim vice president

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Education Association (IEA) Board of Directors has elected Gina Harris, a culture and climate coach from Oak Park School District 97, as the next vice president of the organization.

Gina Harris was the IEA secretary/treasurer before being elected to serve as interim vice president of the state's largest education union. Before her time as an officer within IEA, Harris, who graduated from Oak Park River Forrest High School, attended Triton Community College and graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago, had a first career in business management and after 15 years decided to follow her heart and go back to school to earn her master's degree in teaching and learning from Dominican University. She taught in Schiller Park, Maywood and Oak Park, where she was active in her local unions and the IEA. She has worked as a social studies teacher, taught at both elementary and middle schools and is certified in bilingual/ESL education. Her experience also includes working in higher education as an adjunct professor. Harris has served in a number of leadership roles within the IEA, including as a National Education Association (NEA) director, NEA budget committee member and chair of the IEA Human and Civil Rights Committee.

"I am truly honored to be elected to serve the members of the IEA in this capacity. It's a bittersweet moment for me, as this position only became open in the wake of my dear friend and fellow labor leader Al Llorens' death," IEA Interim Vice President Gina Harris said. "I plan to continue to focus on bringing our members, families and communities together to advocate for safe schools, colleges and universities where all students have access to high-quality public education. Together, we will continue to strengthen IEA, amplify members' voices and deepen our collective power. By organizing with purpose, fostering collaboration and upholding our shared values, we will build the thriving schools, workplaces and communities our students, families and educators deserve."

Harris will succeed Karl Goeke, the former vice president who is now serving as IEA president after the Sept. 25 death of Llorens.

At its December meeting, the IEA Board of Directors will elect a new, interim IEA secretary-treasurer.

All three officer positions will be up for election at the IEA's Representative Assembly in March 2026. Those elected will serve three-year terms that begin on July 15.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state's largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.