John Vincent Wagner
Position running for: NEA Director (Position 2)
Job title: President, Rochester Education Association
Local name: Rochester Education Association
Email: chiefquartermaster@gmail.com
Campaign links:
Statement
I have been actively involved in the Rochester Education Association for 21 years. I have served as a building representative, senior building representative, Metro Area Council representative, local Vice President, and currently as local President. Additionally, I have served as a contract negotiator six times. On the state level, I have served as a member of the Education Minnesota Legislative Action Committee, and I am currently serving on the Education Minnesota Every Member Matters Committee and the Education Minnesota Release Time Local Presidents Committee.
I act in the interest of membership. This is an easy thing to say, but a difficult thing to do. I accomplish this by listening to members and validating their input, acting on that input, and being accessible always. While serving as local President, I produce weekly update videos which keep our members current on union business and offer a starting point for conversations with them. I intend to provide regular updates as an NEA Director as well.
Should I be given the honor of serving as NEA Director, I commit to the following four principles.
- Member advocacy – I will listen to your concerns and I will represent these concerns at NEA Director’s meetings.
- Becoming one union – I will work to bring us all together in Minnesota so that we have one voice at the national level.
- Honoring the profession – Educators prepare and develop the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and working class. In short, we build the future of our country. We are the backbone of our country and deserve to be recognized as such through better pay and respectable pensions.
- Support ESPs – ESPs play critical roles in our schools. They are often the first face children see in the morning and the last in the afternoon. They are also woefully underpaid and deserve better. One job should be enough.
I look forward to representing you and hearing from you. Please vote for Vince at the 2025 Education Minnesota Representative Convention.
Testimonial
As a passionate advocate for education, Vince is relentless in the fight for working conditions and bettering the lives of ESPs. His experience as a teacher, coupled with his role as union president gives him insight on changes needed to better the education system. With his fierce support for the ESP Bill of Rights and One Job Should Be Enough movement, he truly understands the challenges ESPs are facing today. He is the hope for a brighter future for ESPs in education.
-Nikki Goodwill, ESP
Testimonial
Vince is a great candidate for NEA Director. He is knowledgeable about local, state, and national issues and is willing to do the work required to realize change for our union. As a local president, he has done work statewide to champion for all our members: ESPs, licensed, and classroom. His work for ESPs has been powerful as he has advocated both locally and at the state legislature. Vince would be an excellent addition to the NEA as a director.
-Leah Van Dosser, President, SPFE
Testimonial
Vince Wagner has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. Few others can match his dedication and hard work for Education Minnesota members. I am particularly grateful for Vince’s relentless efforts, support and leadership on the Education Minnesota Every Member Matters (Point 68) campaign. I strongly encourage everyone to cast their vote for Vince Wagner.
-Joey Mathews, Dakota County United Educators
