The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is a membership organization of English teachers from the pre-K to graduate-school level that advances left-of-center activism in education, including pursuing the left-of-center principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion (DEI). ^{1 2 3}

In November 2024, NCTE held its annual convention that included among its speakers an anti-Israel activist who justified the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. ⁴

Activities

The National Council of Teachers of English is a membership organization of pre-K through graduate-level English teachers. Founded in 1911, NCTE offers members webinars, subscription to the NCTE quarterly magazine The Council Chronicle, access to digitized issues of its journals, and liability, health, life, and auto insurance. NCTE has two individual membership tiers: a standard membership costing $50 and a student membership costing $25. ^{1 2}

NCTE also provides resources for members based on education level and “topics of interest.” Resources provided by NCTE include articles entitled “There is No Apolitical Classroom,” “Developing Critical Consciousness,” and “Resources on Antiracism tied to Stamped.” ³

In May 2017, NCTE adopted a vision statement devoted to left-of-center principles calling on members to “apply the power of language and literacy to actively pursue justice and equity.” In its statement, NCTE also urged support for the left-of-center goals of diversity and inclusion. The vision was approved by the NCTE executive committee. ¹

Annual Convention

NCTE also hosts an annual membership convention. As of December 2024, the November 2025 convention was entitled “Dream Boldly” and would focus on how social change can be brought about through people’s dreams. ⁵

In November 2024, NCTE hosted its annual convention on the theme “Heart, Hope, and Humanity” with a keynote address by left-of-center Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Other speakers included Sawsan Jaber and Hannah Moushabeck, anti-Israel activists who justified the Hamas terrorist attack against Isreal on October 7, 2023.  Jaber and Moushabeck reportedly spoke at the conference on Palestinian “liberation” and how “teachers can be agents of justice through their roles.” Previously, Moushabeck reportedly was involved in a “Queer story time for Palestine” event in Amherst, Massachusetts that featured a drag queen leading toddlers in a chant of “Free Palestine.” After the October 7 attacks, Jaber said that because the Palestinians who conducted the attack were “fighting for their humanity,” they were not terrorists but just being “human.” ⁴

Leadership

The National Council of Teachers of English is governed by an executive committee composed of general members who have two-year terms and a presidential team who have four-year terms. Members of the executive committee are elected in the spring. ⁶

As of December 2024, the executive director of NCTE is Emily Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick has been the executive director of NCTE since November 2015. Previously, she was a vice president and senior director for National Center for Family Literacy, a director of development and manager of corporate and donor relations for National Center for Family Learning, and finance director for the 1998 campaign of Democrat Mary Boyle for U.S. Senate from Ohio, where Kirkpatrick secured financial support for Boyle from the pro-abortion organization Emily’s List. ^{6 7}

As of November 2024, the presidential team of NCTE is comprised of NCTE president Tonya B. Perry, NCTE president-elect Antero Garcia, NCTE vice president Detra Price, and NCTE past president Rochelle Rodrigo. Perry is also the provost and vice president of Miles College. Garcia is also an associate professor at the Stanford graduate School of Education. Price is also a professor and the executive director of the Center for Digital Learning and Innovation at the Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology. Rodrigo is also a senior director of the writing program at the University of Arizona. ^{6 8 9 10}

Financials

According to tax filings, the National Council of Teachers of English reported revenue of $7,620,225, expenses of $9,440,743, and assets of $47,353,199 in 2022. Of its expenses, the organization spent $3,118,571 on professional meetings and seminars, including on hosting the NCTE annual convention; $790,548 on the publication of books; and $365,711 on publication of journals and periodicals. Of its revenue, NCTE received $894,894 from membership dues; $199,715 from other contributions, gifts, and grants; $522,842 from periodical subscriptions; and $2,301,162 from conventions, meetings, and exhibits. ¹¹

1. “About.” NCTE. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://ncte.org/about/.
2. “Membership.” NCTE. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://ncte.org/membership/.
3. “Resources.” NCTE. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://ncte.org/resources/.
4. Akiva, Kassy. “Ketanji Brown Jackson To Headline Event Featuring Activists Who Justified October 7.” Daily Wire. November 20, 2024. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.dailywire.com/news/ketanji-brown-jackson-to-headline-event-featuring-activists-who-justified-october-7.
5. “Events.” NCTE. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://ncte.org/events/.
6. “Leadership.” NCTE. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://ncte.org/about/leadership/.
7. “Emily Kirkpatrick (She/Her).” LinkedIn. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkpatrickes/.
8. “Tonya Perry.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-perry-30304717/.
9. “Antero Garcia (He/Him).” LinkedIn. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/antero-garcia-b9527435/.
10. “Rochelle (Shelley) Rodrigo (She/Her).” LinkedIn. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochellerodrigo/.
11. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). National Council of Teachers of English. 2022.