Luminaries

Cornelia Adair

Cornelia Adair, elected NEA president for a 1927–1928 term, was the first classroom teacher to serve in this capacity. She was a dedicated teacher advocate.

Originally from Virginia, where she received her B.A. from the College of William and Mary, Adair led her state's efforts to improve teacher retirement and to enact laws requiring equal pay for women and men teachers. She also served as president of the National League of Classroom Teachers, a forerunner of NEA's Department of Classroom Teachers.

Adair's leadership at NEA began with her election as a director from Virginia in 1919; she was elected treasurer of the organization in 1920 and served seven terms in this position until her unanimous election to the presidency in 1927.

Adair's theme for NEA's 66th convention was, "Education for Citizenship." She spoke to the membership, saying, "We shall see the classroom teacher recognized, not as a hireling, but as one of the most important professional factors in the system of education."

In 1931, Adair was chosen president of NEA's Department of Special Education in the first year of the department's existence, continuing her leadership service to the profession.