AFT   555 New Jersey Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20001

American Federation of Teachers

Founded in 1916, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) represents the economic, social and professional interests of classroom teachers. The AFT advocates sound public education policies, including high academic and conduct standards for students, greater professionalism for teachers and school staff, and high-quality healthcare provided by qualified professionals. Members of the AFT strive for excellence in public service through cooperative problem-solving and workplace innovations.

The AFT is guided by the philosophy that higher pay, better benefits and the well-being of the people its members serve all depend on improving the quality of the institutions in which they work and the services they provide. The AFT has five divisions that represent the different facets of its membership:

• Teachers
• Paraprofessionals and school-related personnel
• Local, state, and federal employees
• Higher education faculty and staff
• Nurses and healthcare professionals

The AFT is governed by its elected officers. At the union's biennial convention, union policies are set and union officers are elected. In addition to the president, secretary-treasurer, and executive vice president, the AFT is led by a 39-member executive council. In non-convention years, the AFT hosts the Quality Educational Standards in Teaching (QuEST) conference. Nearly 3,000 educators from across the country meet at this conference to discuss professional issues of interest.