Randi Weingarten

Weingarten stands as a transformative figure in the labor movement for her role in modernizing the American Federation of Teachers and expanding its political influence. Her election as the first openly gay head of a national union in 2008 was a landmark achievement for LGBTQ+ visibility in organized labor. Her leadership has been cited as influential in shaping K-12 policy and she remains a prominent voice in national debates often receiving support from progressive education groups.