Endorsements – Daniel4GS

Daniel stands up for all oppressed groups in the union. He is a tireless activist who always ensures he’s on the picket lines to show solidarity. Daniel is an inspirational teacher who is committed to a fully inclusive and decolonised curriculum.

Neil Dhanda

Rep at Wanstead High School

Daniel has won the confidence of a record 101 districts. As a classroom practitioner he understands the unique challenges that we face. He is committed to challenging inequality and injustice wherever it exists and his work as national President raising awareness about child poverty and its impact was significant in our work as a union. He is the candidate who can lead a strong and united union who can improve the lives of our members and the young people who we work with.

Louise Regan

National Officer and Past President

I’m backing Daniel Kebede for General Secretary of the National Education Union because he is committed to fighting for the best pay and working conditions for Educators. When Daniel was NEU Black Member Constituency Seat Holder, he was very proactive in bringing all the black activists’ voices together and developed our activism. He helped to build my visibility in the union as a queer Black Woman , where am able to be judged by my character and expertise. He is a great advocate for the trade union movement. Black Representation matters. A worthy candidate and I encourage the NEU Membership to vote for him

Denise Henry

NEU Black Member Constituency Seat Holder

I am supporting Daniel Kebede for NEU General Secretary as he is a classroom practitioner who also has the experience to lead our union. I trust that Daniel has improving the lives of not only NEU members but also the children and young people we educate, their families and communities at the heart of everything he does and know that he is committed to building a union that has social justice at its core. In backing him for NEU General Secretary, I’m confident that I’m backing a candidate that can build a strong, united union that can and will win a better education system.

Emma Rose

National Senior Vice President

Daniel has shown that he is aware of most of the issues that each group represented within the NEU. He is supportive and is usually on picket lines supporting various causes. He shown during his time as the president of the NEU that no cause is too small. This position has given a lot of valuable and relevant experience.

Marsha Mills

Rep at London Nautical School

As a black woman the National Executive can be a daunting place. Daniel has consistently encouraged and supported me. I’m backing Daniel because he is the candidate to ensure our union reflects our classrooms.

Louise Lewis

Kirklees NEU andNEU National Executive

Daniel speaks for educators on the crisis created by underfunding education, the harmful effects of Ofsted in schools, and how child poverty blights children’s lives. I am confident he will organise educators to fight and win on these issues.

Venda Premkumar

District Secretary Redbridge

Daniel has proven himself a tough negotiator. As President he led the NEU delegation that gave evidence to the National School Teachers Pay Review Body. He told them straight, “We need a fully funded pay award or we will ballot our members”. He has been the candidate who has supported and worked for action over pay and funding from the beginning. I have worked with him closely on this campaign and I believe it would not have been possible without him. I have no hesitation in backing him for General Secretary as he has shown his ability and commitment to delivering for members.

Phil Clarke

NEU Vice President (Mover of the motion on Pay – NEU National Conference 2022)

I’m supporting Daniel because he is the most capable of reducing workload, increasing pay and working along other unions.

Orlando Hill

Rep at Camden School for Girls

I have known Daniel for a long time now as an anti racist acitivist and teacher. He has an unparalleled grasp of social justice and solidarity. Whether in high office as the Union’s President or in his classroom he brings his passion for education to all he does. I believe Daniel will make an excellent GS for the NEU. He is the person we need to take us as a unified force into the next phase of all the union has to do. I shall vote for him. I trust you will too.

Christine Blower

NUT General Secretary 2009-2016

I’m supporting Daniel because he is the most capable of reducing workload, increasing pay and working along other unions.

Orlando Hill

Rep at Camden School for Girls

Daniel will be an excellent General Secretary for the NEU. I have worked with him in the Northern Region for many years and he has repeatedly shown himself to be a true campaigner for the things that matter most to those in the classroom. He is a real ally to women; he understands the barriers and challenges we face in the workplace as well as within our union and he is determined to support us in overcoming them. A vote for Daniel would be a vote for a hard worker, a campaigner and for someone who is committed to improving things for all educators.

Amy Kilpatrick

National Executive, Newcastle Branch and District Secretary and Representative of the Women’s OF

My name is Tashan Charles, pronouns he/him, a primary school teacher and workplace rep and I am pledging my support for Daniel Kebede for General Secretary for the NEU. Teaching is a profession with an ever-growing aim of delivering a curriculum which reflects our diverse society. However black educators still remain woefully under-appreciated, underpaid and underrepresented. As I black gay cisgender male primary school teacher, I know all too well how I represent a small percentage of educators who share these intersectional identities. I am a firm advocate of the phrase, “You cannot be what you cannot see” and with Daniel Kebede as General Secretary I believe he will spearhead the message that black representation matters.

Tashan Charles

Primary school teacher and workplace rep

Daniel has the passion and political knowledge needed to fight on behalf of our members for improved pay and conditions. He can speak with confidence, enthuse and inspire on the picket line and educate members on the struggles we all face. He is a true trade unionist who believes the answers lie in collective action.

Jenny Cooper

Joint district secretary, Brent NEU and executive member for Outer West London

I have worked with Daniel in the Northern Region and nationally and have always been inspired by his dedication and commitment to fighting injustice and inequality. He is a tireless campaigner against poverty, recognising the long-term damage caused by an underfunded school system and unafraid of calling out those responsible for it. His year as NEU National President proved that he will provide the strength in leadership that our union will need going forward in these challenging times. I will be voting for Daniel as NEU General Secretary.

Sarah Kilpatrick

National Executive and Representative of the NEU Women’s OF

Daniel has shownthat he is aware of most of the issues that each group represented within the NEU. He is supportive and is usually on picket lines supporting various causes. He shown during his time as the president of the NEU that no cause is too small. This position has given a lot of valuable and relevant experience.

Marsha Mills

Rep at London Nautical School

I’m supporting Daniel as he is dedicated both to maintaining a lay led union dedicated to bottom up organising that fights together for all educators but is committed also fighting for a better inclusive education system for our children and young people. He is committed to inclusion and equality for all and I have seen that in his activism both inside and outside of the union over the years. As an LGBT+ woman I value that when I have brought concerns from our community to him as our National President he has listened and really taken on board our concerns. I know he will continue to do this as General Secretary. Please vote Daniel for General Secretary.

Vonni Hardman

Vice Chair LGBT+ Organising Forum, Durham Membership Secretary & LGBT+ Officer, workplace rep

Since I becameactive in the NEU, Daniel has been a steadfast source of support and guidance. On and off the picket line, his care for members at the grassroots level is the epitome of trade unionism. When I was on strike, Daniel was there supporting us.

Shana Carquez

Vice President Sutton Branch

I have known Daniel since the time I was on the NEC with him. He is a people person and an excellent leader. As an educator and campaigner for equality he will be a brilliant General Secretary.

Ann Seuret

Former District Secretary and now ISO for West Sussex.

Daniel standsup for all oppressed groups in the union. He is a tireless activist who always ensures he’s on the picket lines to show solidarity. Daniel is an inspirational teacher who is committed to a fully inclusive and decolonised curriculum.

Neil Dhanda

Rep at Wanstead High School

The ATL uniting with the NUT in which I played a major role has immensely strengthened our forces. We need urgently to further unite with other education unions. Daniel has shown his personal commitment to this.

Hank Roberts

past president ATL

I am delighted to be endorsing Daniel Kebede for the position of NEU General Secretary as I believe he has a good awareness of the issues facing Disabled Educators. He has spoken clearly about his support the Disability Equality Toolkit and for Bargaining for Equality. Moreover, he understands the tremendous pressure that the current education system puts on the mental health of our members and pupils and how education needs to change.

Colleen Johnson

Seat-holder for Disabled Members, NEU National Exec

He’ll lead a fighting organising union.

Jon Reddiford

National executive, district secretary, school rep

Daniel is a dedicated and passionate member of the NEU who I have known for many years. He is comitted to strive for the rights and working conditions of all educators.

Lorraine Metcalf

Treasurer Northumberland and school rep

Daniel is visible and make himself known to everyone. He represents the black sector of the Union. He is able to represent anyone and not afraid to speak up. I know Daniel is ready for the post of GS and I support him 100%.

Carol Jumpp-Graham Hillingdon

Since joining andbecoming active over the past year with in the union, I’ve attended many events regionally aswell as nationally. During this time I’ve come into contact often with Daniel and I’ve seen first hand how passionate and dedicated he is to serve us teachers for a fairer and better deal. I’m voting for Daniel as I think he’s the ideal candidate to fulfill this role to its full potential

Dilshana Begum

Supply Teacher Officer – Leeds District Yorkshire and Humberside

I am backing Daniel Kebede as NEU General Secretary because he understands, first hand, the challenges that face staff and children within the failing education system. He recognises and acknowledges the fact that child poverty has a detrimental affect on learning; that underfunding leading to additional service cuts has a detrimental affect on learning; that the workload of staff is overwhelming and exhausting and detrimental to their physical and mental health; that lack of recruitment and retention of staff is detrimental to a successfully operating education system; that pay levels do not rightly reflect the commitment that is given by all staff to provide a safe, secure, caring environment of learning…this and much more…and I know he is the person to lead the fight against these injustices on our behalf as a Union.

Lou Moore

NEU Black LGBT+ Educator and Committee Member

Daniel has a sound understanding of the difficulties faced by educators and is committed to fighting inequality. He has a clear vision of what a campaigning trade union should look like and he works tirelessly to support all members.

Debs Gwynn

National Executive for Merseyside and Lancashire

Daniel is a dedicated and passionate member of the NEU who I have known for many years. He is comitted to strive for the rights and working conditions of all educators.

Lorraine Metcalf

Treasurer Northumberland and school rep

Carol Jumpp-Graham Hillingdon

Dilshana Begum

Supply Teacher Officer – Leeds District Yorkshire and Humberside

Daniel was a superb Chair at conference and proved to be a calm and sensible voice throughout. He has vast experience in the classroom and is the candidate who has the right vision for our union going forward. I have no doubt that he will be a strong and progressive GS for the NEU.

Chris Anderson

District Secretary, South West Lancashire

Daniel’scommitment to improving the lives of all NEU members, students and their families is at the core of his personal politics. He is clearly now the leader we need to secure our unions strength in the future .A strong, adept negotiator with a vision for a profession and education fit for purpose in the 21st century. Vote for Daniel for General Secretary.

Heather McKenzie

Executive for district 9

I support Danielfor president because I believe in a fighting union rooted in the workplace and I know that’s what he stands for too. I think that Daniel has been a great President this year and has shown that he has what it takes to make a fantastic General secretary.

Mairead Canavan

Glamorgan and Executive member for Wales

‘I’m backing Daniel because his years of classroom experience mean he knows what we deal with day to day. He knows how to campaign and win for education, to make schools better for us and our students. His commitment to inclusion, respect for a diversity of views, and willingness to learn from people with different experiences are the traits I want to see in our General Secretary.

Thom Kirkwood (They/Them)

SEND teacher, School Rep, and LGBT+ Representative on TUC Young Workers’ Forum

Daniel is a genuine kind and supportive member who has done so much for the Union and stands up for improving standards and pay and conditions not only for teachers but for wider society and the world as a whole, the work I have seen him get involved in both as an NUT and NEU rep and equally the uniqueness and personabilty he brought to the role of president at the NEU conference 2022 mean that I wholeheartedly support his bid for the role of the next General Secretary of the NEU.

Andy Winter

Hillingdon Membership Secretary

Daniel Kebede has a deep commitment to ensuring the NEU takes the fight to the government on pay and workload. He is serious about collective action, including strike action, to win at national level and at school level. He represents a vision of education a million miles from the Tories’ narrow, prescriptive and exam-obsessed agenda.

Alex Snowdon

District Secretary, Northumberland