Today, the Association membership encompasses more that 17,000 classroom teachers, educational support personnel, higher education employees and college students preparing for a career in the classroom. Since its founding, the WVEA and its members have been champions for public education, children and employee rights. This advocacy has taken the form of lobbying for improved education funding, safe schools, smaller class size and securing retirement and health care benefits for employees. WVEA members benefit from a variety of programs designed to enhance their working environment, protect their rights, provide training in new skills and improve the education system. WVEA's decisions are made and elections are held in a very democratic manner based on the principles of one person-one vote and secret ballot.
Members are in charge of their organization.
Members elect the WVEA Executive Committee, the organization's governing body. WVEA members also elect delegates to the annual Delegate Assembly, the highest policy making body of the organization. Delegates at Delegate Assembly set policy, budget, legislative agenda and elect the representatives to the Executive Committee. The UniServ program places trained staff people in the field to assist members. Eleven UniServ Consultants located in 5 offices throughout the state provide organizing, advocacy work, grievance processing, communications and instructional services to WVEA members.