During the first half of the last century, the National Education Association initiated a Future Teachers Association program. Local chapters of that program still exist in a number of states. Similar efforts also were made by various state departments of education, many local schools, and most notably, by Jan Towslee. As president of the Association of Teacher Educators, Towslee made the development of the Future Educators Association a priority. In 1994, Phi Delta Kappa International took the lead on FEA and provided it with an international headquarters. In 2005, PDK changed the name of the organization to Future Educators Association to more accurately reflect the international nature of the group, which has active chapters in England, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and Italy.

As the only national precollegiate program for prospective teachers, FEA’s mission is to provide students with opportunities to explore careers in education. We hope that through participation in an FEA chapter, students will gain a realistic understanding of the nature of education and the role of the teacher.

FEA members include high school students, junior high school/middle school students, chapter advisors (usually teachers at the same school), and interested individuals in the field of education, including school of education students, college faculty, and teacher educators.

FEA has approximately 1,000 chapters across the United States, England, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. For a list of chapters by state and country, go to www.futureeducators.org.

The Future Educators Association shall:

• Strive to interest students in the field of education early in their school experience.

• Place a strong emphasis on the recruitment of future educators with diverse ethnic, racial, social, and economic backgrounds.

• Strive to promote excellence in students interested in the teaching profession by promoting academic achievement, developing a positive self-image, and encouraging leadership responsibilities.

• Enhance the quality of the school's educational program by fostering an appreciation for teaching and contributing to the smooth operation of the school.

• Promote a positive image of education to students, parents, and the community and disseminate information about the teaching profession.