September 22, 2025
NSBA is proud to announce the hiring of Dr. Phelton Moss as our new Managing Director of Government Relations.
Dr. Moss brings a wealth of experience in education policy, advocacy, and leadership at the federal, state, and local levels. He previously served as Senior Policy Adviser to Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), where he provided counsel on K–12 and higher education, labor, health care, and criminal justice issues. He has also served in senior roles with the Mississippi Department of Education, where he led the state’s teacher recruitment and retention efforts. He holds a faculty appointment as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education and Affiliate Faculty Member in the Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University.
Dr. Moss began his career as a high school English teacher in Greenwood, Mississippi, where he was named Teacher of the Year for two consecutive years as a Teach for America corps member. He later served as a high school assistant principal and middle school principal, experiences that continue to ground his perspective on public education. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and a B.A. in Public Policy Leadership and English from the University of Mississippi.
In addition, Dr. Moss serves as an elected member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education in Maryland, giving him firsthand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities school board members face across the nation.
In his role with NSBA, Dr. Moss will lead advocacy efforts with Congress, the administration, and key federal policymakers and develop strategies on critical federal and state policy issues. He will also oversee planning and management of NSBA’s Advocacy & Equity Institute and strengthen NSBA’s support for state associations and our nationwide network of school board leaders.
“Dr. Moss brings an extraordinary combination of classroom experience, policy expertise, and school board leadership,” said Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, NSBA Executive Director and CEO. “We are thrilled to welcome him to NSBA as we continue advancing our mission of serving each student in every community.”
“I cannot imagine a more important place to do this work at this moment. Our nation’s school board members must remain front and center on matters of education policy,” said Dr. Phelton Moss. “I look forward to supporting members across the country as we work together to advance policy outcomes that improve opportunities for all scholars.”