Ed Cosentino, a longtime AFSA member from Howard County and principal of Phelps Luck Elementary School in Columbia, Maryland, has been elected vice president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). The results of the 2026 election were announced February 24, 2026, marking a major milestone not only for Cosentino but also for the educators and union leaders who have worked alongside him for years.
Cosentino will begin his term as vice president on August 1, 2026. He is slated to serve as NAESP president-elect in 2027–2028 and president in 2028–2029.
For those who know him in Howard County and across AFSA nationally, the news comes as no surprise. Cosentino has been a strong and steady presence in AFSA Local 36 leadership, advocating for school administrators, championing collaborative labor-management relationships, and mentoring aspiring leaders. Colleagues describe him as someone who blends practical school-level experience with a deep commitment to professional advocacy.
In his candidate statement, Cosentino emphasized the values that have guided his career:
“Service, support, and advocacy have been the cornerstones of my leadership philosophy with my association volunteerism,” he said. “[As vice president,] my priorities will include advocating for the unique needs of principals and assistant principals, expanding our membership, and ensuring that NAESP’s resources evolve in response to the changing challenges we face in education.”
These priorities resonate at a time when school leaders face mounting pressures—from staffing shortages and student mental health needs to political polarization and evolving instructional demands. Cosentino has consistently emphasized that principals need stronger professional networks, practical resources, and a unified voice at the national level.
Learn more about Ed and his vision for NAESP here.
NAESP and AFSA have a long-standing, collaborative relationship, particularly in federal advocacy. Most recently, in 2023, Liza Caraballo-Suarez, from AFSA Local 1 in New York City, served as NAESP’s first Latina president.
Based in Alexandria, Virginia, NAESP represents elementary and middle-level principals across the country, advocating on federal policy, professional standards, and leadership development. Cosentino’s election places a union-active principal with deep local roots at the center of that national conversation.
To lean more about NAESP, click here.
