John Carr is to succeed Senator Joe O'Toole as the general secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation.
Mr Carr, from Co Donegal, was elected with over 9,000 votes, and will take over the office when Sen O'Toole resigns in summer 2002.
He will officially become general secretary designate at the beginning of October.
Mr Carr has pledged to ensure primary teachers get the money they are seeking from the bench-marking process.