The Latest from VEA

MEDIA ADVISORY

Members pledge to work with Governor-Elect Youngkin to boost support for schools.

Virginia voters have spoken, and while we are disappointed that the candidate backed by the VEA Fund for Children and Public Education, Terry McAuliffe, was not successful, we congratulate Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin and look forward to working with him to increase the state’s funding of public schools and raise educator pay.

“As a candidate, Glenn Youngkin pledged to pass the largest education budget in Virginia history and to raise teacher pay,” said Dr. James J. Fedderman, president of the Virginia Education Association. “VEA members stand ready to assist Mr. Youngkin as he fulfills this campaign pledge and to work with him to build the future our students and educators deserve.”

Virginians have always made education a top election issue and understand that investing in our public schools and those who work for them helps increase educational achievement and economic prosperity. VEA members, the professionals who work with our children every day, know the importance of working to get pro-public education candidates elected. We congratulate the proven public school supporters and new House members who are friends of education who won contests yesterday, especially these individuals also recommended by the VEA Fund (48 Fund-recommended candidates won; the VEA Fund does not recommend in all races):

• Wendy Gooditis in HD 10
• Elizabeth Guzman in HD 31
• Elizabeth Bennett-Parker in HD 45
• Michelle Maldonado in HD 50
• Briana Sewell in HD 51
• Schuyler VanValkenburg in HD 72 (Del. VanValkenburg is also a teacher and VEA member.)
• Rodney Willett in HD 73
• Nadarius Clark in HD 79

VEA members remain focused on winning collective bargaining agreements at the local level, which will improve learning conditions for students and bring more professional compensation and working conditions to educators throughout the Commonwealth.

And, while some politicians may seek to drive a wedge between them, parents and educators are united in wanting to see every student succeed. In every community across the Commonwealth, parents and educators are working together to build stronger public schools and create opportunities for students, and VEA will continue to support that critical work.