Alexandria — The Virginia Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, this week endorsed David Englin, the Democratic candidate to represent the 45th District in the House of Delegates.
“As the father of a son in an Alexandria public school, I am especially honored to have the support of the VEA, and the teachers they represent across Virginia. I know first-hand how important teachers are to making sure Virginia’s children receive a first-rate education,” said Englin. “This endorsement is also meaningful to me because my late mother was a public school teacher and a lifelong member of the National Education Association. As your delegate in Richmond I will work to ensure that, in the 45th District and across Virginia, teachers are paid what they’re worth and treated as professionals.”
A key part of Englin’s agenda to improve education in Virginia is to raise teacher’s pay to the national average. Currently teachers across the state are paid about $3,000 less than the national average.
“If we want Virginia’s public schools to attract and retain the best teachers we will need to raise teachers pay to least the national average, or risk losing qualified teachers,” said Englin. “In Richmond I will work with other education advocates in the General Assembly for state money to help localities close that gap.”
The endorsement – called a “recommendation” in VEA parlance – came from the VEA’s political action committee, which is the union’s political arm and is funded entirely by voluntary contributions of VEA members. VEA recommended candidates in 37 House of Delegates races, 14 Republicans and 23 Democrats.
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