ALEXANDRIA – The Virginia Education Association, Virginia’s largest teachers’ union, announced Friday that it endorses Del. David Englin (D-45) for re-election to the House of Delegates in this year’s November election.
“We stand with those who stand for public education,” said Princess Moss, Chairperson of the VEA Political Action Committee. “The challenges are great, and we believe our recommended candidates will make education a priority.”
“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. I will continue to work hard 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 teachers’ pay to the national average. Despite recent gains, which Englin helped achieve, teachers across the state are still paid more than $5,000 less than the national average.
“If we want Virginia’s public schools to attract and retain the best teachers we need to raise teachers pay to least the national average, or risk losing qualified teachers,” said Englin. “I will continue to 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.
