In the News

“We are so lucky to have amazing teachers in Virginia who are committed to the academic and personal success of their students,” said Secretary of Education Atif Qarni. “This teacher raise and significant new additional school funding is an investment in our children, teachers and the long term well being of our Commonwealth.”

In order to learn, students need an environment where they feel protected and supported, Qarni said in a news release. “I look forward to working with this group of talented individuals to create recommendations that will help Virginia schools continue to be a place where families are confident their children will be safe, and where students feel safe and ready to learn," he said.

“... they fully understand both the oppression experienced by African Americans and their significant contributions to STEM, the arts, education, law, and advocacy,” said Secretary of Education Atif Qarni, a former teacher in Prince William.  “As a history teacher, I know that this course is long overdue and is a first step toward telling a more inclusive story about the past and how it has shaped the present."

“When it comes to the safety and wellbeing of our children, we can never be too vigilant,” said Atif Qarni, Virginia’s secretary of education and a former Prince William County school teacher. “Providing funding for critical personnel, mental health supports and highly relevant trauma-informed trainings is essential.”

ATIF QARNI: It was great to have lunch with the students. I had lunch with the second graders, talked about school nutrition and it was great to see the variety of lunches that students are having.