Focusing on the educational continuum from early childhood to postsecondary and the workforce.
Richmond, VA – Senator Steve Newman, chairman of the Virginia Senate Education and Health Committee and Delegate Steve Landes, chairman of the Virginia House of Delegates Education Committee, in partnership with The Hunt Institute, an affiliate of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, will host the 2018 Virginia Education Summit on October 15 – 16, 2018. Over the course of the two days, the Summit will bring together members of the Virginia Senate & House education committees to address the current and future landscapes of education in the Commonwealth.
Held on the campuses of Virginia State University and the University of Richmond, the 2018 Summit will feature leading experts and practitioners from Virginia and around the nation who will share their knowledge and engage legislators in constructive dialogue about critical education issues facing the Commonwealth.
“We are delighted to once again host the Summit in conjunction with the Hunt Institute,” said Delegate Landes. “Last year’s Virginia Education Summit fostered engaging discussions and we are eager to discuss the most pressing issues facing education, so we can continue to build excellence for all students in Virginia.”
The two-day Summit will include sessions on issues and policies related to the full education continuum, from early childhood to postsecondary education and the workforce. Sessions will also highlight innovative ways that high schools are reforming to improve opportunities for students to prepare for postsecondary education and the workforce, how policymakers and stakeholders can work together to ensure that liberal arts colleges continue to play strong roles in the future, ways in which states are building sustainable school funding systems and exploring innovative initiatives to provide meaningful growth and advancement opportunities for our best teachers. View the full agenda here.
“Our goal is to continue to improve and expand the highest-quality education opportunities for all of our students along the education continuum,” said Sen. Newman. “Delegate Landes and I look forward to connecting state legislative leaders with local and national education experts. We appreciate the continued partnership with the Hunt Institute on this important work.”
The Summit will feature remarks from Senator Newman, Delegate Landes, First Lady Pamela Northam, Virginia State University President Makola Abdullah, University of Richmond President Ronald Crutcher, Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni and Laura Fornash, former Virginia Secretary of Education.
Through a series of panel discussions and small group conversations, legislators will hear from a variety of experts, including:
- Robert C. Pianta, Dean, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia;
- Jenna Conway, Chief School Readiness Officer, Virginia Governor’s Children’s Cabinet;
- Rebecca Berlin, Senior Vice President, Quality, Solutions and Impact, Ounce of Prevention;
- Stephanie Dean, Vice President of Strategic Policy Advising, Opportunity Culture, Senior Consulting Manager, Public Impact;
- Andy Cole, Consultant, Wallace Foundation;
- Robert N. Corley, III, Interim Dean, College of Education and Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Programs, Virginia State University;
- Bonnie Fusarelli, University Faculty Scholar, NC State University; Director of The Northeast Leadership Academy;
- James Lane, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction;
- Daniel Gecker, President, Virginia Board of Education;
- Emily Parker, Policy Analyst, Education Commission of the States;
- Ronald Crutcher, President, University of Richmond
- James E. Ryan, President, University of Virginia;
- Katherine A. Rowe, President, William & Mary;
- Jeffery Smith, Hampton City Schools Superintendent;
- Zuzana Steen, University, Academic, and Community Relations Manager, Micron Technology;
- Peter Blake, Director, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia;
- Megan Healy, Chief Workforce Development Advisor, Office of the Governor; and
- Kevin Carey, Vice President, Education and Policy Management, New America.
“The Hunt Institute appreciates the continued commitment from Senator Newman and Delegate Landes to encourage and facilitate these critical conversations with policymakers,” said Dr. Javaid Siddiqi, Hunt Institute President & CEO. “Now in our fourth year of this Summit, I commend the Committees’ dedication to the future of Virginia’s education system, students, and families.”
