DEPUTY SECRETARY OF EDUCATION APPOINTMENT

Over the Thanksgiving holiday Kathy Burcher, VEA Director of Government Relations was  offered an  appointment to  Governor Northam’s administration as  the  Deputy Secretary of Education focusing on K-12. This role was previously held by Holly Coy who left the administration last March to join the Department of Education.
 

We will be well served knowing that we have a champion inside the  administration.     During the  pivotal  next  year,  Governor Northam will be looking at efforts to combat COVID-19 and the roll out of the vaccine. Too, the Secretary’s office will play a large role in  guiding the  full return  to  face-to-face instruction across  the Commonwealth once  this  pandemic is  over. Granting  Kathy  a leave of absence to serve in this position will benefit our membership and support the efforts of the VEA to put the health and safety of it members as the top priority. I know we will have an effective voice in the administration during this important year.
 
Kathy begins her role January 4, 2021. Shane Riddle, VEA Policy Analyst, has agreed to serve as Interim Department Director. In addition, VEA has engaged Jennie O’Holleran  and  Matt Mansell,  Partners  of  the  Broadstreet  Group,  to  lead  VEA’s lobbying program and assist Shane with building appropriate relationships.