John, I want to take a moment to thank our teachers.

Where I grew up in Virginia Beach, opportunities for a better life often seemed unachievable. My chance at opportunity was through my education, made possible by the teachers who believed in me. It’s part of what set me on the path that led me here, running for Lieutenant Governor. So, during Teacher Appreciation Week, I’m calling on each of us to show our appreciation for our teachers through action, not just words.

I’m running to be a champion for our public schools and our teachers by ensuring they have the right funding to uplift the next generation. I need them to know I have their back. Will you sign my petition to show your support for our teachers and to let them know that our campaign stands with them?

The fact is, our teachers here in Virginia are severely underpaid and often lack the necessary resources to provide a world-class education to our students. In the Senate, I championed a budget amendment to help secure more funding for public education and pay our teachers more, but Gov. Youngkin slashed our proposed funding for K-12 public schools by nearly $200 million for our highest-need schools.

John, by failing our teachers, we’re failing our children. We need champions for public education at every level of our government. We need someone with a proven record of standing up for our teachers to ensure that when we say we appreciate our teachers in Virginia, those words are backed by how we treat them and how we pay them.

Will you sign the petition during Teachers Appreciation Week to let them know how much we appreciate them?

Thank you, John. And thank you to our teachers for all you do!

– Aaron Rouse