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Dear Friend,
This week’s newsletter comes at a very challenging time for many across the Commonwealth and world. The recent mass shootings, first in Sydney, Australia, involving Jewish community members celebrating the first day of Hanukkah and then at Brown University targeting students as they studied for their final exams, highlight the prevalence of violence, targeted hate crimes, and the need to protect vulnerable communities. The weekend’s heartbreaking violence hits very close to home: among the victims of the Brown University shootings is a recent graduate of Midlothian High School in Chesterfield County, the same school from which one of my daughters graduated. My thoughts and prayers for comfort are with all those families and communities who are struggling to heal from the trauma and loss of these unspeakable acts of gun violence.
The holiday season begins with sorrow and suffering; it must also engender in each of us a shared commitment to stand against hate and bigotry and – in this country – to ensure that commonsense gun laws are in place to protect innocent lives.
In this newsletter, I share my response to the assessment of Virginia’s public schools under the Youngkin administration’s Department of Education, reflect on my time in DC for the first convening of the 12th Cohort of the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows, highlight select community engagements from this past week, and extend a message to all who are celebrating Hanukkah. Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and for staying informed.
Youngkin’s VDOE School Accountability System
Last Tuesday, Governor Youngkin’s Department of Education released the first report on public schools under the new accountability system. A significant number of Virginia’s schools are categorized as “off-track” or “needs intensive support.” My full statement in response is provided here:
“Yesterday’s release of scores provided by Governor Glenn Youngkin’s new School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF) highlights the significant disparities that exist across Virginia’s education system. The reality is that an unacceptable number of Virginia’s schools are struggling, and many of our students are not receiving the high quality education that they deserve.
“Governor Youngkin and his Department of Education (VDOE) have had four years to bring meaningful change by focusing on improving learning outcomes. Instead, his VDOE has struggled to find its footing under three different Superintendents within the span of his administration. Further, this administration chose to focus on culture wars rather than on the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics. Student learning improves when class sizes are smaller, when teachers are supported in their profession, and when parents and communities are engaged with the schools in their neighborhoods.
“As it exits the stage, this administration leaves behind a legacy of division, distraction, and decline. I look forward to working with our new General Assembly and administration to deliver results that are built on supporting our educators, expanding tutoring programs, providing after-school and summer learning, modernizing school buildings, and investing in student mental health. Our focus will be on classrooms, not culture wars. Our children deserve solutions, not distractions.”
It is not enough to simply label schools as “off-track” or “needs intensive support.” Such labels require that we invest in meaningful change, resources, and infrastructure to create the high quality education system that each child deserves.
Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows
Last week, I attended the first meeting of the 12th Cohort of the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows in Washington, DC. This nine-month fellowship consists of bipartisan senior education policy leaders from across the nation coming together to immerse in the full education continuum. Key topics discussed include the importance of early childhood education, school accountability models, postsecondary education accessibility and affordability, and workforce training to meet the ever-changing needs of our economy, especially with the emergence of artificial intelligence. I look forward to the next reconvening in August for continued discussions.
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Throughout our sessions, I had the opportunity to connect with my cohort colleagues, as well as distinguished guests such as Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (pictured right).
Select Community Engagements
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On Tuesday, I attended the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond’s Legislative Leaders Breakfast. Although moved to Zoom due to Richmond’s inclement weather, we were able to connect virtually and hear about the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond’s priorities for the 2026 General Assembly session.
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Credit: VPM News Focal Point
On Saturday, residents of the Shady Hill Mobile Home Community in Senate District 15, in partnership with Legal Aid Justice Center and the Virginia Department of Health, hosted a community holiday celebration. This wonderful gathering gave me an opportunity to reconnect with residents and hear their concerns; this community has undergone immense uncertainty this past year. We shared delicious food, well-wishes for the holiday season ahead, and reaffirmed our commitment to addressing the issues facing the residents of the mobile home park.
Hanukkah
Sunday evening marked the start of Hanukkah for Jewish community members across the Commonwealth. Tragically, this year’s celebration begins with profound grief, as people across the world mourn lives lost in a senseless act of brutal violence and antisemitism in Sydney, Australia. Hanukkah reminds us that light will always drive out darkness, and we must recommit ourselves to ending violence and rejecting hatred in all of its forms.
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Updated: Connecting With My Office
My office contact information has changed to reflect my position as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor-elect. Constituents can reach my team using the included contact information:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 804.698.7515
— Ghazala
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