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Northam names Prince William civics teacher Atif Qarni as education secretary
After he ran for state Senate in 2015, Qarni wrote in an op-ed that fellow Democrats told him he couldn't win because he's Muslim
Link to tweet
Northam names Prince William civics teacher Atif Qarni as education secretary
BY GRAHAM MOOMAW Richmond Times-Dispatch 38 min ago
Gov.-elect Ralph Northam announced Thursday that Atif Qarni, a middle-school civics and economics teacher in Prince William County, will serve as education secretary in the Northam administration.
Qarni, a military veteran and a son of Pakistani immigrants who has written publicly about the obstacles he has faced as a Muslim running for public office in Virginia, will be the new face of Virginia's education system, overseeing policy and support to the state's K-12 schools and higher education institutions.
“If we want to build an economy that works better for every family, no matter who you are, no matter where you live, we must begin with the foundation of a world-class education,” Northam said in a prepared statement. "We can accomplish it if we support our educators and school support professionals, uphold accountability, invest in and expand STEAM curriculum, and make early childhood education a priority."
Qarni will replace Education Secretary Dietra Trent, a former deputy secretary whom Gov. Terry McAuliffe appointed to the top job in 2016 to replace Anne Holton, a lawyer and former judge who is also the wife of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
....
gmoomaw@timesdispatch.com
(804) 649-6839
Twitter: @gmoomaw
BY GRAHAM MOOMAW Richmond Times-Dispatch 38 min ago
Gov.-elect Ralph Northam announced Thursday that Atif Qarni, a middle-school civics and economics teacher in Prince William County, will serve as education secretary in the Northam administration.
Qarni, a military veteran and a son of Pakistani immigrants who has written publicly about the obstacles he has faced as a Muslim running for public office in Virginia, will be the new face of Virginia's education system, overseeing policy and support to the state's K-12 schools and higher education institutions.
“If we want to build an economy that works better for every family, no matter who you are, no matter where you live, we must begin with the foundation of a world-class education,” Northam said in a prepared statement. "We can accomplish it if we support our educators and school support professionals, uphold accountability, invest in and expand STEAM curriculum, and make early childhood education a priority."
Qarni will replace Education Secretary Dietra Trent, a former deputy secretary whom Gov. Terry McAuliffe appointed to the top job in 2016 to replace Anne Holton, a lawyer and former judge who is also the wife of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
....
gmoomaw@timesdispatch.com
(804) 649-6839
Twitter: @gmoomaw
