17 Virginia Policymakers Bridge Partisan Divides in New Education Leadership Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 2, 2025

Contact: Jonathan Ortiz

jortiz@hunt-institute.org | (984) 256-8548

17 Virginia Policymakers Bridge Partisan Divides in New Education Leadership Program 

 The Hunt Institute congratulates the inaugural  cohort of its Virginia Hunt State Policy Fellows program.

Cary, NC – Policymakers from across Virginia have completed the inaugural Virginia Hunt State Policy Fellows program with new insights into the Commonwealth’s education challenges and expanded networks for tackling them. The program also highlights points of success from Virginia and across the nation. The cohort of 17 school board members, county supervisors, and community leaders spent four months examining Virginia’s full education continuum—from early childhood through higher education—and building bipartisan relationships across rural and urban districts.

Directed by The Hunt Institute, this program is designed to strengthen the capacity of emerging education leaders across the Commonwealth. Over the course of three sessions from April through August, Fellows explored pressing challenges in Virginia’s education system, exchanged strategies with state and national experts, and identified opportunities to bring innovative solutions back to their communities.

Through dynamic programming and tailored discussions, Fellows gained a comprehensive view of Virginia’s education system.  

Fellows: 

• Learned from early childhood practitioners, exploring brain science and the economic benefits of early learning. 

• Heard directly from principals and teachers in public and private schools on school funding, K-12 accountability, workforce diversity, and student mental health. 

• Engaged with higher education leaders to examine challenges of access, affordability, and completion. 

• Received legislative updates from a bipartisan group of education lawmakers, showcasing the actions both sides are taking to make an impact in education policy. 

 Reflections and peer-to-peer dialogue throughout the program encouraged Fellows to connect insights back to their communities, strengthening their roles as local policymakers and leaders. 

“As a school board member from Washington County, I found the fellowship invaluable for stepping beyond local challenges to understand Virginia’s education system as a whole, Building bipartisan relationships reminded me that despite differences, we share a common mission: ensuring every child in the Commonwealth has access to opportunity.” said Virginia Hunt State Policy Fellow Jenny Nichols, Board Member, Washington County Public Schools.  

The program also underscored the importance of The Hunt Institute’s broader national network, giving Fellows the opportunity to connect with leaders and experts beyond Virginia. This growing community of local and state policymakers continues to be a hallmark of the Hunt Institute’s mission: building informed, collaborative leaders equipped to shape stronger education systems. 

Please find photos from the program here: https://ow.ly/lIyi50WNK7V.

“The Virginia Fellows showed remarkable dedication to improving education policy,” said Laura Novey, Hunt Institute Board Member, former Virginia Secretary of Education, and current Senior Vice President at McGuireWoods Consulting. “By working across party lines, they gained knowledge and built connections that will benefit Virginia’s students for years—fulfilling Governor Hunt’s vision of collaboration, innovation, and leadership in education.” 

“Serving on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the fellowship allowed me to gain further insights into how early learning, K-12, and higher education connect. The fellowship deepened my insights by providing opportunities to engage with colleagues across rural and urban areas and from expert speakers, strengthening my statewide network with ideas to better serve the families and communities that I represent”. said Andres Jimenez, Mason District Supervisor, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

The Hunt Institute extends its congratulations to the 2025 Virginia Hunt State Policy Fellows and looks forward to supporting their continued leadership and impact in the years ahead. The Institute is also excited to share that plans are underway for a second cohort, with an official announcement expected in 2026. 

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About The Hunt Institute 

The Hunt Institute, an affiliate of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, is a recognized leader in the movement to transform public education. Marshaling expertise from a nationwide partner network since its establishment in 2001, The Institute brings together people and resources that help build and nurture visionary leadership and mobilize strategic action for greater educational outcomes and student success. For more information, please visit: http://www.hunt-institute.org/