As a champion for education, Brian Moran knows that in today’s 21st century global economy, Virginia is no longer only competing with Maryland and North Carolina for good, high-paying jobs. We are now competing with India and China as well. Brian saw this first hand on the Governor’s Trade Mission to India last year. To compete, we must provide our young people with a first class education.
Brian knows that investing in education is a smart investment in Virginia’s children, their future and our economy. That’s why he joined Governor Warner and led the fight for the largest investment in education in Virginia history. Brian believes in lifelong learning from preschool to college, with workforce training and continuing education because that, along with smart investments in research and development, will ensure that our workforce can compete in this new global economy. As a parent with two children in Virginia public school, Brian believes our children need the best teachers, a challenging curriculum and top-quality schools.
• Investing in Pre-K Brian knows that we must invest in education early in a child’s development. Eighty percent of a child’s brain develops between the ages of zero and five, making pre-k critically important to each child’s future success. That’s why he believes that we must invest in early childhood education to ensure that every child has a chance to succeed. Brian worked with Governor Kaine to champion pre-k, and he is committed to expanding it as Governor.
• Strengthening K-12 Brian believes that our children are our best, brightest and most precious resource. They deserve the best schools with first-class technology in our classrooms and challenging curricula. He understands the importance of expanding opportunity and will fight to turnaround struggling and failing schools. As governor, Brian will put 21st century technologies in our classrooms and focus on increasing graduation rates so that Virginia’s young people graduate with a 21st century education.
• Fighting for Teachers As the son of a high school government teacher, no one will fight harder for our teachers than Brian Moran. Unfortunately, each year talented teachers continue to leave Virginia classrooms for better-paying jobs in other states. Brian has a proven record of working to raise teachers’ salaries to the national average and will continue this fight as governor.
• Expanding Community Colleges Brian knows that a high school diploma is often no longer enough to get a good job. That’s why community colleges are essential for workforce training and our future economic growth. Brian has worked to ensure that every community college student can afford a four-year degree. He has also fought to keep community colleges affordable because they are the on-ramp to higher education and are critical to Virginia’s workforce training efforts. As governor, Brian will lead to fight to invest in our community colleges, grow our economy, and bring green jobs to Virginia.
• Focusing on Higher Education Brian is proud of Virginia’s long tradition of providing the best higher education opportunities of any state in the nation. Yet, Brian, and so many other Virginians, has seen it become harder to pay for college. Brian will increase access to, and the affordability of, Virginia’s colleges and universities. He believes that every Virginian who makes the grade should have the opportunity to attend college right here in Virginia, and as governor he will work to make this a reality.
• Increasing Higher Ed Research Brian knows that investing in higher education research is fundamental to creating new technologies and new jobs in areas like clean energy development and nanotechnology. To further this goal, Brian supports getting rid of unnecessary regulations and providing incentives for private companies to invest in university research.
The Virginia PTA recognized Brian’s leadership as an advocate for education when it named him Child Advocate of the Year in 2007: http://brianmoran.com/2007/10/29/brian-named-child-advocate-of-the-year-by-virginia-pta.
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