During a debate with his Republican opponent for governor of Virginia in October 2001, Mark Warner, a businessman and Democratic Party activist, had little to say about K-12 education besides suggesting that the history questions on Virginia’s standardized tests needed some adjustment. However, just over three years later, Warner, now the governor of Virginia, has become one of the most prominent leaders in education policy in the country.
As a co-host of a national education summit on high schools, which is set to take place in Washington this weekend, Warner has utilized his role as the chairman of the National Governors Association and his former position as chairman of the Education Commission of the States to gain national recognition for himself and his ideas on education.
According to Robert Holsworth, a political scientist and the director of the Center for Public Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University, Warner’s popularity has grown significantly. Since assuming office as governor in January 2002, Warner has achieved substantial success in education policy. Using his business expertise to navigate Virginia through a $6 billion budget deficit, Warner collaborated with some Republican lawmakers last year to pass a sales-tax increase and a significant increase in funding for Virginia’s K-12 education, particularly for teacher raises and other resources.
Warner understands that money alone cannot solve the education crisis. He believes it is a necessary component but not the only one. His objective is to discover effective strategies to enhance public schools and implement them statewide. He aims for these improvements to transcend individual schools.
As one of the co-founders of Nextel, a leading cellphone company, Warner was born in Indianapolis but grew up in a military family, eventually completing his education in Virginia. He graduated from Harvard Law School after attending public high school in Alexandria, Virginia, and college at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. At 50 years old, Warner is a father of three daughters, two of whom attend private school in Virginia’s capital, while the youngest attends public school.
When Warner took office, he intended to share Northern Virginia’s technology prosperity with the rural areas of the state. He planned to persuade his high-tech acquaintances to establish job opportunities in those regions. However, he realized that many workers lacked the necessary training for jobs in the technology sector. Influenced by former North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt Jr. and other policy leaders, Warner recognized the importance of education in creating better job prospects for Virginians. He acknowledged that if he wanted to drive change, he needed to learn about education.
Warner began developing a successful approach for Democrats in addressing education, emphasizing rigorous standards and accountability while also providing support for struggling schools. Many of his key education programs in Virginia have been relatively inexpensive. For example, he introduced a program that sends teacher-coaches, principal-coaches, and additional resources to low-performing schools at a cost of just over $1 million per year.
Additionally, Warner collaborated with the University of Virginia to establish a training program for school principals to serve as "turnaround specialists." At the education summit, Warner hopes that governors and their staff will discuss measures that can be implemented quickly, such as improving connections between high schools, colleges, and community colleges, as well as implementing strategies proven to reduce dropout rates.
Despite being a Democrat, Warner has worked across party lines to achieve his education goals. He encourages governors to champion a few ideas that they believe in and can implement effectively.
Mr. Gilmore, an attorney based in Washington, disagrees with Mr. Warner’s support for the Virginia public universities’ move to reduce state oversight. He questions whether Governor Warner fully understands the implications of his actions.
However, Governor Warner’s support among education advocates in Virginia was evident at the Virginia School Boards Association conference on February 10. When the governor entered the room to deliver a speech, there was an overwhelming display of support as hundreds of attendees, including Lucy S. Beauchamp, the chairwoman of the Prince William County schools, rose to their feet and applauded. Ms. Beauchamp commended the governor for prioritizing education and acknowledged his commitment to all citizens of Virginia.
Jo Lynne DeMary, the Virginia State Superintendent of Public Instruction, expressed her gratitude when Governor Warner chose to reappoint her. This decision demonstrated his intention to maintain the state’s focus on testing and accountability, which was initiated by his Republican predecessors.
Republican Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas commended Governor Warner for his bipartisan approach to problem-solving. Governor Huckabee recognized the governor’s dedication to finding solutions, regardless of their origin.
Jim Murray, a friend and business associate from Charlottesville, is not surprised by the attention Governor Warner receives wherever he goes. Murray compared the governor to Bill Clinton, noting his ability to instantly captivate any room he enters.
When asked about his future plans, Governor Warner did not provide many details. He emphasized his passion for education, stating that whether he remains involved in politics or the private sector, he wants to have an active role in driving meaningful change.