Sisterhood Spotlight

Do you have a favorite subject?

English and History. I love to read.

Is there a teacher or professor who’s greatly impacted you in your life?

There have been so many inspiring teachers in my life: in 1^st grade, Mrs. Moran, who made me fall in love with school; 6^th grade, Mrs. Floyd, who inspired and expected excellence at every level; and 11^th grade, my English teacher, Mrs. Adler, who brought depth, intensity and joy to the study of literary analysis and compelling writing. (She also hosted a Sunday evening dinner book club to discuss Shakespeare plays before we went to the Folger Theatre to watch them! She also once provided comments on my Pride and Prejudice paper entirely in the voice of Jane Austen!)

How did you realize you would pursue education as a vocation?

When I realized that the incredible education I had received in my schools was not the norm for every child in America. The preparation for life I experienced should not be exceptional … It should be the expectation. My 30+ career in education has been so fulfilling, nothing more than the honor of serving in the role of Secretary of Education for Governor Youngkin!

When did you first feel called to service?

In 5^th grade, when I was elected as the Safety Patrol Captain at my elementary school. I fell in love with building teams, solving problems together and improving a situation. Nothing is more rewarding than working together with a team to address a challenge or improve a situation.

Where have you enjoyed visiting since becoming Secretary?

Meeting the incredibly inspiring people throughout the Commonwealth who are passionate about ensuring our learners receive a quality education that prepares them for life! Whether it be parents, teachers, advocates, lawmakers, agency members – Virginians are committed to making the Commonwealth the best place to be educated!

What was significant in the budget for education this year?

The final budget signed by Governor Youngkin included so many of his Day One priorities and is the largest investment in education in the Commonwealth's history. Through Governor Youngkin's leadership, this budget supports our teachers, helps secure our schools, and fuels innovation. It provides teachers a 10% salary increase over the next two years and a $1,000 bonus to acknowledge the heroic work they do every day, and especially during the pandemic, to support our children. This budget also secures funding to restore and rebuild school buildings and supports school resource officers, ensuring our children learn in vibrant and safe environments. The $100 million dollar investment in innovative Lab Schools will fuel partnerships between our postsecondary institutions, school divisions, and communities to launch best-in-class schools that prepare students for life. Simply put, this budget helps lay the foundation to make Virginia the best place to live, work, raise a family, and learn!

What is something you’d like to say to students across Virginia?

KEEP LEARNING EVERY DAY! Read, visit museums, take a class, teach yourself a new skill… Don’t ever stop learning. Our brains are a muscle and if you don’t use it, you lose it!

What’s a piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

Be curious. Ask questions. Get comfortable with NOT being comfortable. Surround yourself with people who know more than you do and learn from them.

What’s something you enjoy (ex. a hobby) that most people don’t know about?

I love entertaining… cooking, baking, flower arranging and hosting friends around a table for a stimulating conversation!

What is one thing (food, sweets) you cannot resist?

Salt and Vinegar Kettle Cooked Potato chips!

About Secretary Guidera

Aimee Rogstad Guidera oversees education from Pre-K through Postsecondary in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Before joining the Youngkin administration, Aimee was a strategic consultant helping states, foundations, companies and nonprofit organizations strengthen their efforts to improve student learning and outcomes. Prior to launching her consultancy, Aimee was Founder, President and CEO of the Data Quality Campaign, a national, nonprofit advocacy organization leading the effort to ensure that students, parents, educators, and policymakers have the right information to guide their actions so that every student can excel.

A respected thought leader in education, Aimee was named one of TIME’s 12 Education Activists of 2012. She has also been cited as an expert on education policy and the value of education data by publications such as Business Week, NPR, and Education Week. Aimee is a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow, American Enterprise Institute Fellow, and an alumna of the Institute for Educational Leadership’s Education Policy Fellowship Program. She has served on the board of directors of the American Succeeds, Institute for Educational Leadership, Policy Innovators in Education Network, the Friends of the Hennepin County Library, Minnesota Comeback, Conservative Leaders for Education, and on the advisory board for the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard.

Before founding DQC, Aimee served as the director of the Washington, DC office of the National Center for Educational Achievement. She previously served as vice president of programs for the National Alliance of Business (NAB), worked in the education division of the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices, and taught for the Japanese Ministry of Education.

With the firm belief that parents, students, and teachers need to be equally strong legs of the stool of academic success, Aimee has always been engaged in her local schools. She was an active supporter of her daughters’ public schools and has served as a classroom volunteer, parent-teacher organization leader, and advisory committee member.