About Schuyler

Still teaching, always learning, and leading in the Senate!

Schuyler VanValkenburg is a father, teacher, and State Senator. As a History and US Government teacher at Glen Allen High School, he teaches his students about the importance of understanding our nation’s history and government and of using that knowledge to strengthen our communities.

In 2017, Schuyler decided to expand his career of public service, so he ran for Delegate to serve Virginia and Henrico County’s 72nd District. After three terms and six years in the House, in 2023, he was elected to the State Senate’s 16th District.

Schuyler’s career in the classroom and his experiences as a father of three give him a firsthand look at the issues facing everyday families in his district. As the only public school teacher in the Senate and chair of the Subcommittee on Public Education, Senator VanValkenburg works tirelessly to ensure the legislature passes sound education legislation and that Virginia remains a leader in public education.

Schuyler also is proud of his work to pass commonsense gun safety legislation, protect reproductive freedom, expand access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, and increase access to voting, In the Senate, he has continued to advocate for meaningful investments to improve our public schools, introduce legislation that will attack the gun violence epidemic in our communities head-on, facilitate more housing options, keep our children safe online, and work harder than ever to open economic opportunities for all Virginians and to deliver on the issues that he knows matter most to families in Henrico County.

In the Senate, he has advocated  for meaningful investments to improve our public schools, legislation that will attack the gun violence epidemic in our communities head-on, and expand economic opportunities from housing to job training for all Virginians.

Over the next four years, Schuyler will continue to deliver on the issues that
he knows matter most to families in Henrico County.

From teaching policy to making policy

As Senator, Schuyler VanValkenburg is committed to continuing to deliver on the issues that matter most to Henrico County:
Abstract white and light gray wave modern soft luxury texture with smooth and clean vector subtle background illustration.

Improving Education

Schuyler is committed to investing in our public school system to ensure it has the resources for every student to thrive.

Committee Service

Schuyler serves on the Senate Elections, General Laws, Local Government, Social Service, and Education Committees.

Voting Rights

Schuyler played a key role in passing the Virginia Voting Rights Act and has helped make Virginia a leader in voting.

Healthcare Access

Schuyler voted to expand Medicaid, increasing access to over 500K Virginians. He continues to fight to make healthcare more affordable and accessible.

Affordable Housing

Schuyler has taken the initiative on housing legislation that will help to increase amount of housing stock in Virginia and make sure it’s accessible and affordable.

Investing in Schools

Schuyler helped our schools retain talented teachers by raising salaries, increased the number of counselors, and has  supported expanding the support staff cap.

Equal Rights

Schuyler has supported state amendments for reproductive freedom, marriage rights, and restoration of voting rights to make our state a safer and more welcoming place.

Protecting Kids

Schuyler has been a vocal advocate for Virginia’s kids. He fought to investments in public schools, protect kids online, and reduce gun violence.

From teaching policy to making policy

As Delegate, Schuyler VanValkenburg is committed to making Virginia a national leader in education, equitable healthcare, and democratic transparency:

Education & Healthcare

He ran on a platform centered on investment in public education and better access to healthcare–and successfully flipped the 72nd district.

Committee Service

Schuyler has become a leader in the House of Delegates, serving on the Education, House Privileges and Elections, and General Laws Committees.

Democracy Protection

Schuyler played a leadership role in writing and passing the Virginia Voting Rights Act, and voted to establish an independent redistricting commission.

Healthcare Access

He supported a Medicaid expansion that provided 400,000 additional low-income Virginians with access to affordable healthcare.

Safeguarding Teachers

Schuyler helped our schools retain talented teachers by raising salaries by 5% and increased the number of counselors in schools.

Protecting Students

He also increased the number of counselors in schools, in order to meet the national standard and ensure students get the help they need.

Worker Protections

Schuyler has sponsored and worked on legislation to fund apprenticeship and job training programs and eliminated the use of non-compete clauses.

COVID-19 Response

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, he took the lead on safely reopening our schools and provided relief to small business affected by stay-at-home orders.

Equal Rights

Schuyler pushed for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, and is committed to fighting for the ERA until it becomes law–in Virginia and beyond.