RICHMOND, Va. — Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger today announced the appointment of Jenna Conway to serve as the next State Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Virginia Department of Education and Connor Andrews to serve as Deputy Secretary in the Office of the Secretary of Education.
“Virginia parents and teachers deserve steady leadership that prioritizes the needs of students and ensures the Commonwealth’s next generation is prepared for long-term career success,” said Spanberger. “Ms. Conway and Mr. Andrews share my deep commitment to putting Virginia’s students first, attracting and retaining world-class educators, and making strong investments at every level of our education system. I’m proud to have them join my administration as we work to strengthen Virginia’s public schools across our Commonwealth.”
“It is an honor to serve under Governor Spanberger as Superintendent of Public Instruction, advancing her vision for excellence in public education. Together, we are committed to strengthening Virginia’s public schools and early childhood programs to prepare our future workforce, empowering and supporting educators, and building strong partnerships with families to expand opportunities for all learners, no matter where they live,” said Conway. “Throughout my tenure at the Virginia Department of Education, I have been inspired by the dedication of educators, stakeholders, and parents across the Commonwealth. While each voice is unique, a shared purpose unites us: we believe in our children and are determined to ensure every child has every opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as Deputy Secretary and honored to join Governor-elect Spanberger’s administration. The Governor-elect’s education plan recognizes the critical role that our education system and institutions of higher education play in expanding opportunity and preparing students for success,” said Andrews. “I look forward to collaborating with partners across the Commonwealth to ensure all Virginians have access to a world-class education.”
BIOGRAPHIES
Jenna Conway, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jenna Conway is a distinguished senior leader at the Virginia Department of Education, currently serving as Chief of Early Learning and Specialized Populations. Over the past seven years, Conway has spearheaded Virginia’s efforts to strengthen its birth-to-five early childhood care and education system, ensuring every child is prepared for kindergarten and beyond. Her leadership extends to overseeing special education, behavioral health and student safety, and adult education, with a steadfast commitment to supporting all learners regardless of ability, age or background.
With more than a decade of transformative service at state education agencies, Conway has driven measurable improvements in outcomes for children. In Louisiana, she unified child care, Head Start and school-based pre-K programs, expanding access, enhancing classroom quality, and empowering families. Her success led to her appointment by Governor Ralph Northam and First Lady Pamela Northam as Virginia’s first Chief School Readiness Officer, where she collaborated with public, private, philanthropic, and business partners to build a nationally recognized early childhood model, doubling the number of birth-to-five children served with public funds over an eight-year period.
Through her bipartisan, collaborative approach, Virginia is now considered a national leader with 99% of its 3,200 early childhood sites meeting expectations and an integrated data system that connects early childhood experiences, school readiness, and early literacy to K-12 academic outcomes for more than 32,500 birth-to-8th grade classrooms, more than 80,000 users, and over 800,000 students. Conway has helped play a pivotal role in implementing the Virginia Literacy Act and other significant legislation, working in close partnership with school divisions to better support educators, engage families, and improve student outcomes.
A proud Virginia native and graduate of the Charlottesville City Schools, Conway holds degrees from Yale University, the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and the Broad Education Residency. She began her career in children and human services in New York City, where she led September 11 response efforts and improved services for millions of low-income residents. Most importantly, she is the proud mom of three children, all of whom attend Richmond City Public Schools.
Connor Andrews, Deputy Secretary
Connor Andrews currently serves as the Director for State Government Relations at the University of Virginia, where he acts as a liaison for the University with elected officials and state policymakers. In this role, he helps develop and implement legislative and budget strategies on behalf of the University, collaborates with higher education partners across the Commonwealth, and advocates for policies that strengthen Virginia’s education and workforce pipeline. He also serves as a co-chair for Governor-elect Spanberger’s transition education policy committee.
Previously, Andrews served in the Office of Governor Ralph Northam as a policy analyst and later as Deputy Policy Director, where his portfolio focused primarily on education, workforce development, and labor policy. In these roles, he worked with secretariats, legislators, and stakeholders to help advance initiatives such as the G3 program and enhanced protections for student loan borrowers. Andrews was also responsible for staffing the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet, chaired by First Lady Pamela Northam, which supported whole-of-government efforts to improve outcomes for children and families.
Andrews is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he earned his undergraduate and Master of Public Policy degrees. He is also a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.
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