VanValkenburg: My favorite superhero then, and now, is Batman. I love(d) the story line but also the fact that he didn't have a super power. He fought crime through his own will power and intelligence.
KDW: What occupation did you want to be when you grew up? What occupation did you actually become?
VanValkenburg: When I was growing up I vaguely wanted to be something like a lawyer but my passion was always history. At the University of Richmond, I quickly realized that law was not where I wanted to go and that I wanted to do something in the field of history. At the time I didn't know what that was, but I eventually went into teaching and it was 100% the right choice.
KDW: What is your favorite aspect about your community and the people that live there?
VanValkenburg: I love that Henrico is an incredibly inclusive and diverse place where everyone is welcome but, also, that we all come together on the importance of education. It is the thing that binds our community together. It makes for an incredibly dynamic community where great things are happening and can continue to happen.
KDW: What aspect about your community could be improved?
VanValkenburg: The number one focus for Henrico County needs to be public education. The Commonwealth cut the resources it gives to local schools as a response to the Great Recession, and although Virginia has recovered quite well, that money has not come back. We need to make sure the Commonwealth fully funds our schools, rather than sticking local taxpayers with a massive bill. As Delegate, I will make protecting and improving our public schools my number one priority.
KDW: Who taught you "wrong from right"?
VanValkenburg: My mother taught me right from wrong. She was the main influence in my life and it was through her parenting, and how she herself acted, that became the person I am today.
KDW: What is your favorite book?
VanValkenburg: I am going to cheat and pick two. My favorite work of non-fiction is Akhil Reed Amar's The Constitution: A Biography. Amar is peerless in his passion and optimism for the power people have under the Constitution. I find his arguments persuasive but, more importantly, every time I read it I feel empowered as a citizen. For literature I'd pick Michael Chabon's The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.
KDW: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
VanValkenburg: I'm most proud of the fact that I have three children who are out-going, empathetic, curious, and fun to be around. In a distant second, the professional accomplishment I am most proud of is building a We the People team that is successful, the students enjoy, and that keeps me on my toes intellectually and pedagogically. We the People is a constitutional competition that schools compete in nation wide.
KDW: What do you wish to accomplish once you win the House of Delegates seat for District 72?
VanValkenburg: I hope to work for an inclusive Virginia that expands opportunities for the average Virginian by improving our schools, healthcare access, and economic opportunities. We should be fighting for the policies that help expand opportunities for all Virginians.