Virginia Governor Ralph Northam was in Alexandria Wednesday, and with Mayor Justin Wilson welcomed U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School.
Northam stopped by Pacers Running at 1301 King Street before the event with Cardona, where he met Wilson and spoke with employees about raising the minimum wage. Pacers has been paying its employees $15 an hour since last year.
“The $15 an hour is definitely better for morale,” Pacers manager Victoria Sanchez said. “We want to have our employees want to stay and to want to come to work every day and be able to afford, living in the area as well.”
Starting May 1, Virginia’s minimum wage will increase to $9.50 per hour, and then to $11 per hour starting Jan. 1, 2022, to $12 in 2023 and then $15 per hour in January 2026.
Northam then met with Cardona, Wilson, National Education Association of the United States President Becky Pringle and Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane at Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School.
Cardona was at the school as part of his “Help is Here” school reopening tour. Also in attendance were Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr. and School Board Chair Meagan Alderton.
“It was an honor to welcome Secretary Cardona, the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the President of the NEA and more to Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School,” Wilson said. “Secretary Cardona pledged continuing support from the Administration as we continue efforts to return students to in-classroom instruction and provide supports for our kids during this time.”
As part of the tour, which launched in March, Cardona has visited schools around the country that have successfully reopened, as well as schools facing reopening challenges.
A special visit this morning from U.S. Sec. of Education @SecCardona and @VA_Supt Dr. Lane at @FerdinandTDayES! They are here as part of their #HelpIsHereTour to learn about the challenges and successes of reopening schools during the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/hd7g3wRb5J
— Alexandria City Public Schools (@ACPSk12) April 28, 2021
.@SecCardona, @VA_Supt & @BeckyPringle hearing from @FerdinandTDayES Kindergarten teacher Dora Cottrol, Support Staffer of the Year Alex Weinard, and EAA representative Dawn Lucas, among many others, about the successes and challenges of reopening schools. #HelpIsHereTour pic.twitter.com/UNxvBaUYbW
— Alexandria City Public Schools (@ACPSk12) April 28, 2021
Great day in @ACPSk12 with @SecCardona. Thank you for joining us for your “Help Is Here Tour!” pic.twitter.com/qr0Y8Wg5Qt
— James Lane (@DrJamesLane) April 28, 2021
Images via Jason Taylor and ACPS/Twitter
Recent Stories

Hi, my name is Moneim Z., and I am a blind male with chronic kidney disease, who needs a living kidney donor for a transplant. My blood type is B+, and I can accept a kidney from individuals who have blood types B and O.
To read my story, please see the attached letter.
To contact me directly, please email me at [email protected] or call at 571-428-5065. My living donor coordinator at INOVA Hospital, Amileen Cruz can be reached at (703) 776-8370 , or via email at [email protected]
Thank you!

If you’re looking for a mental health professional in Virginia, Washington D.C., or Maryland, we can help.
We provide a confidential and convenient way to get the help you need from the comfort of your own home.
We offer a free 15-minute consultation to see if our services fit your needs.
The services we offer are: