Beville Middle School students visit their former teacher, Atif Qarni, Va. Sec’y of Education

Classroom teacher turned Virginia Secretary of Education, Atif Qarni, has not forgotten his students. Qarni started the school year as an eighth-grade civics teacher at Beville Middle School in Prince William County. After winning the November Gubernatorial Election, Ralph Northam appointed Qarni to the state’s top educational post.

Qarni headed to Richmond in January, and shortly after settling in, he invited his former students to his new home. During a three-day period, students from Beville Middle’s eighth-grade class toured the Governor’s Mansion and walked around the capitol building. A visit to the House and Senate chambers provided a first-hand view of a governing body in action. 

Haris Khalid said, “It was amazing! We saw Mr. Qarni introduced onto the Senate floor. Everyone was really nice and wanted to talk to us.”

“It provided a wonderful opportunity that many students don’t normally have,” civics teacher Cynthia Weimer stated. “It gave our eighth-grade civics students a tangible experience for the concept of state government; a chance to see government in action.”

Virginia Secretary of Education Qarni has stated that he is committed to keeping in touch with Beville Middle students and Prince William County Public Schools.