Investing in Our Public Schools

As the son of a retired elementary school teacher, Canek believes every child deserves access to an excellent public school education. To achieve that, he understands that Alexandria must invest in our school infrastructure and address teacher retention. Our children and teachers should not have to learn and work in dilapidated buildings and overcrowded classrooms.

On City Council, Canek has passed budgets to fully fund our public schools, worked to address overcrowding by supporting projects like the new Douglas MacArthur Elementary and Alexandria City High School Minnie Howard Campus, championed increasing the number of counselors and social workers in our schools, fought for maintaining custodial staff as public employees, and advocated for a better work environment for all school staff. Canek is committed to fostering and growing partnerships that will ensure every student has the tools and resources to reach their full potential. He supports continued efforts to address the achievement gap and disproportionate suspension rates in Alexandria City Public Schools.

Before being elected, Canek spent three years serving students and families in Alexandria City Public Schools. He served as the parent liaison at G.W. Middle School before being promoted to help start the Family and Community Engagement Center (FACE) in 2012.