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t promptly 7:20 a.m. a school bell rings and Delegate Kirk Cox begins his day. Delegate Cox has represented the 66th District of Virginia in the House of Delegates since he was first elected in 1989, serves as the House Majority Leader and is Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, but each morning this very important Virginian takes on a different role: high school teacher. Delegate Cox teaches A.P. Government at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County. 5 days a week he opens the minds of his students to the uniqueness of the American Government. "I am after sparking students' interest in what I think is a very different system," Delegate Cox said.
While students in Mr. Cox's class certainly must be on top of their studies, his classroom style is anything but boring. This House Majority Leader knows how to command the room, but some days allows students to teach the class, incorporates projects into the curriculum, and keeps a fun atmosphere in his classroom, echoed by the laughter of his students. "This is their only shot at taking an organized course on how this works," said Delegate Cox and who better to give them that chance than someone with first-hand legislative practice.
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Although Mr. Cox has been teaching for 29 years, he did not always have the real-world government experience to share with his students. In the summer of 1984, he decided to gain some practical knowledge and began volunteering on Wyatt Durette's campaign for governor. Mr. Cox eventually became the driver for the candidate and left teaching for a year to drive him. "The driver gets to meet everyone, and I met all sorts of people in politics," said Delegate Cox. In 1989 he decided to run for House of Delegates and has represented the 66th district ever since, crediting his great district and constituents for his success.
Meshing his two schedules isn't easy and according to the Delegate "It's getting harder." Delegate Cox typically teaches until 1:45 each day, giving him time to run to the capitol, his district office in Colonial Heights or work on the Governor's Commission for higher education. His evenings are filled with back to back interviews, dinners, opportunities to speak, in addition to having four sons and a wife at home. Despite his busy schedule Delegate Cox continues to work tirelessly in Richmond for not only his district but his students as well. "K-12 education is extremely important to me, and right now it's about seeing how much money we can get in the classroom," he said. "It's going to be a tough budget this year, but we are trying to get at least 60 percent of every education dollar into the classroom and see where schools can get more efficient and save money."
Delegate Cox is also working to find a way to better tie K-12 education with higher education and tie higher education with jobs. His goal is to encourage STEM: science, technology, engineering and math, in high school as well as STEM majors in college, because he believes that this is where recent graduates can find employment. Delegate Cox also has ideas to bring college tuition down in Virginia by possibly offering incentives to colleges with higher graduation rates, and utilizing university buildings during the summer months when they lie vacant. He sees technology playing an important role in improving higher education in the future by using satellites to broadcast college classes to students all over Virginia. "Why not have a system where great professors at say UVA, for example, can be available to everyone?" said Delegate Cox.
Special education is another aspect of public schools that is obviously important to Delegate Cox. In the mornings, he helps in the Special Education wing of Manchester High School and encourages his students to volunteer by spending time with the intellectually and developmentally disabled students at their school. Delegate Cox has plans for special education as well and in 2011 he introduced the Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Trust Fund bill, which will bring the intellectually and developmentally disabled out of the state training centers and into community based services. With enough funding the intellectually and developmentally disabled can live within their community and receive the same care and education that they receive at school each day, during the summers and even after graduation, without ever entering an institution.
Through his roles as Virginia Delegate and high school teacher, Kirk Cox has the opportunity to help his students not only in the classroom, but also give a first-hand representation for education in the General Assembly. Delegate Cox's two-sided career also gives him the chance to not just teach his students from the book or lesson plan, but by his example of great leadership and public service.