MEET DR. JAMES GRAVES
Hi, I'm Dr. Graves
Educator. Advocate. Change-Maker.
Dr. James E. Graves is a veteran educator and seasoned union leader with a career spanning more than three decades of dedicated service to students, teachers, and communities. Known for his unwavering commitment to equity, fairness, and educator empowerment, Dr. Graves brings both heart and strategy to the fight for stronger public schools.
Raised with working-class values and a deep respect for the transformative power of education, Dr. Graves began his career in the classroom, where he witnessed firsthand the challenges educators face—unfair pay, inadequate resources, and policies that often silence the voices of those closest to students. He didn’t just endure those challenges—he organized around them.
As President of the Newport News Education Association, Dr. Graves led with a clear mission: to protect educators’ rights, amplify their voices, and improve working conditions that directly impact student success. Under his leadership, the association grew in strength, visibility, and impact—achieving critical wins for teachers across the district.
But Dr. Graves’s commitment to education extends beyond the classroom and the bargaining table. He is the founder of a nationally recognized college preparatory initiative that has helped underrepresented students access higher education and scholarships. His ability to bring communities, educators, and institutions together has been a hallmark of his leadership style.
Dr. Graves holds advanced degrees in education and leadership, but it’s his reputation as a hands-on problem solver and coalition builder that truly sets him apart. In addition, Dr. Graves is the chairman for the VEA Professional Rights and Responsibility commission. Whether mentoring new teachers, testifying at school board meetings, or organizing statewide campaigns for educational justice, Dr. Graves leads with integrity, passion, and results.
Today, he continues to fight for an educational system that values the voices of educators, protects public schools, and delivers on the promise of opportunity for all students. If you’re ready for bold leadership grounded in lived experience and a clear vision for progress—Dr. James E. Graves is ready to lead.
Forward Together
Stronger Schools. United Educators. Accountable Leadership.
My mission is to lead with vision, integrity, and action, bringing educators together to build a stronger, more equitable public education system. I believe that when we move forward together, we can transform our schools into places where students thrive, educators are respected, and communities feel empowered.
For too long, critical decisions about our schools have been made without the input of the people who know them best—teachers, staff, and students. That ends now. I am committed to ensuring educators have a real seat at the table, that our union speaks with one unified voice, and that leadership is transparent, responsive, and accountable to the people it serves.
This campaign is about more than one person—it’s about all of us. It’s about fighting for safe, well-funded schools, fair pay and planning time, and policies that reflect the realities we face every day. Together, we will rise above the noise, organize with purpose, and lead with courage.
Because when we stand united, we don’t just demand change; we make it.