Rue Willis

Rue Willis is an experienced educator who got their start working for Newport News before transferring over to Chesapeake Public Schools where they began working in 2024. Here they’ve provided safe, nurturing learning environments that have allowed students to flourish while serving as an openly non-binary, queer role model. Willis is currently finishing a degree at Old Dominion University in International Studies with minors in History & German where they plan to then become a full-time Social Studies & German Teacher.

Willis is motivated to run for the Chesapeake School Board to ensure that every student in Chesapeake is provided the opportunity to excel. Their policy priorities to achieve this include: transitioning to a disciplinary system that focus on teaching students the skills to de-escalate and problem solve with their peers when issues arise; providing accessible support systems for diagnosing & treating symptoms of mental illness; increasing pay and improving the working conditions for our educators as well as providing pathways to bring in new educators through teaching alongside a seasoned educator in the classroom; and expanding existing tutoring opportunities for students both in-person after school as well as virtual on-demand.