PRESS RELEASE: Lynchburg Better Together Candidates Release Results of LCS Teacher Listening Session
Listening session highlights teacher pay, school staffing, building maintenance, student support, and inequities across Lynchburg City Schools.
LYNCHBURG, Va. — Lynchburg Better Together City Council candidates Christina Delzingaro, Dave Henderson, and Nat Marshall have released a new summary of feedback gathered during a March listening session with Lynchburg City Schools teachers and staff.
The document, “What We Heard From LCS Teachers,” highlights concerns raised by educators and school staff about teacher pay, staffing, classroom resources, curriculum, student support, building maintenance, and inequities across Lynchburg’s school system.
Across the conversation, one message came through clearly: Lynchburg’s public schools need city leadership that treats student success as central to the city’s future.
“Strong public schools are not separate from the future of Lynchburg. They are one of the foundations of a strong city,” said Christina Delzingaro. “Teachers and staff are telling us what they need to help students succeed. City leaders should be listening.”
The listening session identified four major themes:
Lynchburg needs leadership that values public education. Teachers and staff emphasized that City Council and the School Board should work together more effectively to understand school needs, plan for long-term funding, and make budget decisions that reflect the realities inside classrooms.
Teachers and staff need to be paid, supported, and retained. Participants described the impact of low pay, limited resources, and rising expectations on morale, retention, and school culture. They called for more competitive salaries, adequate classroom materials, and stronger teacher involvement in curriculum decisions.
Students deserve strong curriculum, safe buildings, and equitable support. Teachers and staff raised concerns about deferred maintenance, overreliance on assessment-driven systems, technology-based distractions, and inconsistent support for students with disabilities, behavioral needs, and alternative education needs.
Lynchburg must address inequities across its school system. Participants described disparities related to race, income, neighborhood, staffing, school resources, class size, academic opportunities, and PTO capacity. They also urged careful attention to rezoning and the impact of specialized programs on base schools.
“Our teachers are doing difficult work every day, often without the pay, resources, or support they deserve,” said Dave Henderson. “If we want strong schools, we have to invest in the people closest to our students.”
Nat Marshall said the listening session reinforced the need for city leaders to connect education policy with Lynchburg’s broader future.
“Public schools affect workforce development, neighborhood stability, public safety, and opportunity for every child in Lynchburg,” Marshall said. “The city cannot thrive if our schools are left behind.”
The candidates said the release is part of their broader commitment to listening directly to residents, frontline workers, families, and community members as they build a practical agenda for Lynchburg’s future.
“Teachers and staff want what every family in Lynchburg wants,” Delzingaro said. “They want students to have strong academic opportunities, safe buildings, equitable support, and adults in leadership who value public education.”
The full “What We Heard From LCS Teachers” summary is available at: https://www.lynchburgbettertogether.org/what-weve-heard/lcs-teachers
About Lynchburg Better Together
Lynchburg Better Together is supporting Christina Delzingaro, Dave Henderson, and Nat Marshall for Lynchburg City Council. The campaign is focused on practical, community-centered leadership that strengthens neighborhoods, supports families, invests in public services, and builds a better future for all of Lynchburg.