Senior Statesmen of Virginia

Speakers: 

Superintendent of Charlottesville City Schools:   Dr. Royal A. Gurley, Jr., Ed.D. is an educator and equity ambassador with 20+ years of experience who is committed to transformational leadership that prioritizes access and opportunities to learn for all students. Dr. Gurley began as Charlottesville’s superintendent on October 4, 2021. He previously served as the assistant superintendent for academic services of the Dinwiddie County Public Schools. His career also includes being a building administrator, director of special education, instructional technology integrator, teacher, and member of the armed forces. 

Superintendent of the Albemarle County Public Schools: Dr. Matthew Haas was a first generation college student, earning a B.S. in Secondary Education & English from ODU and graduated with an M.S. in Education Administration and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the College of William and Mary.  Dr. Haas's varied career includes teaching English, working as an assistant principal and serving as the principal at Albemarle High School.  Matthew worked in the Albemarle County central office for the past 14 years as a director, executive director, assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent, and now superintendent. Matthew’s wife of 32 years and fellow English teacher, Sheri, and he live in Carrsbrook in Albemarle County, and they have two children, Mark and Elaine, who attended ACPS schools for their entire K-12 education. 

Denver Riggleman is the CEO of Riggleman Information and Intelligence Group (RIIG), Former VA-5 Congressman, Senior Technical Adviser for the Jan 6 Committee, NY Times bestselling author of THE BREACH, senior electronic warfare consultant for OSD, co-founder and CEO of Analyst Warehouse LLC, a full-service analysis and technology development company specializing in counter-terrorism, data science, critical infrastructure analysis and analytics. Currently Denver is co-owner (with his spouse) of Silverback Distillery - an award winning distillery in Afton, VA- in the beautiful Rockfish Valley.