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VEA Committees

VEA committees are appointed by the VEA president to advise in critical areas of our work. Ad hoc committees are appointed as needed. View committee charges and membership below. (Please report changes to Sandra Melvin at smelvin@veanea.org .) For a complete list of committee charges, click here.

Campaign Practices Committee (2009-2010)
This committee, elected by members of the VEA Board, reviews the VEA campaign regulations and makes recommendations to the VEA Board of Directors.The committee reviews VEA statewide candidates' campaign practices and expenditures and reports to the VEA Board. The committee meets during the Delegate Assembly to respond to campaign inquiries.

Felicia Bishop
Jasmine Dawson
Ruth Hopson
Kim Roberson
Sandy Sullivan
VEA Executive Director serves as Staff Liaison

Communications - Public Relations Committee (2010-2012)
This committee advises the Office of Communications, Marketing, and Technology on internal communication systems to ensure that they meet the needs of members and local associations, and advises the Office on enhancing the VEA image with internal and external audiences.

Members of this committee also advise on appropriate use of cutting-edge communications technology and encourage the involvement of local associations in public relations activities. 

Precious Crabtree, Chair
Wally Adesina
Farryl Essig
Cathy Fisher
Veronica Gibson
June Hartig
Jennifer Rokasky
Kelly Walker
Rod Meade (Retired member)
Krysten Platt (SVEA member)
Bill Johnson, Staff Liaison

Credentials Committee (2010-2012)
This committee certifies delegates to the VEA Delegate Assembly and assist during business sessions during the Assembly.

Ronny Herrig, Chair
Chris Adams
Nancy Ferguson
Teresa Gilbert
Clineth Graves
Patricia Headley
Patrice Jones
Megan Link
Richard Thompson
Katie Vincent
Ann Robinson, Staff Liaison

Economic Benefits Committee (2010-2012)
This committee reviews and recommends strategies for improving the economic status of educators in school finance and compensation programs, studies the Virginia Retirement System and current trends in other state retirement programs and makes recommendations for improvements.

Members monitor state and national insurance trends and make recommendations for improving the insurance programs available to school employees.

Michael Hairston, Chair
Al Alexander
Scott Bowser
Gerry Collins
Thomas Hartman
Marcelle Hicks
Clare Law
William Ricks
Lynne Slater
Bernadine Spencer
Ralph Booher (Retired member)
Robley Jones, Staff Liaison

Education Support Professionals (ESP) Committee (2010-2012)
This committee makes recommendations as appropriate to increase the integration of educational support concerns into Association policies and programs, and thereby enhance the Association's image among education support professionals.

Members make recommendations for conferences as applicable, and recommendations designed to enhance the local Association's ability to improve benefits available to education support professionals.

Fred "Arnold" Hash, Jr., Chair
Vannetta Chappell
John Day
Gwen Edwards
Thomas Jefferson
Barbara Powell
Sandra Robertson
Lori Walls
Debbie West
Dennis Wilson
Bertie Hamilton, Staff Liaison

Elections Committee (2010-2012)
This committee canvasses ballots for state, general and/or special elections and reports the results to the VEA Board of Directors.

Pat Kennedy, Chair
Melissa Bates
Wendell Foster
Warren Hill
Oraneatta Holmes
Cheryl Perry
Jean Swann
Nancy Wood
Patsy Coppins, Staff Liaison

Executive/Budget Committee (2010-2011)
This committee advises the VEA president and the VEA Board of Directors on critical Association and education issues.The committee prepares the annual VEA budget to be recommended to the VEA Board of Directors.

Becky Austin
Ralph Booher
Kitty Boitnott
Rena' Davis
Lee Dorman
Meg Gruber
Michael Hairston
Malia Huddle
Dominic Melito
Sandy Sullivan

Fitz Turner Commission for Human Relations and Civil Rights (2010-2011)
This commission reviews human relations needs in the VEA programs and recommends steps to intensify commitment to advance human dignity, monitors extremist activities within the educational environment, particularly incidences of stealth candidates, censorship, and other extremist influences on curriculum and educational policy, and recommends appropriate action to the VEA president and Board of Directors.

Members promote the observance of holidays and recognitions highlighting the wealth of diversity within Virginia.

Commission members screen applicants for the Fitz Turner and Mary Hatwood Futrell Human Relations Awards and make appropriate recommendations to the VEA president.

The commission reviews VEA and NEA Resolutions relating to human and civil rights and advises the Board of Directors regarding implementation. All terms begin September 1 and end August 31. (Roster to be updated following VEA September 2010 Board meeting.)

Linda Boggs
Virginia "Ginny" Browne
Robert Butler, Jr.
Maria Carter
Kathy Clark
Shirley J. Cordell-Robinson
Kerdene DePriest
Janet Hilliard
Warren Kennedy
Tommie McCune
Kelly Miller
Valeria Porter
Theresa Sanchez
Carolyn Tuck
Terrie Wilkins
Beblon G. Parks, Staff Liaison

Instructional and Professional Development (IPD) Committee (2010-2012)
This committee communicates with members on current instructional and professional development issues. Members make recommendations as needed from information on reform initiatives, policies, and regulations which relate  to teacher quality, student learning, and other education issues. 

The committee screens applicants for the the Mini-Grant Program and for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence and makes appropriate recommendations to the VEA President.

Becky Austin, Chair
Carol Bauer
Sarah Ford
Susan Graham
Joan Harper-Neely
Carolyn Liggon-Deane
Cathy Marston
Riley O'Casey
Dorothy Smith
Dorothy Williams
Tammy Wood
Betty Lambdin, Staff Liaison

Legislative Committee (2010-2011)
This committee recommends the VEA Legislative Agenda to the Board of Directors, serves in an advisory capacity to the VEA president during the General Assembly session, and reports the status of VEA-supported legislation and other legislative activities to the VEA Board.

Angela Dews
Sam Eure, Jr.
Bonnie Klakowicz
Wanda Perkins
Linda Powell
Cheryl Sprouse
Kitty Boitnott (ex-officio, voting)
Meg Gruber (ex-officio, non-voting)
Rob Jones, Staff Liaison

Membership Development and Recruitment (2010-2011)
(UniServ Council Chairs)
(UniServ Standards Advisory Board)

The committees makes recommendations regarding strategies to increase and maintain a high level of VEA membership.

The committee reviews documentation conderning the level of knowledge and participation in organizing and negotiations activities on the state and local level, and makes recommendations for expanding activities as appropriate. The committee also reviews unit compostion and UniServ operation standards and makes recommendations to the VEA Board of Directors.

Members of this committee serve as a vehicle for UniServ units to discuss joint concerns and goals, and screen applications for the A+ Award for organizing and make recommendations to the VEA President.

Dominic Melito, Chair
Becky Austin
Jeff Boardwine
Frank Cardella
Lillian Coleman
Jasmine Dawson
Angela Dews
Heather Foxwell
Lori Guess
Michael Hairston
Sarah Hollett
Tracy Hinty
Rebecca Jasman
Jonathon Kite
Bonnie Klakowicz
Terry Jones
Sonya Meekins
Cherral Moore
Edna Outlaw
Peter Pfotenhauer
Kim Roberson
Scott Rowe
Caroline Samuels
Claire Scholz
Cheryl L. Sprouse
Vera Williams
Philip Forgit, Staff Liaison- Membership
Jo Ann Karsh, Staff Liaison- USAC

Minority and Women's Concerns Committee (2010-2012)
This committee advises the President and Board of Directors, as appropriate, regarding diversity, multicultural, and gender equity issues and programs, employment practices, and other issues and programs of concern to minorities and women, with special emphasis on state initiatives which promote equity.

 Members receive information on the content, delivery, and selection of the peer training for the Minority Leadership Training Program, the Women's Leadership Training Program, and the Diversity Training Program, and makes recommendations to the President and Board of Directors as appropriate.

The committee identifies training needs of members and suggests development of appropriate programs to the President and Board of Directors.

The committee makes specific recommendations to the President and Board of Directors regarding appropriate means and methods for continuing minority input into the Association.

The committee reviews materials available to educators to assist in the identification and protection of at-risk and abused children and develops a bibliography of recommended references in addition to reviewing VEA and NEA resolutions relating to minority and women's concerns and advises the VEA Board regarding their implications.

Charletta Williams, Chair
Gwendolyn Briggs
Rosetta Cole
Jaim Foster
Danielle Miles
Kimberly Price-Chambers
Helen Renqvist
Emily Seals
Kim Voska
Pat Whitley
Korri Williams
Brittany Jones (SVEA member)
Tami Sober, Staff Liaison

Professional Rights & Responsibilities (PR&R) Commission (2010-2011)
This commission is charged with reviewing and recommending action regarding the legal rights of members. All terms begin September 1 and end August 31. (Roster to be updated following VEA September 2010 Board meeting.)

Executive Committee (elected Spring 2010)
Peter Pfotenhauer, Chair
Sherri Arnold
Lovey J. Lyons
Patricia Moore
Donald Wilms, Vice Chair
-----------------------------------------------
Josh Ajima
Suzy Battista
Sharon Bennett
Ralph Booher
Kevin Hickerson
Katherine Hudson
JoEllen Livingston
Thom Ryder
Barbie Stombock
Wynola Wyatt
Donald Wilms
Dena Rosenkrantz, Staff Liaison

Resolutions Committee (2010-2012)
This committee reviews, edits, and proposes amendments to the VEA Resolutions. Members conduct an open hearing on proposed resolutions and present proposed resolutions to the VEA Delegate General Assembly.

Meg Gruber, Chair
Sarah Amick
Mary Anderson
Jennifer Andrews
Carol Bauer
Renee Beverly
Kim Blake-Wilcox
Gary Blumenstein
Shannon Broughton
Leonard Bumbaca
Angela Clevinger
Gerry Collins
Mary T. Davis
Wade Ellegood
Daniel Foose
Kimberly J. Gentry
Liz Goodson
William Hairston
Kevin Hanna
Kellie B. Hardt
Arnold Hash
Kathy Heil
Ernie Holley
Ruth Hopson
Laura Jones
Andrew Kiser
Jim Livingston
Celeste Lutjen
Lovey Lyons
Wendy Marr
Dominic Melito
Danielle Miles
Angela W. Moss
Linda Powell
Alyson Powers
Marion Ramsey
Kitty Reip
Trenace Riggs
Rosalyn Shands
Bruce Smith
Carolyn J. Smith
Mary Ellen Stith
Sandy Sullivan
Rob Tolbut
Joyce Tyree
Kim Voska
Melissa Warren
Debbie West
Adrienne White
Pat Whitley
Charletta Williams
Barbara Wilson
Dennis Wilson
Barbara Winston
Martha Wood
Kathy Wuebker
John O'Neil, Staff Liaison

Special Education Committee (2010-2012)
This committee studies proposals and state regulations, such as Special Education Regulations, SOLs and SOAs, for the education of students with disabilities and makes recommendations for Association policy in special education.

Members study proposals and federal regulations, such as IDEA and ESEA, for the education of students with disabilities and makes recommendations for Association policy in special education.

Committee members review proposals and regulations for licensure and standards for approval of teacher education programs for special education teachers and make recommendations for Association policy. 

Melodie Henderson, Chair
Jennifer Andrews
Michelle Darby
Justin Forrester
Stephanie Heard
Judy Honaker
Patricia Lockwood
Sidney Neighbours
Darnell Roland
Deborah Snellings
Bob Umstead
Shellie Waldron
Charlene Christopher (Retired member)
Bekah Saxon, Staff Liaison