Leadership

This committee advises the Communications and Public Affairs Dept. on internal communication systems to ensure that they meet the needs of members and local associations, and advises the Department 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 and increase Union activity at Local level by promoting current communications initiatives and public relations activities through UniServ councils and other appropriate committees.

• Kimberly Adams, Chair
• Gwen Edwards
• Quincy Green
• Meribeth Miller
• Shelby Pepmeyer
• Kelsey Seymour
• Cheron Small
• Barbeta Terry
• Amy Verner
• Rhonda Wagner
• SVEA: Aspiring Educator member-vacant
• Board Liaisons: Christine Hawley, Sandy Sullivan
• Kevin Rogers, Staff Liaison

This committee certifies delegates to the VEA Delegate Assembly and assist during business sessions during the Assembly.

• Megan Link, Co-Chair
• Barbara Wilson, Co-Chair
• Chris Adams
• Dianna Alger
• Cassandra Bell
• Clesta Foor
• Wendell Foster
• Georgeanne Lavery
• Heather Sipe
• Katie Vincent
• Mary Haislip, Staff Liaison

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.

This committee works to increase ESP membership to assure Collective Bargaining and a Living Wage.

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.

• Alyce Pope, Chair
• Arthur Anderson
• Kathleen Bochert
• Emily Coleman
• Virginia Higginbotham
• Nena Koch
• Ingrid Simmons
• Stephanie Turner
• Karen Tyrrell
• Raychelle Williams
• Board Liaisons: Gwen Edwards, Connie Finney, Stephanie Lovelace
• Jeff Berntsen, Staff Liaison

This committee canvasses ballots for state, general and/or special elections and reports the results to the VEA Board of Directors. Committee members should be delegates to the VEA Convention.

This committee reviews the VEA Campaign Regulations, statewide election procedures, 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.

• Ethel Williams, Co-Chair
• Steve Whitten, Co-Chair
• Arthur Anderson
• Patrick Barry
• Andrea Bolden
• Bobby Jenkins
• Cheryl Knight
• Stephanie Lovelace
• Travis Maxwell
• Alynn Parham
• Valerie Jackson Smith
• Dr. Brenda Pike and Samantha Crouse, Staff Liaisons

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.

• James Fedderman, President
• Carol Bauer, Vice President
• Charlotte Hayer, Senior NEA Director
• Christina Bohringer
• Sallie Burch
• Amanda Ronco
• Sandy Sullivan
• Darrell Turner
• Matthew Wallace

This commission reviews human relations needs in all programs, events, and initiatives of the VEA and recommend steps to intensify commitment to advance the human dignity of every individual.

The commission acts as the vanguard, monitoring behaviors of extremists and hate groups within the education environment and recommends action as needed to the VEA President and VEA Board of Directors. VEA leadership will work in collaboration with the commission.

Members promote the inclusion of culturally competent and responsive curriculum and instruction in partnership with VEA’s Department of Teaching and Learning.

The commission recognizes and highlights the wealth of diversity within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Commission members screen applications for the Fitz Turner Awards Program, serve as officers and committee members on the Beblon G. Parks Scholarship Fund, and make appropriate recommendations to the VEA President.

The commission reviews VEA and NEA Resolutions relating to human and civil rights and advises the VEA Board regarding implementation.

All terms begin September 1 and end August 31.

• Shaniqua Williams, Chair
• Andrea Bolden
• Brandon Fincham
• Jocelyn Forest
• Quincy Green
• Treketta “Keeter” Harris
• Brad Hutchinson
• Holly Jackson-Conrad
• Tavell Johnson
• Christie Jones
• Amy Lamb
• Elizabeth Larson
• Tammy Potts
• Vanessa Scott
• Anthony Swann
• Andrea Trotter
• ChèRee Wiley
• Taisha Steele, Staff Liaison

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; provides resources to meet the identified needs with options for participation (workshops, webinars, help sessions, VEA VirtualEd and more).

The committee recognizes Excellence in Instructional Leadership through screening applicants for the the Mini-Grants Program and for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence and makes appropriate recommendations to the VEA President.

• Reagan Davis, Chair
• Christina Bohringer
• Samara Booker
• Erin Merrill
• Aretha Bradshaw
• Belinda Folb
• Toccara Patterson
• Rachel Peters
• Chantea Wright
• Bernard Zdancewicz
• Jessica Bailey (SVEA: Aspiring Educator member)
• Board Liaison: Amanda Ronco
• Melinda Bright, Staff Liaison

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.

• Joy Kirk
• Maggie Hansford
• Ernest Chambers
• Clarence Collins
• Angela Dews
• Katina Harris
• Christine Hawley
• Cheryl Knight
• Kathleen Slinde
• James Fedderman, President, Chair (ex-officio,voting)
• Carol Bauer, Vice President (ex-officio, non-voting)
• Shane Riddle, Staff Liaison

(UniServ Council Chairs)
(UniServ Standards Advisory Committee – USAC)
The committees makes recommendations regarding strategies to increase and maintain a high level of VEA membership.

The committee reviews documentation concerning 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 composition 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+ Awards for Membership Growth and make recommendations to the VEA President.

Members work to help develop engagement in New Ed.

• Charles “Chuck” Ronco, Chairperson
• Blue Ridge – Rachel Peters
• Central Virginia – Connie Finney
• Chesapeake Bay – Joyce Franzese
• Chesterfield/Colonial Heights – Sonia Smith
• Colonial – Sam Eure
• Commonwealth – Stephanie Lovelace
• Cumberland Mountain – Phyllis Mullins
• Dominion – Jennifer Andrews
• Ed-U-Serv – Adam Wolf
• Elizabeth River – Charletta Williams
• Fairfax – Kimberly Adams
• Loudoun – Sandy Sullivan
• Mountain View – Lauren Brill
• New River – Matthew Fentress
• NOVA (Alexandria & Arlington) – Ingrid Gant
• Piedmont – Cory Foster
• Prince William – Mary “Maggie” Hansford
• Richmond – Charlotte Hayer
• Southside – Patricia Moore
• Southwest VA – Tracey Mercier
• Tidewater – Gordon Jones
• Valley – Shaniqua Williams
• Todd Park, Staff Liaison

This committee facilitates the achievement of ethnic minority delegate presentation at least equal to the proportion of identified ethnic-minority populations within the state of Virginia.

This committee advises and makes recommendations to the President and Board of Directors, as appropriate, regarding diversity, multicultural, sexual orientation, gender identity 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 and minority engagement.

This committee identifies and recommends resources that are relevant, equitable, and adaptable to meet the needs of all students, education professionals, and SVEA- Aspiring Educators.

The committee serves as the designated liaison to receive and address minority and women’s concerns submitted by VEA members and makes appropriate recommendations.

• Charlotte Hayer, Co-Chair
• Carla Okouchi, Co-Chair
• Dr. Adriane Bradley-Gray
• Mary Davis
• Angela Dews
• Elizabeth Gavin
• Taryn Grasty
• Candace Hunley
• Lola McDowell (VEA-Retired member)
• Amanda Gainer (SVEA- Aspiring Educator member )
• Darrell Turner (Board Liaison)
• Taisha Steele, Staff Liaison

This commission is charged with reviewing and recommending action regarding the legal rights of members.

All terms begin September 1 and end August 31.

Executive Committee (elected in Spring 2021)
Katina Harris, chair

Ernest Chambers

Denise Davis, vice chair

Jessica Jones

Benjamin Sizemore

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

• Tonya T. Batiste
• Joshua Epps
• James Graves
• Latasha Lee
• Alynn Parham
• Latasha Lee
• Phyllis Mullins
• Danielle Riffe
• Eric Payne
• Herbie Williams
• Cathie Lee, Staff Liaison

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.

• Carol Bauer, Chair
• District A: Danielle Riffe
• District B: Lezley Wilson
• District C: Toni Jackson
• District D: Christine Hawley
• District E: Matthew Wallace, Joann Walton
• District F: Jennifer Rokasky, Tabatha Zarkauskas
• District G: Melissa Muszynski, Katie Rosenbrook
• District H: Joshua Folb, Amanda Ronco
• District I: Connie Finney
• District J: Cheryl Knight
• District K: Myra Rowan
• District L: Carolyn Waters
• District M: Angela Moss
• District N: Helen Adams-Johnson
• District O: Sheila Mapp
• District P: Joseph Emerson
• District Q: Renee Beverly, Clarence Collins
• Retired Reps: Debbie Jessee, Vashti Mallory
• SVEA: Aspiring Educator Rep: Jessica Bailey
• NEA Resolutions: Carla Okouchi, Amanda Ronco, Kevin Hickerson, Miles Carey (Internal Editing)
• Fitz Turner Commission: Brandon Fincham
• Cathie Lee, Staff Liaison

This committee studies state and federal proposals and regulations with their impact on students with disabilities noting the overlap between the state and federal.

Members promote professional development for educators regarding current laws and legal procedures affecting special education.

This committee works with other VEA committees (membership, government, IPD) to develop a strategic membership initiative to include needs of special education teachers to increase membership as part of the collective bargaining campaign.

The committee encourages the creation of local special ed committees to provide technical assistance to local bargaining teams and leadership so best practices for local policies are developed.

• Nevine Youssef, Chair
• Alexa Battani
• Carlene Eller
• Kim Hasty
• Sallie Johnakin-Putnam
• Diane Outlaw
• Claudette Pierre
• Jessica Shibley
• Vacant (VEA-Retired member)
• Hailee Wick (SVEA: Aspiring Educator member)
• Board Liaisons: Maggie Hansford, Madeline Wingate-Alfonso
• Amber Brown, Staff Liaison

They assist at the VEA Delegate Assembly in recognizing members who wish to be recognized.

• Jane M. Larimer, Chair
• Connie Coates
• Mary Ellen Haines
• Katherine Hairston
• Sylvia Hutto
• Lois Switzer
• Cathy M. Smith
• Dominique Hubbard, Staff Liaison

This team reviews the NEA Convention process and makes appropriate recommendations to the VEA Board.

• Christina Bohringer, Co-Chair
• Amanda Ronco, Co-Chair
• Carol Bauer
• Charlotte Hayer
• Travis Maxwell
• Alynn Parham
• Sandy Sullivan
• Matt Wallace
• Dominique Hubbard, staff liaison