Speakers’ Bureau
Communicating with Our Community
2008-2009 School Year
Are You Looking For Someone To Speak At Your Next Meeting?
The VBCPS Speakers' Bureau is offered as a resource to our community, providing access to interesting and informed professionals who can increase our citizens' understanding of public education in Virginia Beach. The Speakers' Bureau serves as an opportunity for interested community groups to gain information about key educational topics. The VBCPS Speakers' Bureau is comprised of school system professionals who have volunteered to share their knowledge and expertise with community organizations.
How to request a speaker...
Please identify the educational topic of your choice and contact the corresponding professional by phone or e-mail. Speakers, depending upon availability, will make mutually agreeable arrangements with the interested organization/individual. As a courtesy to the speaker, please make requests at least six weeks in advance, and provide the speaker with the following information:
- Target audience (Who will be present?)
- Topics requested (What does the audience want to know?)
- Size of the group (number in attendance)
- Set up of the room (auditorium seating, round tables, etc.)
- Time allotted (How long should the speaker talk?)
- Equipment available
- Location of the event (provide detailed directions)
- Speakers will provide community organizations with brief biographical career information that can be used for their introduction to the group.
Should your organization desire information on a topic not listed on this page, please call Melissa McQuarrie, Director of Community Relations, at 757.263.1936 or e-mail melissa.mcquarrie@vbschools.com. Every effort will be made to match qualified, knowledgeable educators with the needs of the organization to share accurate and state-of-the-art information on public education in Virginia Beach.
Magnet/Academy Programs
Kelly A. Hedrick, Director
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Gifted Education
Office of Academy Programs
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
757.263.1405
kellya.hedrick@vbschools.com
Alternative Education
Sharon Gray, Coordinator
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Secondary Instructional Services
757.648.6170
sharon.gray@vbschools.com
Adult Education/GED
Bonnie Mizenko, Director
Adult Learning Center
757.648.6050
bonnie.mizenko@vbschools.com
Community Involvement/Community Relations
School/Community Connections, School-Based Mentorships, Effective Parental Involvement
Melissa T. McQuarrie, Director
Department of Media and Communications Development
Office of Community Relations
757.263.1936
melissa.mcquarrie@vbschools.com
Community Involvement
Partners/Volunteers in Education
Heather M. Allen, Partnership Coordinator
Department of Media and Communications Development
Office of Community Relations
757.263.1337
heather.allen@vbschools.com
Community Involvement
Virginia Beach Public Schools Education Foundation
Debbie Thomas, Coordinator
Department of Media and Communications Development
Office of Community Relations
757.263.1337
debbie.thomas@vbschools.com
Curriculum
Elementary Education
Dr. Marie Balen, Director
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Elementary Instructional Services
757.263.1413
marie.balen@vbschools.com
Curriculum
Secondary Education
Joe Burnsworth, Director
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Secondary Instructional Services
757.263.1429
joe.burnsworth@vbschools.com
Differentiated Instruction
Kelly A. Hedrick, Coordinator
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Gifted Education
Office of Academy Programs
757.263.1405
kellya.hedrick@vbschools.com
Demographics and Planning
Donald E. Greer, Demographics/GIS Manager
Department of Administrative Support Services
757.263.1055
donalde.greer@vbschools.com
Elementary Education
Elizabeth Taylor, Assistant Superintendent
Department of School Administration
757.263.1088
elizabethe.taylor@vbschools.com
Gifted Education
Differentiated Instruction, Assessment, Academies
Kelly A. Hedrick, Director
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Gifted Education and Academy Programs
757.263.1405
kellya.hedrick@vbschools.com
Guidance Services
Dr. Alveta Mitchell, Director
Department of School Administration
Office of Guidance Services and Student Records
757.648.6160
alveta.mitchell@vbschools.com
High School Education
Dr. Hazel Jessee, Assistant Superintendent
Department of School Administration
757.263.1170
hazel.jessee@vbschools.com
Internet Safety
Janene Gorham, Coordinator
Department of Technology
Office of Instructional Technology
757.263.1100
janene.gorham@vbschools.com
Middle School Education
Dr. Maynard Massey, Assistant Superintendent
Department of School Administration
757.263.1170
maynarde.massey@vbschools.com
Organizational Development
TSIP, LEAD, CIM, New Teacher Mentor Program, The Futures Project, TOCLI, PDP, Professional Development Offerings
Toni Patterson, Director
The Superintendent of Schools
Office of Organizational Development
757.263.1177
toni.patterson@vbschools.com
Programs for Exceptional Children
Robert Mitchell, Director
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Programs for Exceptional Children
757.263.2400
robert.mitchell@vbschools.com
School Board Initiatives
Daniel Edwards, School Board Chairman
School Board, City of Virginia Beach
757.717.0259
dedwscolbd@aol.com
School Lunches/Nutrition
Fruits & Veggies, More Matters, Reading Labels, Food Guide Pyramid, Vegetarian Food Choices, Healthy Eating, School Nutrition
Valerie Lewis, Nutrition and Training Coordinator
Department of Administrative Support Services
Office of Food Services
757.263.1101
valerie.lewis@vbschools.com
School Safety
Richard M. Ponti, Director
Department of Administrative Support Services
Office of Safe Schools and Risk Management
757.263.2450
richardm.ponti@vbschools.com
Special Education
Parent Involvement, Communication, Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act, IDEA, Promoting Positive Parental Participation, Multiple Intelligences, Communication w/ School and/or Parents, Communication Disorders, Speech/Language Development
Ruth Page, Coordinator
The Superintendent of Schools
Office of Programs for Exceptional Children
Parent Resource Center
757.263.2066
ruth.page@vbschools.com
Student Activities
Virginia Beach Student Leadership Programs, Virginia Beach City-Wide SCA
Diane Anderson, Coordinator
Department of School Administration
Office of Student Leadership
757.263.2020
dianed.anderson@vbschools.com
Student Health Services
Supporting the Educational Process, The Role of Professional Nurse, New Health Morbidities, The Medically Needy Student
Mary S. Shaw, Coordinator
Department of School Administration
Office of Student Leadership
757.263.2025
mary.shaw@vbschools.com
Student Activities
High School Athletics
Bruce Phelps, Coordinator
Department of School Administration
Office of Student Leadership
757.263.2030
bruce.phelps@vbschools.com
Student Conduct
Mike Samuel, Coordinator
Department of School Administration
Office of Student Leadership
757.263.2020
michael.samuel@vbschools.com
Technical & Career Education
Advanced Technology Center, Industry Certification Programs
Patrick Konopnicki, Director
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Technical and Career Education
757.648.6180
patrick.konopnicki@vbschools.com
Technical & Career Education
Career Development
Daniel Smith, School-to-work Supervisor
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Technical & Career Education
757.648.6180
daniel.smith@vbschools.com
Technical and Career Education
High Schools That Work: How to Support a School Improvement Network to Increase Student Achievement
Linda Love, High Schools That Work/Integration Supervisor
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Office of Technical & Career Education
757.648.6180
linda.love@vbschools.com
Technology
Internet, Data Warehousing, Business Process Reengineering, Project Management & Student Data Management
Ramesh Kapoor, Chief Information Officer
Department of Technology
757.263.1100
ramesh.kapoor@vbschools.com
Technology (Instructional)
William Johnsen, Director
Department of Technology
Office of Instructional Technology
757.263.1100
william.johnsen@vbschools.com
Transportation Services
David Pace, Director
Department of Administrative Support Services
Office of Transportation Services
757.263.1569
david.pace@vbschools.com
VBCPS Website vbschools.com
Nancy Soscia, Coordinator
Department of Media and Communications Development
Public Relations
757.263.1820
nancyl.soscia@vbschools.com
Virginia Standards of Learning/Student Assessment
Dr. Jared Cotton, Assistant Superintendent
Department of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment
757.263.1030
jared.cotton@vbschools.com
Year-Round Education
Elizabeth Taylor, Assistant Superintendent
Department of School Administration
Elementary Education
757.263.1088
elizabethe.taylor@vbschools.com
