VIRGINIA ED STRATEGIES - Key Persons
Alicia is a Southwest Virginia native who began her career in the non-profit sector and spent fifteen years serving domestic violence victims, the homeless population, and at-risk youth. In 2013, Alicia returned to college as a non-traditional student, going from high school diploma to Ph.D. in six years.
Alicia has an Associates in Pre-Teacher Education, a Bachelors in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a concentration in Mathematics, a Masters in Mathematics Education, and a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Curriculum and Instruction. Alicia is licensed to teach Pre-K - 6th, Special Education K-12, and High School Mathematics and has spent several years working in the public school setting.
Alicia was most recently awarded Outstanding Woman Scholar of the Year by the University of Virginia's College at Wise, Outstanding Alumni of the Year by Mountain Empire Community College, and Dissertation Poster of the Year by Northcentral University.
Alicia's passions lie in innovation and education. It is her goal to guide teachers in increasing their instructional effectiveness and as a result, improving outcomes for students across the Commonwealth.
Alicia lives in Saint Paul, Virginia with her husband, Russell, who is a teacher and aspiring Speech-Language Pathologist, their three sons, Brandon, Brady, and Dylan, and their two dogs, Stewie and Gus.
Allison currently serves as Director of the Virginia Tech Southwest Center.
Ms. Mays' professional experience includes working as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, a fundraising professional at Barter Theatre, Mount Rogers Community Services and Emory & Henry College, and as Director of Government Relations at Barter Theatre and Emory & Henry College.
Her community service includes serving on the Boards of Directors for the Birthplace of Country Music, YWCA of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, Washington County Chamber of Commerce (former President) and Project Glade. She also served one term on the Washington County Board of Supervisors (Vice-Chair) and on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Arts & Culture Commission (Vice-Chair), Workforce & Economic Development Committee and Rural Action Caucus. She also participated in Lead Virginia and was chosen to participate in the Jessie Ball du Pont Fund Leadership Institute as well as the inaugural cohort of the NACo Economic Mobility Leadership Network.
Job Titles:
- Director of Policy, Planning & Innovation
Amanda has just over a decade of experience in education, with most of her time spent working in low-performing schools with student populations facing barriers to educational achievement. A first-generation college student herself, Amanda launched her career in education while serving as an AmeriCorps college advisor in Pittsylvania County. Serving two high schools, Amanda assisted underrepresented and underserved students with navigating the challenges of pursuing post-secondary college and career options. She would continue this work years later while serving as a college advisor to the Charlottesville Boys and Girls Club.
Amanda also served as a testing coordinator in Bedford County, working to streamline comprehensive testing and diagnostic results in order to better align instruction to student needs. Amanda was also able to formalize a data input and tracking method to ensure IEP and 504 students received all necessary testing accommodations in real-time. She left Bedford to work as an instructional specialist for adult education in Fairfax County, enabling her to train educators and assist adult students in their pursuit of high school completion.
In addition to her work in education, Amanda served as an Executive Director of a Bedford nonprofit focused on building revitalization, business recruitment, economic development, and stimulating long-term growth and investment in the region. Her roles in education and the nonprofit world have given her opportunities to secure grant funding, present at professional conferences, and work with municipal and state leaders.
Amanda has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the University of Virginia. She currently lives in Front Royal with her husband Mickey, a high school social studies teacher for Prince William County, and their son Grover. They also have two furbabies, Cali the cat and Major the boxer.
Carol Fleming joined the Virginia Ed Strategies board in 2019. Carol is the Assistant Dean for Professional & Continuing Education at James Madison University. In this capacity, she is focused on creating mutually beneficial partnerships between the university and the community and connecting PK-12 schools with faculty, children with community engagement programs, and businesses and non-profits with professional training. She serves as a board member with the United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County and The Alliance for Non-Profit Partnerships. She's also involved with national associations like the University of Professional and Continuing Education (UPCEA.) Prior to joining JMU, Carol worked in arts education in Chicago, first with Urban Gateways: Center for Arts Education and then with Chicago Public Schools. She's always had a passion for the arts and for connecting schools, children and teachers with cultural institutions, performing companies, and residency artists. Humor and Happiness are key values to her approach to work.
Chris Swynford joined the Virginia Ed Strategies Board in 2014. Chris is Attorney at Law at Swynford Law, P.C. Chris has served as General Counsel for Software AG of North America, Attorney at the Exxon Corporation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney for Alaska under the U.S. Department of Justice. He has also served in the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant, Captain, and JAGC.
Job Titles:
- Manager at the Newport News Shipbuilding
Dr. Alicia R. Uzzle, manager at the Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), was raised in Accomack County on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She moved to Hampton in 1989 to study physics at Hampton University (HU) as an Office of Naval Research scholar, there receiving her BA and MS degrees.
Dr. Uzzle taught in Newport News Public Schools for three years before returning to HU to complete her PhD and postdoctoral research at Jefferson Lab in experimental nuclear physics. She was an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Peninsula Community College before coming to The Apprentice School at NNS as an academic instructor in 2004. By 2008, Dr. Uzzle was an academic supervisor, and in 2015, she became manager of Academics.
While serving in her current position, she was selected into the Sorensen Institute class of 2019 Political Leaders Program, appointed to serve on the Downtown Hampton Child Development Center board of directors, and member of the Virginia Ship Repair Foundation. Since 2021, Dr. Uzzle has been a manager of Trades Training Integration, a department which manages all aspects of workforce proficiency at NNS. Dr. Uzzle lives in Hampton with her husband and they have three adult sons.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Virginia Ed Strategies Board
Dr. Dorothea Shannon is a charter member of the Virginia Ed Strategies Board. She is an educational consultant and retired educator with experience as a school superintendent for several Virginia school divisions, Executive Director of the Governor's School for Government and International Studies, a school improvement consultant and Chief Academic Officer for the Virginia Department of Education, and adjunct professor.
Dr. Keith Perrigan started his career as a teacher in a self-contained classroom for students with emotional disabilities. He then served as an administrator in Washington County, Virginia for 13 years, 9 of those as principal at Patrick Henry High School and 4 as Superintendent of Norton City Schools. Dr. Perrigan became Superintendent of Bristol Virginia Public Schools in January of 2017 and continues to serve there. He is also a founding member of the Coalfields Coalition, which was the predecessor of the Coalition of Small and Rural Schools of Virginia, of which he now serves as President.
Dr. Thomas Brewster currently serves as Dean for the School of Education and Social Sciences at Bluefield College. There he has worked to expand graduate programs offerings to include degrees in educational leadership and school and clinical counseling. Dr. Brewster's career in public education includes serving as a high school social studies teacher, assistant principal, high school principal, university professor, student service coordinator, deputy superintendent, and school superintendent.
Dr. Brewster served as the Superintendent of Pulaski County Public Schools from August 2012 -June 2016. During Dr. Brewster's tenure, he led efforts to create the New River Valley's first Governor's STEM Academy, design a comprehensive districtwide student support system, and increase the number of advanced placement, dual enrollment, and workforce training opportunities for all students.
In 2013 with the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce selected Brewster as their Business Executive of the Year, and in the same year received the Bluefield College Alumni of the Year award. Brewster is a member of both the Pulaski County Career and Technical Center's Wall of Honor and the Tazewell High School Hall of Fame.
In 2006, Governor Tim Kaine appointed Dr. Brewster to a term on the Virginia State Board of Education. In 2013, Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed him to the Virginia State Community College Board, where he's chaired the Academic, Workforce, and Student Services and Facilities Committees. Dr. Brewster has served as Chair of the Bluefield College Board of Trustees and currently serves on the Radford University Board of Visitors and serves as Chair of the Academic Excellence and Research Committee. Brewster also served his community as a two-time member of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors, representing the northern district.
Emily joined the Virginia Chamber of Commerce in January 2023 as Vice President of Education and Workforce Development and brings with her 15 years of experience in education, public policy, and advocacy. She leads the Chamber's education and workforce efforts to ensure Virginia is responsive to the shifting needs of a global economy with an educated, well-trained, and adaptive workforce.
Prior to joining the Chamber, Emily served as the Director of the Office of Board Relations at the Virginia Department of Education. In this role, she led the policy development and regulatory work of the Virginia Board of Education ensuring the advancement of their comprehensive plan for public education in the Commonwealth. Prior to her role at the Department, she was the Director of Government Relations for the Virginia School Boards Association, served in the administration of Governor Bob McDonnell as an education policy advisor, and as Deputy Director of Virginia21.
Emily has a bachelor's degree in political science from Virginia Tech and is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. She currently resides in Goochland County with her goldendoodle, Kobe.
Gena Keller recently retired from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) as Assistant Superintendent for Learning and after serving as superintendent for seven years in the Fluvanna County Public Schools District in Central Virginia. Gena is currently the Executive Director of the Commonwealth Learning Partnership (CLP), a collaborative of professional learning organizations, higher education leaders, and educators with a deep commitment to transforming public education in Virginia with a laser focus on equity. During her tenure as Assistant Superintendent at VDOE, Gena was integral in connecting credible statewide professional learning organizations in assisting school districts in implementing the competencies and skill sets that comprised the Profile of a Virginia Graduate. Gena also assisted in the creation of supporting profiles - Profile of a Virginia Leader, Educator, and Classroom - that became drivers for the Virginia Superintendent Leadership Academy and the Virginia Learning Innovation Network and caused shifts in the preparation of educators in higher education institutions.
In 2017, Gena was named the Region V Superintendent of the Year by her colleagues. She received the AASA National Superintendent Certification and is known for her "dogged determination" while championing for every student that walks through the doors of a public school. Gena served as President of Women Education Leaders of Virginia (WELV) and continues to be active in professional organizations that support learning opportunities for all educators.
Gena served students as a teacher for children with special needs, home-school coordinator, counselor, administrator at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and assistant superintendent for instruction before becoming the superintendent in Fluvanna. She earned a BS Degree from Radford University and two Masters in Education from the University of Virginia
Dr. Scales joined the Virginia Ed Strategies board in February 2019 with over 17 years as a secondary school administrator. He is currently the Director of Secondary Instruction for Mecklenburg County Public Schools. Dr. Scales has a background in other professions prior to entering the field of education including automotive sales, manufactured housing management, and military service. Dr. Scales serves on the local board of Southside Virginia Community College and was formerly on the advisory board of RMEP.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- President
- Principal Investigator for CHOICE
Jennifer Stevens, a native of southern Virginia, began her career in education in 1995, first serving as a public school teacher and then moving on to lead grant-funded education projects for Longwood University, Virginia Tech, and NASA Langley Research Center. In 2007, she held a lead role on the team of educators and community leaders that secured a $13.2 million grant from the National Math and Science Initiative to create Virginia Ed Strategies and went on to become one of the organization's first staff members.
Now, as the President and CEO, Jennifer serves as Principal Investigator for CHOICE, a $10.8m Education Innovation and Research (EIR) project, and the Rural Math Innovation Network (RMIN), an Investing in Innovation (i3) project - both funded by the US Department of Education, and leads the Ed Strategies team in accomplishing its mission of assisting Virginia's businesses and schools in preparing our future workforce.
Jennifer is certified by The Ohio State University as a DACUM facilitator and has used her training to conduct numerous job analysis sessions for the purpose of creating new training and degree programs at community colleges and universities for high-demand career fields such as unmanned aerial systems and cybersecurity. Jennifer is also co-author on the National Career Development Association's School Career Development Advisor training curriculum, and she has presented at numerous state and national conferences on topics such as motivating students to learn and succeed in math, supporting teachers in a virtual networked improvement community, the importance of math in high-demand technician careers, and the need for early and dedicated career planning for students.
Jennifer lives in Virginia Beach with her husband, John, who is a proposal manager for Hitachi Energy. They are the proud parents of 5 sons - Jared, Noah, Caleb, Isaac, and Levi - who range in age from 25 to 9.
Job Titles:
- New TechSpark Community Engagement Manager
Jeremy Satterfield is the new TechSpark Community Engagement Manager for Boydton, Virginia. He is a lifelong resident of Southern Virginia having completed his K-12 education in Halifax County and obtained his bachelor's degree at Longwood University. Jeremy spent three years teaching high school marketing courses at Bluestone High School in Mecklenburg County immediately after college. After leaving the education field, he went to work with the local community-owned not-for-profit hospital as their community outreach representative. After six years, Jeremy left healthcare to take a new position for Mid-Atlantic Broadband, a growing middle-mile provider in Southern Virginia. His time in telecommunications shed light on the disparities between rural and urban communities. One of the most impactful programs he has worked with is the Homework Gap Initiative, a TV white space pilot project in rural southern Virginia that helped bring connectivity to students in unserved and underserved areas.
The opportunities that Jeremy has had in education, healthcare, and telecommunications have helped forge his commitment to bridge the gap to rural communities. As a father of three, Jeremy has a vested interest in bringing opportunities into rural Virginia for the next generation. Kylie, 16, Kameron, 13 and Layne, 11, are all enrolled in Halifax County Public Schools where his wife, Kristy, is a third-grade teacher. Life as a father to three children keeps him busy but Jeremy has found time to coach Kylie's travel softball team and Layne's recreation and travel baseball teams. Jeremy has served on various boards throughout the region, chambers of commerce, IDA's, and educational foundations. As a proponent of lifelong learning, he recently earned his certificate of Leadership from the Darden Business School at the University of Virginia.
John Carney joined the Virginia Ed Strategies Board in 2015. He is the founder and CEO of several innovative technology companies that provide workforce performance solutions and personalized learning platforms for adults and students, respectively: Carney, Inc. and MARi, LLC. Prior to founding Carney Inc., John was the Director of Information Technology for the Independent Insurance Agents of America, and served in the Army National Guard.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Community
Katherine DeRosear joined the Virginia Ed Strategies Board in 2012. Katherine is the Senior Vice President, Community and Partner Engagement for Headed2, a cloud-based career and transition planning platform. She has served as the Executive Director of the Manufacturing Skills Institute at the Virginia Manufacturers Association, Deputy Senior Adviser for Workforce Development in the Governor's Office, Deputy Director for the Council on Virginia's Future, and Director of Workforce Policy for VCCS. ×
Job Titles:
- Director of Public Policy for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Kim McKay joined the Virginia Ed Strategies Board in 2018. Kim serves as the Director of Public Policy for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Deputy Director of the Virginia Chamber Foundation. Prior to her position with the Chamber, Kim held several state and federal government positions. She also served as a Research and Policy Analyst and Interim Deputy Director of the Council on Virginia's Future. In her recent roles, she has helped develop Blueprint Virginia 2025.
Liz Povar became a Board Member in 2017. She is the Founder and Principal Officer of The Riverlink Group, providing economic development consulting services at the intersection of community capacity-building, higher education, and workforce. Previously, she was the Vice President of Business Expansion for Virginia Economic Development Partnership where she led the business development domestic sales & marketing staff in implementing strategic marketing program carrying out agency's core mission.
Dr. Mark L'Esperance joined the Virginia Ed Strategies board of directors in 2019. Mark is the Dean of the College of Education at James Madison University. Prior to taking his current position at JMU in July 2019, he served as professor and chair of the Department of Elementary Education and Middle Grades Education at East Carolina University, where he was also the lead faculty administrator for the East Carolina University Community School. Mark has presented and published extensively at the state, national and international levels, and he brings a wealth of experience in working with public-school systems and coaching hundreds of administrators related to strategic planning and instructional leadership. Mark is a native of Lynn, Massachusetts, and enjoys spending time with his wife of 32 years, Pam, along with their three adult children and their families. In his free time, he enjoys reading, weightlifting and watching college sports.
Job Titles:
- Recruitment Program Coordinator for Dominion Energy
Matt Kellam is the Military and Recruitment Program Coordinator for Dominion Energy. With over 20 years of staffing and workforce development experience, Matt has lead teams specializing in technical staffing, military and veteran recruitment, college and university relations, student employment and scholarship programs, building partnerships with community and civic organizations, and more. In collaboration with education, industry and government partners, Matt and his teams are responsible for establishing military and veteran, education and training, and career pathways leading into the Energy industry. Throughout his career, Matt has been recognized and awarded for his workforce and talent pipeline development efforts and for his commitment to diversity and inclusion. Matt served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves for 6 years. He attended Virginia Commonwealth University and studied Mass Communications - Public Relations.
Job Titles:
- Program Support Specialist
Megan has been in the field of education since 2009. She began her career as an elementary school teacher with Halifax County Public Schools in Southside Virginia where she taught various grade levels. In 2014, Megan was given the prestigious honor of being awarded Teacher of the Year for both her school and the Halifax County Public School division. She also served as a Lead Teacher for several years where she raised funds for students and teachers. During her time as Lead Teacher, she led several trainings for co-workers that included professional development and student information systems.
As a 2008 graduate of Longwood University, Megan completed her B.S. in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Elementary Education. Megan has actively retained her teaching certification in grades PK through 6. Aside from her active role as an educator, Megan enjoys being an engaged member of her church through children's activities and serves as a board member of the church's WEE school.
Megan lives in Alton with her husband, Jason, who is the Division Director of Parks Maintenance with the City of Danville. They have two sons, Graham and Sawyer.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Innovation at the Virginia Department of Education
Michael Bolling serves as Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Innovation at the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Prior to re-joining the VDOE, Michael served as the Executive Director of CodeRVA, a regional high school in Richmond focused on equity, educational innovation, and preparing a diverse population of students for college and careers in the tech sector. Before opening CodeRVA, Mr. Bolling served as the Coordinator of Mathematics and Director of the Office of Mathematics and Governor's Schools at the VDOE. His teaching career began as a high school mathematics teacher at Atlee High School in Hanover County. He has also served in leadership positions in Chesterfield and Powhatan Counties.
Nathaniel (Nat) X.Marshall is truly a product of Central Virginia. He was born, raised, and educated in Bedford County; he graduated with a degree in Business Administration & English from the University of Lynchburg (formerly Lynchburg College); he married an Amherst County native; he has worked for BWXT, the largest employer in Campbell County, for over 35 years; he currently lives in the mid-town section of the city of Lynchburg with his wife and two daughters.
Nat has served on a number of boards and committees including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Salvation Army, Red Cross, United Way, the University of Lynchburg, the State and Regional Workforce Boards, the State Board for Community Colleges, Central Virginia Community College Local Board, Johnson Health Center, Va. Center for Inclusive Communities, and DanceLynchburg. He remains engaged in these and a number of other organizations, including his Church, with the simple purpose of making a small difference in his community.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations & Programs
Sandy Wilborn has been in the field of education since 2006. She began her career as a mathematics teacher with Halifax County Public Schools in Southside Virginia. She taught at both the middle and high school levels and taught dual enrollment courses through a local community college.
Sandy joined Virginia Ed Strategies in 2013 and serves as the Director of Programs. She is the lead facilitator for the Rural Math Innovation Network (RMIN), an Investing in Innovation (i3) project funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Prior to RMIN, Sandy was a math specialist for the Rural Math Excel Partnership (RMEP) from 2013-2017, for which she was responsible for creating and implementing teacher professional development, assisting with the planning and conducting of Family Math Nights in schools, and providing ongoing teacher support.
Sandy is a certified trainer of the National Math and Science Initiative's Laying the Foundation Program. She is a co-author on "The Math Learning Gap: Preparing STEM Technicians for the New Rural Economy" which is published in The Rural Educator. She has presented at numerous state and national conferences on topics such as motivating students to learn and succeed in math, supporting teachers in a virtual networked improvement community, and the importance of math in high-demand technician careers.
Sandy lives in Alton with her husband, Chris, who is a superintendent with Duke Energy. They have two daughters, Sydney and Lacey.
Job Titles:
- Research and Development Specialist
Stephanie Keister began her career in education 15 years ago as a children's librarian where she created educational programs for children of all ages. Stephanie then moved to working in academic libraries where she designed and evaluated information literacy programs for undergraduate and graduate students.
Stephanie furthered her experience in program evaluation when she served as the assessment coordinator at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, Virginia. In this position, Stephanie worked with faculty and administrators to design annual assessment plans to track program improvements. She also was responsible for submitting institutional reports to state and federal agencies. In addition to her program evaluation and assessment experience, Stephanie has held adjunct faculty teaching positions and is passionate about the role she can play in helping first-year college students transition to higher education.
Stephanie received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Davis and a Master's Degree in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University. Stephanie is currently pursuing a Ed.D in Higher Education Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has completed coursework in educational research and is currently researching how to improve survey response rates in first-year college students.
Stephanie lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia with her husband, Eric, and their children. She has a dog, Hunter, and a cat named Bluebell.
W. W. "Ted" Bennett, Jr. is a charter member of the Virginia Ed Strategies Board and was the key advocate in the creation of the organization in 2007. He serves as the Board Vice-Chair. Prior to his retirement, Ted served as the Director for the Industrial Development Authority of Halifax County and the Executive Director of SVHEC. He also practiced law and served as a delegate in the Virginia General Assembly. Ted served as the Chair for the Virginia Math and Science Coalition.