Over the span of her 38 years in education, Linda helped her students to reach milestones in their lives, directing them to reach their goals on both the secondary and post-secondary level. She observed many challenges in public education as both a math and science teacher and a community college academic advisor. She used each student experience as an opportunity to source programming ideas for ESHR, Inc. as a community partner to the families of Hampton Roads. Education is one of the most difficult yet the most important job in America. Linda notes that educators have never been paid what they are worth, but this did not stop her from ensuring her students succeeded—making any difficulties worthwhile. She has always been proud to call herself an educator, because she knew her worth even when others didn’t.

ESHR is about the promotion of lifelong learning. As you well know, lifelong learning is about being open and taking in new ideas and perspectives. A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body and learning something new keeps your brain developing even as you age.

“Jimmy” as he is affectionately know to his closest friends and former colleagues was an icon in his forty years as an educator. Twenty-seven of those years were spent as principal at Indian River High School. He was a powerful force for stability and a father figure for many of his students who were referred to as “Frye Babies”. Although he has had students who went on to become famous such as Alonzo Mourning and Jay Pharoah, his focus was on those students who were not as blessed and needed more help. He truly made his mark on the Chesapeake community.

During her 34 years as a Norfolk Public Schools educator, Edith was always an advocate for her students and felt that she was their parent away from home. She spent two years in the Best Program helping new teachers get adjusted to their classrooms. As an advocate for teachers, Edith also felt that teachers were unappreciated and suggested to NPS that teachers be given pins during their milestone years in teaching.

James is a product of the Chesapeake Public School System, being one of the first student to integrate Oscar F. Smith High School. While in high school he was active in band, basketball and wrestling. He is graduate of Tuskegee University and an Army Veteran and although he works in the private sector, is very invested in the education of our young people.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Velverlee currently works as a Parent and Family Engagement Liaison for the Portsmouth Public School System. In her current role, she feels that working with parents allows her to build the bridge between home, school and the community. She has always been involved with public education. It began when she was a substitute teacher for the Suffolk Public School System. After that she spent thirty plus years working for the local newspaper. Throughout her tenure at the paper, she stayed committed to public education volunteering and remaining involved with her son’s education. When she lost her son in 2004, she created a scholarship in his name, the Josef D. Collins Memorial Scholarship, that is awarded annually to a graduate of I. C. Norcom in Portsmouth which was his alma mater. Velverlee’s passion to serve is making a difference in the lives of families in Portsmouth.

Samuel is an active member of the Special Education Advisory Board, the ECPI Criminal Justice Board and the Virginia Sate Police Association. Early in his career, while he was assigned to New Kent County, a young run away was trying to commit suicide and he was called to assist. He talked the runaway out of suicide and helped him to deal with the problems that had brought him to that point. Sam then realized that he had a passion for mentoring and working with youth and continues to do so.