Barry C. Bishop was appointed to the School Board in 1999.

Mr. Bishop is a graduate of Granby High School and Old Dominion University. Currently, Mr. Bishop serves as the Executive Director of the Greater Norfolk Corporation, whose mission is to provide a private sector perspective in support of economic development to the City Of Norfolk. His past civic activities include serving as President of the Downtown Norfolk Council and Norfolk Festevents.

Mr. Bishop currently serves on the Boards of Norfolk Festevents and the Literacy Partnership.

Email:  gnc@gnc.hrcoxmail.com

PO Box 3224
Norfolk, VA 23514-3224

Phone: (757) 622-2242
Fax: (757) 622-4553

Ursula D. Rhodes was appointed to the school board in July 2004.

She received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Norfolk State University. She has been employed with the Bank of America for 20 years and currently holds a position as Vice President. Mrs. Rhodes has served on many community boards and committees, including serving as a PTA president and vice president.

She is married to William A. Rhodes. They have two children.

Email:  ursuladrhodes@aol.com

PO Box 9389
Norfolk, VA 23505

Mr. Cook, known as "Billy," is a product of Norfolk Public Schools and a graduate of Lake Taylor High School and Virginia Tech. He has taught in Norfolk Public Schools, worked for the Norfolk Community Services Board and served on the Norfolk Public Library Board. He now serves as a Lieutenant Colonel with the U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM).

He is the husband of the former Sharon D. Davidson, a Norfolk Public Schools teacher. He has four children: George III (BJ), a NPS 2005 graduate; Courtney, a NPS High School student; Calvert, a middle school student; and Micah, an elementary student.

Email:  billycook43@yahoo.com

James T. Driggers was appointed to the School Board in June 2005.

Mr. Driggers is a retired Navy veteran of 28 years, has taught public school for several years as part of the Norfolk Public School system, and is currently employed by the Navy’s Human Performance Center, detailed to the Naval Safety Center. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University where he completed his B.S. in Occupational Education, Old Dominion University with an M.S. in Elementary Education, and The George Washington University with a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Administration.

He is currently working towards a Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) through Old Dominion University. Mr. Driggers is a board member of his Civic League and actively involved with his daughters’ school related educational and extracurricular activities.

He is married to Brenda Driggers. They have one child, Stephanie Driggers, who is a part of the International Baccalaureate Program at Granby High School.

Email:  jtdriggers@msn.com

Dr. Lillian P. Wright, was appointed to the School Board on February 17, 2004.

Dr. Wright, is a retired Professor and Administrator fromNorfolk State University. She received a B.S. degree from Virginia State University, an M.A. from Columbia University and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland at College Park.

She is a member of several professional and civic organizations, including the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Virginia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Norfolk State University Retiree Association, Campostella Heights Civic League, Southside Task Force, former member of Civil Service Commission, and a member of the Norfolk Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

She has a son and daughter, Bill and Mimi, both graduates of Lake Taylor High School, and a granddaughter Kathryn Wright Schmechel.

Email:  drlillianwright@msn.com

Dr. McCluney was born in Norfolk, Virginia where she received her primary and secondary education in the public school system. Her positive experiences and strong role models helped to shape and define an educational roadmap that lead to the attainment of a Bachelors of Science degree in Mathematics Education from Norfolk State University, a Masters of Science degree in Mathematics Education from Old Dominion University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Urban Services/Higher Education Leadership with a Concentration in Research, Evaluation, and Statistics from Old Dominion University.

Dr. McCluney joined the senior staff at Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia in 1996. She assumed this position after 16 years as a senior civilian with the DOD and 23 years as an educator in the public and higher education systems.  Her experiences, in both environments, have been diverse, rewarding and career enhancing. She has served as a mathematics consultant, mathematics curriculum specialist, mathematics teacher, mathematics department head, an operations research analyst, mathematician, management analyst, statistician, computer system analyst, EEO counselor, Federal Woman Program Manager and Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Her management and administrative skills were creatively developed and enhanced throughout these experiences. She gained full professor status at Golden Gate University in 1990. Presently, she is teaching graduate courses at Troy University.

She has written and presented papers at professional conferences, colleges, universities and numerous military activities on such topics as mentoring, institutional assessments, program evaluation, accreditation, curriculum development and design, strategic planning, acculturation, and program management. Her civic responsibilities are met through volunteer services with the public school systems, the Norfolk City Council and local colleges and universities. She continues to be an activist in the identification and recruitment of potential science scholars.

She is presently a member of the Norfolk City School Board, an Advisory Board member for ODU-Darden College of Education, chairperson for the Federal Degree Granting Institutions of DOD, board member of the Virginia Tidewater Consortium of Colleges and Universities, Executive member for the Process for Accreditation of Joint Education (PAJE) for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and member of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. She was inducted into Beta Kappa Chi – National Scientific Honor Society; Alpha Mu Gamma – National Foreign Language Society; and Alpha Kappa Mu – National Collegiate Honor Society.

Dr. McCluney’s educational philosophy: “Never too late…PURSUE, LEARN and ACCOMPLISH…to shape and direct your destiny”.

Email:  mccluneyl@jfsc.ndu.edu

Stephen W. Tonelson is a Professor of Early Childhood and Special Education at Old Dominion University. He graduated from Maury High School as did his parents and his two children, Claire and Rachel. His wife Lona is the Media Specialist at Sewells Point Elementary School. Steve earned an AB degree from the College of William and Mary, a MS degree from Old Dominion University, and an EdD from the University of Virginia. He began his career in education as a third grade teacher and has taught both general education and special education. He has been a member of a PTA since 1986 and has held a number of offices in that organization. Steve also has served as a board member and President of the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia since 1980.

Dr. Tonelson has published numerous articles, monographs, and book chapters addressing the education of children at risk and children with mild disabilities and their families. He has received over $20,000,000.00 in grants from the Virginia Department of Education, the United States Department of Education, other government agencies, and private foundations. One of these grants, The Commonwealth Special Education Endorsement Program: A Distance Learning Approach (CSEEP) has been recognized nationally and has received: the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teaching from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (2005) and the Exemplary Program Award from the American Council for Rural Special Education (2006). In addition, the CSEEP grant was named a Finalist in the Distinguished Program Award in Teacher Education from the Association of Teacher Educators (2007).

Email:  stonelso@odu.edu