President
Jessica Jones is an Agricultural Science Teacher at Tunstall High School. Jones has been an association member since she began teaching 16 years ago. She enjoys photography, the arts, culinary cuisine, and traveling. Jessica hopes to combine several of her passions and one day open a Bed & Breakfast!
When asked why she joined the Pittsylvania Education Association, Jones responds,
"Growing up around a host of different educators, I was impacted by individuals who played a significant role in what my image and expectations were and are of education and educators. The reason I joined the Association was because I wanted to be around those same types of individuals who had molded and enlightened me as a student in school. Granted, throughout my career I have been able to be involved in numerous professional development opportunities and have been privileged to be a part of experiences that may have not been afforded to me otherwise, but overall, I truly enjoy being around educators who have a drive and passion to learn, share their knowledge, and grow together for the common good."
Jessica's goal as an officer in PEA is to
bring about the change we want and need to see for the benefit and longevity of
our organization.
"The
greatest inequality is the equal treatment of unequals."
~ Thomas
Jefferson, 1781
Executive Vice President
Willie Sherman, Chatham High School
Vice President for Membership and Communications
Evangelina Balmori, Gretna High School
Vice President for Government Relations
Evangelina Balmori, Gretna High School
Treasurer
Kate Wells, Tunstall Middle School
Kate Wells has been a sixth grade teacher of English and US History at Tunstall Middle School for the past fourteen years. She has been a member since she began teaching in 2006. Kate's interests include historical fiction, travel, music, and art. Wells says she became a member because,
"I have always considered myself a professional, so I felt it was essential to join my professional association. Just as doctors or lawyers wouldn't (and in many cases, couldn't) practice without belonging to their professional associations, I feel teachers should take themselves seriously enough to associate with other professional educators."
Inspired by these words from Robert Kennedy, "Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of the events, and in the total of all these acts will be written the history of this generation...", Kate's goal as a an officer of PEA is to serve as an advocate for Pittsylvania County educators, educational support professionals, and students.
"It is the duty of every citizen according to his best capacities to give validity to his convictions in political affairs." - Albert Einstein
Secretary
Mike Williams, Stony Mill Elementary School
UniServ Staff
Our UniServ Director is Alice Willingham.
On behalf of Brenda Pike, this message was sent to
the VEA Board of Directors, Local Presidents, UniServ Standards Advisory
Committee, UniServ Support Staff, and all VEA Staff:
I
am very pleased to announce that Alice Willingham is joining VEA as the new
UniServ Director for Territory 6, working out of the Piedmont UniServ Unit in
Danville, Virginia.
Alice
is an enthusiastic and motivated retired teacher and leader from the St. Mary’s
County Maryland school system with over 30 years of teaching middle and high
school language arts/English. Alice brings extensive knowledge and experience from her leadership
roles in the Education Association of St. Mary’s County and active involvement
in the Maryland State Education Association, including building representation,
advocacy, member representation, and grievance handling.
Alice
is a National Board Certified Teacher and has a Master’s Degree in Human
Resources Development from Towson University and a Bachelor’s Degree in
Secondary Education of English from the State University of New York at Cortland.
Alice relocated to Virginia from Maryland, and began working with us on November 12, 2019. Her email address is awillingham@veanea.org.
Please
give Alice a grand and warm VEA welcome!
You may contact her through Bonnie at the UniServ Office as indicated below.
Bonnie Montague, piedmontveanea@verizon.net,
Administrative Assistant for PEA and the rest of the Piedmont region of District I
at the UniServ Office
Administrative Assistant for PEA and the rest of the Piedmont region of District I
at the UniServ Office
Phone: 434-799-5498 Fax: 434-799-7441