CPS - School Board Members


	CHAIRMAN Dr. Sheila G. Hill-Russ Term Expires: 06.30.10
	Address: 700 Rockglen Circle Chesapeake VA 23320	Contact Information: 757.436.8681 (H) hillshg@cps.k12.va.us
Dr. Sheila G. Hill-Russ has been on the School Board since her election in May 1998. She was re-elected in 2002 and 2006 and served as Vice Chairman. She was elected Chairman in July 2008. Dr. Hill-Russ is currently VSBA Tidewater Regional Chairman. She is a retired principal from Newport News Public Schools and is an experienced educator with an extensive school-based background. She has been involved in a number of community organizations such as the Women's Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Links Inc., The Friends of Hampton Roads, and Company, Inc., and Chesapeake Forward. She also serves on the Board of Directors for WHRO-TV and the Advisory Board of the School of Education, Norfolk State University. Dr. Hill-Russ received the NAACP "Flame Bearer of Education" Award in 1994. She received her B. A. Degree from Bennett College in North Carolina, M.S. Degree from Old Dominion University, and her Doctor of Education Degree from the College of William and Mary. Dr. Hill-Russ has two daughters, and she and her husband, Rick, live in the Greenbrier area of Chesapeake.

	VICE CHAIRMAN Mr. Harry A. Murphy Term Expires: 06.30.10
	Address: 947 Unicorn Trail Chesapeake VA 23322	Contact Information: 757.547.7411 (Voicemail) 757.439.7217 (C) murphhaa@cps.k12.va.us amfence79@aol.com
Mr. Harry A. Murphy was elected to the School Board in May 1998. He was re-elected in May 2002 and 2006 and elected Vice Chairman in July 2008. He retired from the U.S. Navy as a Commander and is currently the owner of A. Murphy Fence Company. Mr. Murphy is a member of a number of service boards including the Board of Directors of the Governor's School for the Arts, and the Board of Directors of the Military Child Education Coalition. He is very active in his church, serving as a youth leader for seven years. He also coaches youth sports. Mr. Murphy received his B.S. Degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and a M.S. in Education Administration from Old Dominion University. He and his wife Karen have three children. Two of their children are graduates of Chesapeake Public Schools and the other one is currently enrolled.

	Mr. C. Jeff Bunn Term Expires: 06.30.12
	Address: 437 Rebel Road Chesapeake VA 23322	Contact Information: 757.482.8781 (H) bunnchj@cps.k12.va.us
Mr. C. Jeff Bunn was appointed to the Chesapeake School Board in July 2006. Jeff is a life long resident of Chesapeake and attended Chesapeake Public Schools. He graduated from Great Bridge High School in 1982. He also attended Tidewater Community College. Jeff is employed by the City of Chesapeake Department of Economic Development serving as a Sales Manager at the Chesapeake Conference Center. Prior to this, Jeff was employed with the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department for over 15 years where he promoted youth and family programs. Jeff also coached youth soccer for several seasons. He is a member of Raleigh Heights Baptist Church in South Norfolk. Jeff has served our schools as a former substitute teacher and volunteer. He has been involved in community and civic organizations most of his life. He is also a member of the Chesapeake Rotary, South Norfolk Civic League and a former Great Bridge and Chesapeake Jaycee. He is also a volunteer with the Miss America Scholarship Program, the largest provider of scholarships for young women in the world.

	Mrs. Barbara B. Head Term Expires: 06.30.10
	Address: 3137 Trumpet Road Chesapeake VA 23321	Contact Information: 757.488.4348 (H) headbab@cps.k12.va.us
Mrs. Barbara B. Head was appointed to the School Board in August 1992 and elected in December 1995, May 1998, 2002 and 2006. She served as Chairman from May 1996 to July 2004. Mrs. Head has been a Budget Analyst with the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Comptroller Department for over 24 years. She has held numerous leadership positions in community and civic organizations and has garnered a number of distinguished honors and awards. She was elected "Woman of the Year" by both the Woman's Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce - Chesapeake Division, and the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and she is a proud recipient of the Virginia PTA Life Membership Award. Mrs. Head is the immediate past President of the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA). She and her husband Robert have two grown daughters who are both graduates of the Chesapeake Public Schools.

	Mrs. Brenda J. Johnson Term Expires: 06.30.12
	Address: 1016 Redstart Avenue Chesapeake VA 23324	Contact Information: 757.543.0828 (H) johnsbrj@cps.k12.va.us
Mrs. Brenda J. Johnson was elected to the School Board in May of 2004. She is a resident of South Norfolk and graduate of Oscar Smith High School, and currently an Account Cosmetic Coordinator for Revlon. Mrs. Johnson has been involved in the community and civic activities most of her adult life. She is past President of the South Norfolk Civic League, past Vice President of the Woman’s Club of South Norfolk, Chairperson of the Chesapeake 4th of July "Day in the Park" and Parade, Chairman of the Chesapeake Restoration Council, past Commissioner on the South Norfolk Revitalization Commission, and a member of the Woman’s Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, just to mention a few. Mrs. Johnson has also received a number of distinguished awards such as the PTA Life Membership Award and the Chesapeake Woman Achievement Award for 2002. She and her husband Gerald have three children that either attend or have attended Chesapeake Public Schools.

	Mr. Jay Leftwich, Jr. Term Expires: 06.30.10
	Address: 308 Cedar Lakes Drive Chesapeake VA 23322	Contact Information: 757.382.4157 (W) leftwja@cps.k12.va.us
Mr. Jay Leftwich, Jr. was elected to the School Board in May 2002 and re-elected in 2006. He is a partner in the law firm of Basnight, Kinser, Telfeyan, Leftwich & Nuckolls, P.C., which is located near the Chesapeake City Hall Complex. Jay has been recognized by "Who's Who in American Law", is a recipient of the Multiple Sclerosis Leadership Award and in 2000 was recognized as one of "Hampton Roads Top Forty Professionals Under Forty." He has served as a director on Chesapeake/Portsmouth Division of the American Cancer Society and as a director on the board of Chesapeake Care, Inc. Jay has also served as President of a local Jaycees Chapter, the Deep Creek Ruritans, and the Chesapeake Bar Association. Jay has served our schools by conducting a school mentor program in 1999 and participating in the Chesapeake Public School's "Optimizing Technology Action Team." He has organized and acquired funding to take Chesapeake's high school students to the the Virginia Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court. Jay graduated from Great Bridge High School in 1981, received a B.S. from James Madison University in 1985, and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams School of Law in 1988. Jay and his wife Renee have two sons and two daughters.

	Mr. Thomas L. Mercer, Sr. Term Expires: 06.30.12
	Address: 2637 Smithson Drive Chesapeake VA 23322	Contact Information: 757.421.2777 (H) 757.421.2778 (W) mercethm@cps.k12.va.us
Mr. Thomas L. Mercer, Sr. has been on the School Board since 1996. He was elected in May 1996 and again in May 2000 and 2004. He was elected Chairman in July 2004. Mr. Mercer is the current Pastor of the Hickory United Methodist Church, and a lifelong resident of Chesapeake. Among his civic and leadership roles are the following: member of the Hickory Ruritan Club, past Vice Chairman and current board member of the Chesapeake Care Free Clinic, and a member of the Great Bridge Clergy Association. Mr. Mercer graduated from Indian River High School and received an A.B. Degree from Atlantic Christian College and his Master of Divinity from Duke University. Mr. Mercer and his wife Susan have four children who have either graduated from or currently attend Chesapeake Public Schools.

	Mrs. Christina F. Pullen Term Expires: 06.30.12
	Address: 614 Piping Rock Drive Chesapeake VA 23322	Contact Information: 757.549.0268 (H)
Mrs. Christina F. Pullen begins her first term on the School Board on July 1, 2008. Mrs. Pullen is a graduate of Mary Washington College and is currently employed as a contractor/analyst under a Department of Justice contract. She served on the B.M. Williams PTA Executive Committee for five years and currently serves on the Chesapeake Community Criminal Justice Board. She has been a member of Oak Grove United Methodist church for over 10 years where she regularly teaches adult Sunday school and serves on the Staff Parish Relations Committee. She has been married to her husband Phil Pullen since 1991 and they have three children who all attend Chesapeake Public Schools.

	Mr. Michael J. Woods Term Expires: 06.30.10
	Address: 1608 Falls Brook Run Chesapeake VA 23322	Contact Information: 757.424.9500 (W) woodsmij@cps.k12.va.us
Mr. Michael J. Woods was elected to the School Board in May of 1998. He was re-elected in 2002 and 2006 and was elected Vice Chairman in 2007. He is currently a trial attorney and president of the Law Offices of Michael J. Woods, P.C. Mr. Woods has a law enforcement background with 14 years of service with the Norfolk Police Department. He has also served on a number of committees and boards which include the Chesapeake Youth Committee, Chesapeake Criminal Justice Board, Chesapeake Care Free Clinic, the Governor's School Board of Directors, and the Hampton Roads Public Education Service Committee. Mr. Woods graduated from Deep Creek High School, received an Associates Degree from Tidewater Community College, a B.A. from St. Leo College, and the degree of Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law. He and his wife Nancy have three children.