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School Board Members 2010-2011
 Lorraine B. Skeeter, Cypress Borough
July 1, 1993 – December 31, 2010
Lorraine Skeeter was appointed to the School Board in 1993 to represent the Cypress Borough. She has served as Chairman since 2002. Mrs. Skeeter is a Director at the Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project – better known as the STOP Organization. This community action agency is an umbrella for many programs, including Head Start and a variety of other projects that help families to become self-sufficient. Mrs. Skeeter oversees the vocational school and the Center for Employment and Training in Suffolk. A graduate of East Suffolk High School and Norfolk State University, Mrs. Skeeter and her husband had three children and two grandchildren graduate from Suffolk Public Schools. Three grandchildren are currently students in the schools. Active in the community, she has served as chairman of the Suffolk Industrial Development Authority, as a commissioner on the Suffolk Historical Landmarks board of directors, is an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Suffolk Chapter of Links, Inc. She was named an Athena Award winner by the Chamber of Commerce as woman of distinction in Suffolk. |
 William L. Whitley, Chuckatuck Borough
July 1, 1992 – December 31, 2010
William Whitley was appointed to the School Board in 1992 to represent the Chuckatuck Borough. He worked for 33 years with Suffolk Public Schools, as a teacher, assistant principal, and then for more than 20 years as principal of John Yeates High School. He earned his degrees from Randolph Macon College and the College of William and Mary. His wife also retired from Suffolk Public Schools as an instructor with Obici’s School of Practical Nursing. They have two sons who graduated from the school division, and two grandchildren who currently attend Suffolk Public Schools. After retiring in 1990, Mr. Whitley worked for 10 years with Rountree Construction Company, where he was in charge of the employee safety program. Active in the community, Mr. Whitley is a former member of the Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Department. He is a member and past president of the Chuckatuck Ruritan Club, where he has 41 years of perfect attendance. |
 Phyllis C. Byrum, Whaleyville Borough
January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2012
Phyllis Byrum was elected to the School Board in 2009 to represent the Whaleyville Borough. She worked for 30 years with Suffolk Public Schools, as a high school social studies teacher. She earned her degree from Barton College and was a Forest Glen High School graduate. Byrum is an active community leader. She is the current president of the Whaleyville Ruritan Club and is a member of the Suffolk Woman's Club, the Suffolk Pilot Club and the Whaleyville and Nansemond-Suffolk Historical Societies. She as awarded the Suffolk Teacher of the Year in 2000 and is listed in Who's Who of American High School Teachers. |
 Diane B. Foster, Sleepy Hole Borough
January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2012
Diane Foster was elected to the School Board in 2009 to represent the Sleepy Hole Borough. Mrs. Foster worked for several years in the public school system as a teacher and reading specialist, and at Head Start as an Early Literacy and Career Development Specialist. She will spend the next three years working on a collaborative Early Reading First grant between Head Start and Norfolk Public Schools entitled Project P.U.R.P.L.E. She serves on the advisory board of First Book Hampton Roads. She earned her degrees from Radford University and the University of Virginia. She has served as vice president and legislative representative for the Portsmouth Reading Council and is a member of the steering committee for Ready to Read Program in Chesapeake Public Schools. She is a National Writing Project Fellow. The youngest of her three sons currently attends Nansemond River High School. |
 Thelma V. Hinton, Nansemond Borough
January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2012
Thelma Hinton was elected to the School Board in 2009 to represent the Nansemond Borough. Mrs. Hinton has served as the vice chairperson for the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority and is currently the Resident Council President of Hoffler Apartments. She is a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School, and Norfolk State University where she earned a Bachelor's of Social Work. Mrs. Hinton is an active member of the East Suffolk Federated Civic League, and an organizer of the National Night Out Against Crime. She has been recognized by the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce for organizing the "Back to School" program. Mrs. Hinton is the mother of two Suffolk Public Schools graduates. |
Enoch C. Copeland, Holy Neck Borough
July 1, 2006 – December 31, 2010
Enoch Copeland was elected to the School Board in 2006 to represent the Holy Neck Borough. He is a retired educator with Suffolk Public Schools, where he taught 7th-grade social studies, served as principal of Oakland Elementary School, and worked as a middle school guidance counselor and home/school coordinator. Copeland graduated from Nansemond County Training School, which is now Southwestern Elementary School, in 1953. His son graduated from Forest Glen High School. Copeland earned his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Union University, his master’s degree from Hampton University, and his certificate of advanced studies from Old Dominion University. Active in the community, Copeland is a leader at Laurel Hill United Church of Christ, a life member of the NAACP, and a charter member the Portsmouth/Suffolk Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He has recent awards from each of these groups, including the NAACP King S. Bishop Service Award in 2000.
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Michael J. Debranski, Suffolk Borough
July 1, 2006 – December 31, 2010
Mike Debranski, Ed.D., was elected to the School Board in 2006 to represent the Suffolk Borough. He currently is owner and representative of a Jostens franchise. Debranski retired from a 34-year career in public school education, where he served as a teacher, coach, athletic director, department chair, assistant principal and principal. Most of those years were dedicated to Suffolk Public Schools. He served here for 13 years as principal –at Southwestern Intermediate School, Suffolk High School and Lakeland High School. Both of his daughters graduated from Lakeland High School. Debranski also worked for seven years as principal with Virginia Beach City Public Schools. He earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from the College of William & Marry, his master’s degree and certificate of advanced studies in educational administration from Old Dominion University, and his doctorate degree in educational administration from Virginia Tech. |
The election of School Board Members began in 1994.
School Board Policy &
Regulations Manual
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