THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 5, 1996 TAG: 9607030247
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover story
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 89 lines
Subconsciously, Patricia Pritchard Willis felt a little weird donning the T-shirt of a Great Bridge school for a recent fun run on Cedar Road. Willis, a Greenbrier resident, always has cast her loyalties with her neighborhood schools.
Then it hit her: She was a new School Board member, and she'd have to be a vocal supporter of all city schools.
It's among the most important parts of the job, according to Willis, 39, who was one of three newcomers elected to the board in May. Only one incumbent, James J. Wheaton, defended his seat.
``I think it's important for the School Board members to show they care'' about Chesapeake schools and education in general, Willis said. She sees her role partly as a cheerleader for the school system. ``We need to make sure we emphasize the positives.''
Willis said she feels prepared for the duties that already are rushing at her like a freight train - learning about the educational programs the school system offers, the budget, the plans for school construction, the proper way to handle concerns and comments from community members; attending the many meetings and banquets and ceremonies.
``It's really a full-time job,'' Willis said.
If anyone has the time, she believes she does. A former attorney, she now stays home to raise her three young children: David, 10, a rising sixth-grader at Crestwood Middle School; Patrick, 6, a rising second-grader at Greenbrier Primary; and Rosemary Grace, 5, who will enter kindergarten this fall at Greenbrier Primary.
For the past couple of years, she's sunk all her energy into the responsibility of caring for her children. Her husband, Larry, 38, is also an attorney.
But Willis decided to run for the School Board because she was ready for a challenge and she believed it was time to make more of a contribution to the community; she was spurred by a Bible verse she's fond of from the book of Luke, which reads something like: ``To whom much is given, much is required.''
A first-grade teacher before she became a lawyer, Willis knows what it's like to be in the trenches in schools. And she knows what it's like to be on the other side as a parent trying to stay involved.
The school system is doing basically a good job for the city, she said. And Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols' efforts to make improvements in such areas as technology and school safety are on the right track.
Subconsciously, Patricia Pritchard Willis felt a little weird donning the T-shirt of a Great Bridge school for a recent fun run on Cedar Road. Willis, a Greenbrier resident, always has cast her loyalties with her neighborhood schools.
Then it hit her: She was a new School Board member, and she'd have to be a vocal supporter of all city schools.
It's among the most important parts of the job, according to Willis, 39, who was one of three newcomers elected to the board in May. Only one incumbent, James J. Wheaton, defended his seat.
``I think it's important for the School Board members to show they care'' about Chesapeake schools and education in general, Willis said. She sees her role partly as a cheerleader for the school system. ``We need to make sure we emphasize the positives.''
Willis said she feels prepared for the duties that already are rushing at her like a freight train - learning about the educational programs the school system offers, the budget, the plans for school construction, the proper way to handle concerns and comments from community members; attending the many meetings and banquets and ceremonies.
``It's really a full-time job,'' Willis said.
If anyone has the time, she believes she does. A former attorney, she now stays home to raise her three young children: David, 10, a rising sixth-grader at Crestwood Middle School; Patrick, 6, a rising second-grader at Greenbrier Primary; and Rosemary Grace, 5, who will enter kindergarten this fall at Greenbrier Primary.
For the past couple of years, she's sunk all her energy into the responsibility of caring for her children. Her husband, Larry, 38, is also an attorney.
But Willis decided to run for the School Board because she was ready for a challenge and she believed it was time to make more of a contribution to the community; she was spurred by a Bible verse she's fond of from the book of Luke, which reads something like: ``To whom much is given, much is required.''
A first-grade teacher before she became a lawyer, Willis knows what it's like to be in the trenches in schools. And she knows what it's like to be on the other side as a parent trying to stay involved.
The school system is doing basically a good job for the city, she said. And Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols' efforts to make improvements in such areas as technology and school safety are on the right track. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos, including the cover by STEVE EARLEY
New school board members Patricia Willis and Allen Goode stand with
School Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols, right.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD by CNB