Mr. Roberts was Donna Morris's memorable government teacher from high school. He made the class interesting by relating lessons to current events and helped students deal with the merger of their two high schools. Now, Mr. Roberts is an assistant superintendent. Strong schools are important for a healthy economy, and the Hampton Roads Partnership is interested in education from pre-K onward to build a skilled workforce. Teacher compensation should be reformed to attract and retain high-quality teachers.

2. Class Reunion EXECUTIVE
VICE-PRESIDENT
By Dory Suttmiller HAMPTON ROADS
PARTNERSHIP
Donna Morris MANOR HIGH SCHOOl:
CLASS OF 1973
Which teacher from your youth
stands out in your memory?
What made this teacher Biography:
Jim Roberts was a fresh out of
special and/or unique? Donna S. Morris has been in organization management for
college 12th grade teacher in 1973.
30 years. Since 1996 she has been with the Hampton Roads
He taught a small government class
Partnership, where she currently serves as Executive Vice President. Past positions
of about a dozen students, making
include Director of Alumni Relations at Old Dominion University and various man-
it interesting by relating his lesson
agement posts in the Portsmouth, Hampton Roads, and Virginia Peninsula Chambers
plans to current events. His teaching
of Commerce. Donna is past chair of the Virginia Beach Community Services Board
showed us a way to deal with govern-
and currently serves on the Together We Can Foundation Board, a group focused
mental change that affected us. on assisting youth aging out of foster care. Donna graduated from Old Dominion
In that year, the city school system University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education. She
merged I.C. Norcom and Woodrow is a Portsmouth native and currently resides in Virginia Beach.
Wilson High Schools students into
the new Manor High School. I was
no longer a Wilson President, but describe as currently “back loaded Education Centers
instead a Manor Mustang. I was in the sense that it is weak on cash (www.nhgs.tec.va.us), owned
bummed. I left many friends behind compensation, especially up front and operated by six Peninsula
at Wilson. But Mr. Roberts helped and heavy on pensions and health school divisions. Southeastern Co-
us deal with that in his government benefits for the retired teacher.” Its operative Educational Programs
class. Today, Dr. Roberts is Assistant essence is, “the system is fine if you (www.secep.net ) serves eight school
Superintendent for Chesapeake want to retain the teachers with the divisions on the Southside of our
Public Schools. most years of service, but makes lit- region serving special education and
tle sense if you want to attract young alternative education students.
people to the profession which will
In 2000, the Hampton Roads
Strong schools are a vital part
allow them to afford to buy a home
Partnership initiated Smart Region
of a healthy economy. How can
or support a family.” Their recom-
Hampton Roads. Funding cuts in
the school systems of Hampton
mendation is to make retirement
the governor’s budget eliminated our
Roads obtain and retail good
benefits comparable to private sector
Regional Competitiveness Program,
teachers that will help our
firms and use the money saved to
At the Hampton Roads Partnership, which was the primary source of
region flourish?
increase teachers’ cash compensation.
we have a strong interest in education funds for “Smart Region”, but
starting with Pre-K. Building a specific collaborative efforts were
strong workforce is vital to make started that continue today. The
To compete effectively in
our region economically competitive. mission of Smart Region was to pull
today’s economy, cities and
While working with others to build a together disparate efforts throughout
counties must find ways to
competitive workforce, I discovered the region and coordinate them into
work together for mutual
the work of the National Center a more purposeful, cohesive whole.
benefit. In your opinion, could
on Education and the Economy, Through the program, we worked
the school systems of Hampton
(NCEE). Their mission is to develop with several regional education
Roads also benefit by working
proposals for building the world-class They absolutely will benefit from organizations including the Consor-
cooperatively?
education and training system needed cooperation, and they are cooperat- tium for Interactive Instruction
to be a world-class economy. One ing today. Examples of successful (CII) and the Hampton Roads
proposal suggests changing the shape cooperation include the nationally Public Education Services Agency
of teacher compensation, which they recognized New Horizons Regional (HRPESA) to advance mutual goals.