Board of Education

Board Members

	David M. Foster, President Appointed to first full term – January 30, 2010 Date of expiration – January 29, 2014 2607 North Wakefield Street Arlington, VA 22207 David M. Foster of Arlington County was appointed to the Board of Education in January 2010 by Governor Robert F. McDonnell. Mr. Foster was elected to serve as the president of the Board in February 2012, and will serve a two-year term. Mr. Foster is an attorney and was elected to the Arlington County School Board in 1999 and reelected in 2003. He served two terms as chairman and was a member of the Attorney General's Internet Safety Task Force. Mr. Foster is a graduate of the University of Virginia (UVA) and the UVA School of Law.
	Betsy D. Beamer, Vice President Appointed to first full term – January 30, 2010 Date of expiration – January 29, 2014 1805 Locust Hill Road Henrico, VA 23238 Elizabeth D. "Betsy" Beamer of Henrico County was appointed to the Board of Education in January 2010 by Governor Robert F. McDonnell. Mrs. Beamer was elected to serve as the vice president of the Board in February 2012, and will serve a two-year term. Mrs. Beamer served as Secretary of the Commonwealth from 1994-1998 and is a former member of the Radford University Board of Visitors. She is on the board of the Pinchbeck Elementary School PTA and also volunteers at Byrd Middle School. Mrs. Beamer is a graduate of Radford University.
	Diane T. Atkinson Appointed to first full term – April 13, 2012 Date of expiration – January 29, 2016 12421 North Oaks Drive Ashland, VA 23005 Diane T. Atkinson was appointed to the Board of Education in 2012 for a four year term by Governor Robert F. McDonnell. Governor James S. Gilmore appointed Mrs. Atkinson to serve on the Board of Education in 2001 to fill an unexpired term. Before joining the Board, she was a special education teacher, and worked at the Virginia Department of Education in special education and then policy and public affairs. Mrs. Atkinson is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and the University of Richmond’s School of Law. She resides in Hanover County with her husband and two children.
	Dr. Oktay Baysal Appointed to unexpired term of Mr. K. Rob Krupicka – October 17, 2012 Unexpired term begins – September 28, 2012 Expiration of unexpired term – January 29, 2013 Appointed to first full term – January 30, 2013 Date of expiration – January 29, 2017 1705 Benns Church Place Virginia Beach, VA 23455 Oktay Baysal was appointed to the Board of Education in 2012 by Governor Robert F. McDonnell. Dr. Baysal is dean of the College of Engineering & Technology at Old Dominion University. He received a doctorate from Louisiana State University, a master’s degree from the University of Birmingham (U.K.) and bachelor’s degree from the Technical University of Istanbul. A licensed professional engineer, Dr. Baysal is an eminent scholar of mechanical & aerospace engineering, as well as a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineer. Dr. Baysal is married with two daughters and resides in Virginia Beach.
	Christian N. Braunlich Appointed to first full term – July 1, 2011 Date of expiration – June 30, 2015 7011 Dreams Way Court Alexandria, VA 22315 Christian.Braunlich@doe.virginia.gov Christian N. Braunlich was appointed to the Board of Education in July 2011 by Governor Robert F. McDonnell. Mr. Braunlich serves as chairman of the Charter School Committee. He is vice president of the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, and has worked in public policy for a variety of organizations since 1980. He served as a member of the Fairfax County School Board from January 1996 to December 2003 and currently serves on the Board of College Access Fairfax and the Fairfax Partnership for Youth. A graduate of Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, he resides in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County with his wife, Eileen. They are the parents of four children, Christian, Stephen, Brian, and Catherine.
	Dr. Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Appointed to unexpired term of Mr. Kelvin L. Moore – January 14, 2010 Expiration of unexpired term – June 30, 2011 Appointed to first full term – July 1, 2011 Date of expiration – June 30, 2015 9005 Ashcroft Way Richmond, VA 23236 Billy K. Cannaday Jr. of Midlothian was appointed to the Board of Education in December 2009 by Governor Timothy M. Kaine, and was reappointed by Governor Robert F. McDonnell July 1, 2011. Dr. Cannaday serves as chairman of the Committee on the Standards of Quality. Dr. Cannaday is the dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Virginia (UVA). Prior to joining UVA, he served as Virginia's Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2006-2008. A career educator for more than 30 years Dr. Cannaday has worked in elementary, middle and high schools and was superintendent in two of the Commonwealth's largest school divisions. Dr. Cannaday received his doctorate in educational administration and bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He earned his masters in educational administration from Hampton University.
	Darla Edwards (formerly Mack) Appointed to first full term – April 13, 2012 Date of expiration – January 29, 2016 2412 Langhorne Rd, Suite 109 Lynchburg, Virginia 24501 Darla Edwards was appointed to the Board of Education in 2012 for a four year term by Governor Robert F. McDonnell. She is the president and co-founder of an education consulting company. Mrs. Edwards also has over 15 years of experience as a teacher and principal in Virginia public schools. Mrs. Edwards received her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Development and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Lynchburg College.
	Winsome E. Sears Appointed to first full term – January 30, 2011 Date of expiration – January 29, 2015 200 Kemper Court Stephenson, VA 22656 Winsome Sears of Frederick County was appointed to the Board of Education in February 2011 by Governor Robert F. McDonnell. Ms. Sears serves as chairman of the College Partnership Laboratory Schools Committee. Ms. Sears is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and served in the House of Delegates in 2002 and 2003, representing portions of Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. She is the president of an appliance, plumbing and heating firm. Ms. Sears is a graduate of Old Dominion University and earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Regent University.
	Joan E. Wodiska Appointed to first full term – January 30, 2013 Date of expiration – January 29, 2017 Joan.Wodiska@doe.virginia.gov Joan E. Wodiska was appointed to the Board of Education in January 2013 by Governor Robert F. McDonnell. Mrs. Wodiska was a member of the Falls Church City School Board from 2004-2013, serving as chairman and vice-chairman during her tenure. She was also the vice chair of the Governor's Task Force on Local Mandates, and served as president of the Virginia School Boards Association. Mrs. Wodiska oversees education and workforce policy for the National Governors Association. A graduate of Concordia College and George Washington University, she currently resides in Falls Church.