Meet the Board of Education

Daniel A. Gecker was appointed to the Board of Education by Governor Terry McAuliffe. Mr. Gecker was elected by the Board to serve as its president in July 2017.

Mr. Gecker is a partner in Urban Development Associates LLC, specializing in historical rehabilitation and urban revitalization. He was a member of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors from 2008 to 2014, serving as chairman in 2010 and 2012. Mr. Gecker has dedicated many years to community involvement through organizations including the Orchard House School Board, the Greater Richmond Partnership Board, and Bridging RVA.

Mr. Gecker is a graduate of Princeton University, where he received his degree in economics, the University of Southern California, where he received his masters of public administration, and William and Mary’s School of Law. He resides in Chesterfield County, where he and his wife raised four daughters.

Diane T. Atkinson was appointed to the Board of Education in 2012 for a four year term by Governor Robert F. McDonnell, and reappointed to a second four year term by Governor Terry McAuliffe in 2016. Mrs. Atkinson was elected by the Board to serve as its vice president in July 2017. She serves as chairman of the Board’s Committee on School and Division Accountability.

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.

Kim E. Adkins was appointed to the Board of Education by Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Ms. Adkins is the vice president and director of marketing for Carter Bank & Trust. Prior to this, she operated her own marketing communications firm, KEA Consulting Services LLC. Ms. Adkins is the former mayor of the City of Martinsville from 2010 to 2014. Additional work experience includes serving as executive director of the United Way of Henry County and Martinsville and West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board and president of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Adkins earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland and a certified publication specialist credential from George Washington University.

Francisco D. Durán was appointed to the Board of Education for a four year term in 2018 by Governor Ralph Northam.

Dr. Durán serves as the Chief Equity Officer for Fairfax County Public Schools. Dr. Durán has a diverse background in education of twenty-four years, beginning as a special education paraprofessional, teaching Spanish, social studies, language arts and serving as an activities director, athletics director, assistant principal, principal, regional superintendent, and a superintendent.

As the first in his family to graduate from college, Dr. Francisco Durán knows the importance and power of an education.Dr. Durán earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Education from the University of New Mexico, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Educational Administration from San Francisco State University, and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Organization and Leadership from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

Anne Holton was appointed to the Board of Education for a four year term in 2017 by Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Anne Holton helped integrate Virginia's schools as a child when her father was Virginia's governor in the early 1970's and has been a champion for public education ever since. Ms. Holton served as Virginia’s Secretary of Education from 2013-2016. She served as First Lady of Virginia from 2006-2010, during which time she worked to reform the foster care system in Virginia. From 1998 to 2005, she served as a Judge on the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for the City of Richmond, and was chief judge of the court from 2000 to 2003. Ms. Holton now serves as a visiting professor at George Mason University in the Schar School of Policy and Government and in the College of Education and Human Development.

Ms. Holton graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University and earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School. Ms. Holton and her husband, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, live in Richmond, VA. They have three adult children, all of whom attended Richmond Public Schools.

Elizabeth Vickrey Lodal was appointed to the Board of Education for a four year term in 2015 by Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Mrs. Lodal’s almost forty year career in public education included teaching history and English and Serving as Principal of The Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology, McLean High School, Langston Middle School, and Joyce Kilmer Middle School, all in Fairfax County.

Mrs. Lodal, who holds a B.A. degree from Rice University and a M.A. degree from The George Washington University, resides in Fairfax County with her husband Jan M. Lodal. They have two children and three grandchildren.

Keisha Pexton was appointed to the Board of Education for a four year in 2018 by Governor Ralph Northam.

Dr. Keisha Pexton is the director of learning & development innovation for Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). Dr. Pexton joined Newport News Shipbuilding in 1997 as an electrician in the company’s Apprentice School. After graduating from the advanced apprenticeship program as a production planner, she planned and scheduled for different specializations throughout the company, including carrier overhaul, new construction and facilities. Since then, Dr. Pexton has served in positions, including supervisor of advanced apprentice programs, manager of The Apprentice School’s athletics program, manager of strategic projects, and manager of business services and admissions.

Dr. Pexton earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and management from Regent University. She also earned a master’s degree in human resource development from George Washington University and a doctorate degree in strategic leadership from Regent University. Dr. Pexton resides in Hampton with her two sons.

Tamara K. Wallace was appointed to the Board of Education in 2017 by Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Dr. Wallace serves as the Associate Dean and Director of Field Experience for the College of Education and Human Development at Radford University. Prior to her selection as Associate Dean, Dr. Wallace taught in the elementary education program for eight years and was appointed to serve as the Assistant Director for the School of Teacher Education and Leadership during the 2013-2014 academic year. She began her career as an educator in Roanoke City, where she served for eight years, first as a middle school teacher and later as an assistant principal.

Dr. Wallace earned all of her degrees from Virginia Tech, including a B.A. in English and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction.

Jamelle S. Wilson was appointed to the Board of Education for a four year term in 2017 by Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Dr. Jamelle S. Wilson serves as the fifth dean of the University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies (SPCS). Prior to her appointment as dean, Dr. Wilson served as Superintendent of Schools for Hanover County, Virginia. Before her appointment as superintendent, Dr. Wilson worked in Hanover County Public Schools as a classroom teacher, a lead teacher, an assistant principal, a principal and an assistant superintendent. Dr. Wilson was the 2015 Region 1 Superintendent of the Year and currently serves on the Board of Governors of the International Baccalaureate Organization and is immediate past Chair of the Association Board of Directors of the YMCA of Greater Richmond.

Dr. Wilson earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English and a Master of Teaching (M.T.) from the University of Virginia, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in English, Writing and Rhetoric from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a doctorate (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, also from the University of Virginia.