Name: Lakeesha Atkinson
Age: 41

Biography: Lakeesha Atkinson embodies many notable qualities such as being a powerful and effective communicator, an enthusiastic director and coordinator, and many more. Atkinson is able to maintain all of these strong qualities while still being fair, wise, and confident. Born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, she was able to learn the ins and outs of her community and adopted a very personal connection to her peers. Despite all the odds against her, she was able to obtain her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School, also located in Portsmouth. She furthered her education and also graduated from Norfolk State University with a Bachelors in Science, majoring in Criminal Justice, and holding a minor in Sociology.

With a passion for giving back to her community, in 2013, she developed believeprayovercome.org with a purpose of organizing philanthropic efforts and a mission of advocacy, education, and spreading awareness about societal issues.

With her “Believe, Pray, Overcome” organization, she also included W.A.A.B., a program focused on prevention of bullying. W.A.A.B. stands for “We Are Against Bullying”. With her motivational character she has been invited to speak at elementary and middle schools in the Hampton Roads area as well as children’s banquets. She has organized a multitude of philanthropic efforts including VA to MI in which herself and Partner’s In The Community collected over 2000 water cases and delivered them in two semi-trucks to Flint, Michigan. The semi-trucks were sponsored by local celebrity rapper Pusha T and Pastor Melvin O Marriner of Grove Baptist Church (Portsmouth,VA)

Atkinson is a board member of the Portsmouth NAACP Chapter, Stop The Violence 757 and serves on the M.A.N (Men.Alleviating.Negativity) Foundation Board. She was elected to Portsmouth School Board on November 8, 2016, becoming the youngest. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the School Division.

Why are you running for this office?

Education is the cornerstone of every successful career and community, and it’s something I deeply believe in. As a proud product of Portsmouth Public Schools, I’ve experienced firsthand the impact that quality education can have on a person’s life. Now, I want to give back to the community that shaped me by being actively involved in the decision-making process that affects our students.

What is the top challenge facing Portsmouth Public Schools, and how would you address it?

The Hampton Roads area has a huge transplant population due to the military. With the influx of families, our schools are growing in population. To address this growth, a new school building is needed. We are addressing this issue by utilizing modular classrooms, but plans for new construction is what I will continue to advocate for.

How do you feel about the politicization of public education?

Let’s keep our focus where it belongs, on the success and well-being of our students and the dedicated professionals who support them every day.

How will you still value constituents with whom you disagree with?

Effective disagreements can lead to meaningful change when handled respectfully. While I welcome healthy debates and differing opinions, I firmly believe that ignorance, personal attacks, or anything that harms our children and educational environment has no place in our division and is counterproductive.

What is your view on the Governor’s Executive Order to ban cell phone use?

Cell Phone usage in schools is a valid concern, as it can be a significant distraction. However, it’s essential that our policies on this matter are clear. If a student’s phone is confiscated, there should be clear guidelines about who is responsible in the event of damage or theft. How are phones handled in an emergency situation and how are we keeping an open line of communication with parents? With that in mind, we need to evaluate whether our current communication platform meets our needs or if we should consider investing in a new app.