School Board annual organization meeting held; Board chair and vice chair elected

The Hampton School Board held its annual organization meeting on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at Jones Magnet Middle School.

 

As a part of the procedural activities of the meeting, the School Board elects one of its members as chairman and one member as vice chairman. Dr. Reginald Woodhouse was elected to serve his first term as chair and Stephanie Jackson Afonja was elected to serve her first term as vice chair. Woodhouse is serving his first year of his third term on the School Board. Jackson Afonja is presently serving her first year of her second term.  

 

Woodhouse, who was nominated by Dr. Richard Mason, is a senior pastor at First Baptist Church Jefferson Park. He holds a bachelors in urban ministry management, Geneva College; masters in divinity, Virginia Union University; masters in theology, Roanoke Theological Seminary; is a doctorate of ministry, Providence Bible College & Theological Seminary; and has a doctorate of healthcare administration.

Woodhouse thanked Dr. Mason for his nomination for the position of chair and thanked the Board for this opportunity to serve in this position and shared an excerpt from an inspirational book. He then closed with “it is an has always been about the students, teachers, staff, and the school division.”

 

Dr. Tina Banks-Gray nominated Afonja for the position of vice-chair.

 

Jackson Afonja is the owner of Family Restoration Services, LLC and Holistic Family Solutions, INC. She holds a BS in psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University; MA in clinical/community psychology, Norfolk State University; and has completed post-graduate courses in professional counseling at Liberty University.

“I am profoundly grateful to serve as vice chair of this extraordinary board,” said Jackson Afonja. “It has been both a privilege and an honor to step into this role and I am deeply humbled by your trust and confidence in me.”

In addition to electing the chair and vice chair, the Board set their meeting calendar through December 2025, and appointed Joy Charbonneau as clerk of the School Board and Elizabeth Penny as deputy clerk. The Board took action on other items including the appointment of Kellie Goral as the Freedom of Information (FOIA) officer and the appointment of deputy superintendent and chief of staff Dr. John Caggiano as the superintendent’s designee to represent the superintendent in his absence.