VELEKA for NORFOLK SCHOOL BOARD
An Open Letter to the Residents of Norfolk
Dear Norfolk Residents,
Norfolk is at an important moment.
The decisions made about Norfolk Public Schools in the coming years will shape opportunities for our students and the future of our city. Student achievement, teacher recruitment and retention, enrollment, facilities, fiscal responsibility, and community confidence require committed, consistent and courageous leadership.
I am Dr. Veleka S. Gatling, candidate for Norfolk School Board, Ward 2. I bring more than 30 years of experience in public education, including experience service as a teacher, principal, central-office leader, professor, and university administrator.
Throughout my 30 plus years in public education, I have demonstrated consistent, committed and courageous leadership. . .
Norfolk Born.
Hampton Roads Raised.
Meet Dr. Veleka S. Gatling
Veleka S. Gatling, Ph.D., is an accomplished educational leader with an extensive academic background, including a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech, a Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Early Childhood from James Madison University.
She holds specialized certifications as a Qualified Assessor for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and is a Certified Mediator. Dr. Gatling began her career in Norfolk Public Schools as an inclusion teacher (Little Creek) social studies teacher specialist and assistant principal (Larchmont Elementary) before transitioning into administrative roles in both the Norfolk and Williamsburg-James City County School Divisions.
Throughout her tenure in K-12 administration, Dr. Gatling served as the principal of Campostella Elementary in Norfolk and Elephant’s Fork Elementary in Suffolk, where she focused on implementing and executing school improvement plans and narrowing achievement gaps. She served as the Executive Director for Differentiated Academic Programs and Professional Learning (2013-2015) and the Executive Director of the office of Programs for Exceptional Children (OPEC) (2015-2017) for Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
In the latter role, she oversaw programs for gifted learners, students who needed special educational services, and twice-exceptional students. Her work in these roles involved a commitment to implementing strategic initiatives to ensure equitable representation for students in specialized academic programs, staff growth and development, and fiscal accountability.
Currently, Dr. Gatling serves as the Associate Vice President (AVP) for Community Relations at Old Dominion University, where she facilitates partnerships between the university and civic leaders. Her prior experience at ODU includes serving as the AVP for Equity and Inclusive Excellence and a lecturer in the Darden College of Education in the department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
She remains deeply engaged in the community as a board member for the Elizabeth River Trail, youth teacher leader for Ebenezer Baptist Church (VA Beach), campus advisor for the Kappa Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
At the state level, she has served as the Region 2 Representative for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), and she currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the State Board of Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. Dr. Gatling is also a member of the Hampton Roads CIVIC Leadership Class of 2025.
Grounded in community values and a commitment to service, Dr. Gatling has served as a bridge between education research and community needs; actively seizing opportunities that strengthen schools and create clear pathways for student success.
Veleka's Campaign Focus
Voice for
Student Success
Veleka is uniquely prepared to champion student success by leveraging more than two decades of regional experience that bridges classroom instruction and high-level educational policy. Her career has been rooted in inclusive, high-quality instruction and student-centered decision-making—ensuring every learner is supported, challenged, and prepared to thrive.
Voice for Community
Values
From her time as classroom teacher in Norfolk, to district, statewide, and university leadership, Veleka has consistently and intentionally partnered with parents, caregivers, educators, students, and community stakeholders, She is deeply committed to listening, dialogue discussing, collaborating to identify shared values and relevant data that inform decision-making and ensure that our schools build on their strengths reflect the strengths and address the needs of the communities they serve.
Voice for
Effective Governance
With experience at the building, district, and state levels, Veleka is uniquely prepared to contribute to effective school board governance. Her leadership focuses on clarifying priorities, monitoring progress, aligning resources and results, and communicating outcomes with transparency and accountability to support well-governed school systems.
Vote Veleka for Ward 2
Proven leadership. Deep educational expertise. A trusted voice for students, families, and educators across Norfolk.
Veleka is ready to serve Ward 2 on the Norfolk School Board.
An Open Letter to the Residents of Norfolk
Dear Norfolk Residents,
"Norfolk is at an important moment."
The decisions made about Norfolk Public Schools in the coming years will shape opportunities for our students and the future of our city. Student achievement, teacher recruitment and retention, enrollment, facilities, fiscal responsibility, and community confidence require committed, consistent and courageous leadership.
I am Dr. Veleka S. Gatling, candidate for Norfolk School Board, Ward 2. I bring more than 30 years of experience in public education, including experience service as a teacher, principal, central-office leader, professor, and university administrator.
Throughout my 30 plus years in public education, I have demonstrated consistent, committed and courageous leadership.
STUDENT OUTCOMES
As an inclusion teacher at Little Creek Elementary School, I took extra time to learn how to design instruction based on the unique needs of my students. I also worked after school with our psychologist and social worker to better understand the tests they administered and how to interpret the results,so I could assist my co-teacher in developing measurable goals.
As a History and Social Science Teacher Specialist, I had the unique opportunity to work with teachers across the school division to create and implement primary and secondary sources for teaching and learning during the first iteration of the Standards of Learning in 1995.
As an assistant principal at Larchmont Elementary School, I developed a Teacher Assistance Team (TAT), that served as a multidisciplinary resource for teachers to discuss the level of wraparound services a child needed to be successful in the classroom. I also taught third-grade summer school, during my tenure as an assistant principal to remain connected to the curriculum and the teaching of students.
As the principal at Elephant’s Fork Elementary, I used data to guide decision-making and led a school-improvement plan that resulted in increased student learning. We were successful in meeting federal and state standards in 2010.
My leadership later expanded to division-wide programs. As an Executive Director for Exceptional Children, I led a five-year plan for students with disabilities, implemented an alternative assessment for gifted identification, and provided leadership for gifted education, special education, remedial programs, English learners, and K–12 professional learning.
One opportunity I was especially proud of was taking a group of general, special education and gifted education teachers, building principals and parents to the National SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) Conference in Chicago. We learned together how to meet the needs of our twice-exceptional learners and produced a one-day conference for our community.
COMMUNITY VALUES
I believe strong schools require strong community partnerships. Throughout my career, I have worked with families, advisory committees, community organizations, and other partners to expand opportunities for students.
Today, as Associate Vice President for Workforce and Community Relations at Old Dominion University, I work with civic, nonprofit, governmental, community, and K–12 partners, connecting education to workforce and community priorities.
I believe meaningful engagement means listening, building trust, and ensuring that community voices help inform decisions.
EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE
As the Coordinator for Special Education in Suffolk Public Schools, I implemented system-wide programming and resources for students with autism in collaboration with our Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC). During my tenure in Suffolk, we experienced the reauthorization of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). I worked with school division teams, community stakeholders and our school board attorney to align policies and procedures. This work included creating materials and resources for our parents and advocates.
At this important moment for Norfolk, I am prepared to bring that experience, perspective, and commitment to the work of the
Norfolk School Board.
Dr. Veleka S. Gatling
Candidate for Norfolk School Board — Ward 2