Growing up in Danville for me was challenging but a great teaching tool. I grew up on the Northside of Danville, around the Washington Street and Claiborne Street area. My mom worked for a company call Richmond Cedar Works and my dad worked for a moving company Merchants Delivery to help make my life a little smoother. I didn’t have a lot as the kids today but I had lots of love to go with what I had. There were days they were working hard to try and provide for me and my family that I had opportunities to spend with my grandparents. I have to admit I was spoiled rotten by them and to this day by all…lol. I learned a lot just by spending time with them and listening to every piece of advice I could that would make me better. My grandparents and parents would drag me to church for Sunday school, Bible Study and Sunday Service. I do believe to this day this strong religious calling on my life is to some of their credit. On some days after school or church you could find me on the church steps in the community talking to others or listening as people talk to me, I really was an old soul.

To bring this up to now, the teaching tool is this I am currently a Pastor, teacher, coach, mentor and life coach. I have a strong love and desire for everyone that I come in contact with to make them have awareness: do not despise small beginnings and you can be anything you want to be (especially my youth). I love my community and promise to give back every service that was given to me. I have been blessed in many capacities to give back to my community. There have been opportunities afforded to me to work as hospital chaplain, on youth NAACP board, Boys and Girls Club, funeral homes, school system and housing boards, just to name a few. This is my way of giving back to my community and to build that strong unity and love dynamic that is need to help our city and region continue to prosper.

Dr. Stanley B. Jones is Superintendent with Danville Public Schools. Dr. Jones is in his 35th year of service as an educator, including one as

Executive Director of Instruction with Spotsylvania County Public Schools, four as Director of School Safety and Discipline Hearing Officer with Hanover County Public Schools, and seven years as principal of Lee‐Davis High School in Mechanicsville. His experience also includes six years as an assistant principal: three years in Hanover County at Patrick Henry High School; and, three years in Williamsburg‐James City County where he supervised a separate alternative education facility. Dr. Jones began his career in education at Radford University where he received his undergraduate degree in 1984 in Biology and Secondary Education. Upon completing his degree, he worked as an admissions counselor for Radford University while he earned his Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling.

Upon completion of his Master’s degree, Dr. Jones served as Director of Special Student Services with Radford University in the Student Affairs Division. In this role, he oversaw services for students with disabilities, adult students and non‐traditional student populations. Dr. Jones joined Lynchburg College in 1990 where he served as Director of Institutional Change. He has held adjunct teaching positions with Radford University, Lynchburg College, and Old Dominion University.

Dr. Jones earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in 2011. He believes that the educational leadership program at Virginia Tech provided excellent preparation for the challenges facing public schools.  He is an outspoken advocate of public schools and believes strongly that there is an abundance of talent among today’s youth that is often overlooked and under-appreciated.

Dr. Jones has served as Superintendent in Danville Public Schools since 2015.

Corey Williams is an English teacher at George Washington High School and also the founder & creative director of Rivertown, a local creative agency that provides marketing & media services to individuals and small businesses.

A Danville transplant & an Averett University alumnus, Corey received his B.S. in Psychology in May 2014. After graduating and serving a year as an intern through DRF, Corey relocated to Richmond, Virginia for, what he calls, a creative gap year.

While there, he focused on becoming a better artist, writer & photographer. In December 2016, Corey moved back to Danville and in May 2017, he graduated with his M.A. in English.

Upon moving back, Corey quickly got involved with several organizations including Danville After Hours Rotary & Middle Border Forward.

Corey takes great pride in living in this region & is proud to say that Danville is home. When he is not writing lesson plans or doing design work for clients, Corey enjoys running, exploring new cities and trying new food, coffee and bars.