THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 6, 1997 TAG: 9702060347
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 71 lines
Retired educator Alveta Green sees her new seat on the School Board as another step in a career of keeping an eye on the city's children.
Being one of seven board members responsible for a $200 million school budget and about 36,000 students can be heavy stuff.
But, as 62-year-old Green sees it, she handled the ultimate responsibility day after day, caring for kids during 36 years of teaching.
``My husband and I have always had a commitment to family and community,'' said Green, who retired in 1992. ``We've always thought you can't sit back and say `maybe someone else will change it.' You always have to initiate something.
``(Being on the board) can be daunting but I'm excited about it.''
The former elementary school teacher was sworn in almost two weeks ago. Many feel she'll bring to the conference table what she's brought to her rooms for years: a belief that all kids can learn and that schools work better when teachers, administrators, parents and the community work together.
``Being a former educator and a retired employee, she will bring another perspective to the School Board,'' said board chairman Ulysses Turner.
``She will be invaluable to the board.''
Over the years, Green has cultivated a reputation for being a creative and caring educator. When her students wrote stories, their tales might appear on contruction-paper tennis shoes, stuffed with real socks, and taped on the wall. To improve the oral skills of her students, Green would convert a refrigerator box into a television and students would get into the box and pretend to be evening news anchors.
Sometimes getting her students through school meant keeping a comb and brush in her desk and taking care of children who came to school unkempt.
``I've always held high the principles of self-esteem,'' Green said.
``If kids could feel good about themselves, they could have a positive outlook on school and life.''
Many are happy to see her on the board.
``She's a nice, warm caring person, willing to help out in any way,'' said Cynthia Watson, lead administrator at Granby High School II (the annex to Granby High while the main building is renovated).
Green started teaching in Norfolk in 1956, after a lifelong dream of wanting to be a teacher. She taught elementary school in seven of the city's schools, weathering some of Norfolk Schools' most turbulent shifts through segregation, integration and move to community schools.
``I never thought about leaving Norfolk,'' Green said. ``Norfolk is my home. I love it here.''
In the background, she and her husband Walter, a retired Norfolk Schools teacher and counselor, worked politically, hosting mini civil rights meetings at their home with political activists like the late Evelyn Butts and Joe Jordan.
She's worked as a consultant with some Norfolk State University graduate classes and mentors a Lindenwood Elementary student.
Green said her her first two weeks as a board member have been difficult.
Her son Walter H. Green Jr., a Maury High School teacher and coach, was charged in January with three counts of taking indecent liberties with a female student.
But she's determined not to let the issue distract from her commitment as a board member.
Congratulatory cards for her appointment crowd her living room piano along with cards saying, ``Keep your head up!''
``All of this support and outpouring has been heart-jerking at times,'' Green said.
``I'm truly thankful.'' ILLUSTRATION: MOTOYA NAKAMURA/ The Virginian-Pilot
Alveta Green, a retired schoolteacher and community activist, has
joined the Norfolk School Board. She stopped teaching in 1992.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK SCHOOL BOARD