Hailing originally from Long Island, New York, Juanita graduated from the State University of New York earning Dean’s List honors. From NY, she traveled to the University of Oklahoma earning a Master’s Degree in Communication Disorders, also receiving Dean’s List honors. In 1990, Juanita received a Certificate of Advanced Study in Administration and Supervision at Old Dominion University where she was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

She began her career in Hampton, VA as a teacher of children with hearing impairments quickly rising to become a Coordinator of Special Education and then Director of Special Education. In 1999, she became Director of Special Programs for the West Point, VA school division. Her responsibilities included special education services but also health services, transportation, school safety, drug prevention, technology, psychological services, home schooling, and Medicaid. Juanita has extensive training and experience in drug and violence prevention, grant writing, tiered intervention implementation, and strategic planning.

In 2008, Juanita was named Assistant Superintendent of Schools for West Point, the position she currently holds. The West Point public school division is one of the highest performing school divisions in the state of Virginia and is continually ranked by US News and World Report and other publications as one of the top school divisions in the nation.

Inducted into the Rotary Club of West Point in 1998, Juanita has served her club as Foundation chair for two years, Public Image chair for two years, Secretary for three years and Club President twice. In 2006-2007, her second term as President, she was named Club Rotarian of the Year and her club was named “Best Small Club” from the district.

Juanita has served District 7610 well since joining Rotary. She has received Foundation training in Evanston, IL, been a presenter and facilitator at district conferences and seminars, serviced as Public Image chair twice, chaired the Foundation Permanent Fund, served on the Strategic Planning committee, and served as Assistant Governor for three years. Juanita is a graduate of the Rotary Leadership Institute and qualified to serve as faculty for RLI.

Active in her community, Juanita co-chaired the annual West Point Christmas Homes Tour from 2004-2006. She currently serves as the secretary of the Historical Society of West Point.

Juanita is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society, a Benefactor, and a Bequest Society member.

Juanita and her husband Bill—also a Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society, a Benefactor, and a Bequest Society member—live in a wonderful old Victorian home, ca 1884, in West Point, VA.