Meet the School Board Members




Dr. Eli C.S. Jamison, Chair

Dr. Jamison was appointed to serve her second three-year term as a School Board Trustee from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. She was elected as Chair of the School Board in 2022. She is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech. Additionally, she has served on a variety of community boards in Roanoke and has been a consultant to the regional business community in the fields of leadership and organizational management for almost 20 years. Dr. Jamison earned a bachelor of arts from James Madison University, a master's in business administration from Vanderbilt University, and a Ph.D. from the ASPECT program at Virginia Tech. She has more than 15+ years of experience in university instruction and administration and has worked with Radford University, Hollins University, and Virginia Tech. During her terms on the board, she has served on the Board's Policy and Governance Committee, the Equity Task Force, Naming Committee, and Career and Technical Education Committee. She currently serves on the Transition and Restoration Task Force and planning for the reopening of schools. Dr. Jamison and her husband, Mark, are the proud parents of two Patrick Henry High School graduates. 

Mailing Address: 2424 Stanley Avenue, Roanoke 24014
Phone: 540-632-0534 (home)

Joyce W. Watkins, Vice Chair

Mrs. Watkins was appointed to serve her second three-year term as a School Board Trustee from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2025. She was elected as Vice Chair of the School Board in 2022. Mrs. Watkins has worked in the insurance industry for 29 years and is the Director of Medicare Sales at Anthem. Mrs. Watkins is a member of the City’s Youth Services Citizen Board and has previously served as the PTA President at Lucy Addison Middle School and William Fleming High School. Mrs. Watkins is a lifetime member of the NAACP, volunteers in the community regularly and has founded two youth support groups. She is married to Robert Watkins (22 years). They have two grown sons and two grandchildren.

Mailing Address: 820 Brownwood Drive, NW Roanoke VA 24017
Phone: 540-915-9765 (mobile)

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13145, Roanoke VA 24031
Phone: 540-853-2381 (message)



Diane M. Casola

Mrs. Casola was appointed to serve her first three-year term as a School Board Trustee from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024. She brings unique qualifications to the Board. Mrs. Casola is a retired educator, having served as a teacher and department chair at Patrick Henry High School for 13 years, and she is a former attorney at Woods Rogers, representing businesses in labor and employment matters. Mrs. Casola earned her master’s degree in Instruction and Assessment from the University of Virginia and her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. She earned a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in English from Gettysburg College. In her application for appointment, Mrs. Casola states, "Because I have been a professional educator in Roanoke City, a parent of a student who attended 13 years at RCPS, a resident of Roanoke City for 32 years, and a management side labor and employment lawyer with almost 20 years of practice with Woods Rogers in Roanoke City, I have experience working with all the stakeholders that are vital to the current and future success of our schools. The breadth and depth of my experience makes me uniquely qualified for the Roanoke City School Board. I welcome the opportunity to serve"  Mrs. Casola and her husband, Chip, have one daughter, who is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School and the University of Virginia. 

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13145, Roanoke VA 24031
Phone: 540-853-2381 (message)

Mark K. Cathey

Mr. Cathey was appointed to serve his third three-year term as a School Board Trustee from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024. Mr. Cathey is an attorney and has been with Glenn Robinson Cathey Memmer & Skaff since 1997. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his law degree from the Washington and Lee University School of Law. Mr. Cathey served on the Virginia State Bar Council from 2011 until 2016 and served as president of the Roanoke Bar Association in 2009-10. He has served on the TRUST House Board of Directors, the Roanoke City Board of Fire Appeals, and on the Executive Board of the Blue Ridge Mountains Boy Scouts Council. Prior to his service on the School Board, Mr. Cathey served as a Barrister Book Buddy, a Roanoke Bar Association Mentor at Fairview Elementary, a Youth Court judge at both high schools, and a Rule of Law Project instructor. During his first six years as a School Board Trustee, Mr. Cathey served as the Board’s representative to the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School Regional Board, of which he now serves as Chairman, served on the Equity Task Force, the Joint Services Committee, Superintendent Evaluation Committee, and Audit Committee, and served as Vice Chairman of the Board in 2017-18 and as Chairman of the Board in 2019-20. Mr. Cathey and his wife, Katherine Londos, have two children, who are graduates of Patrick Henry High School and of the University of Virginia.   

Mailing address: 400 Salem Avenue, Suite 100, Roanoke 24016
Phone: 540-767-2205 (office)



Michael L. Cherry, II

Mr. Cherry was appointed to his first three-year term as a School Board Trustee from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024. He currently serves as the Director of Operations for Brightview Health in the City of Roanoke serving citizens with opioid addictions. Mr. Cherry holds a Master of Arts in Human Services, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and is pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry from Virginia University of Lynchburg. He has eight years of experience in Roanoke City law enforcement, both juvenile and adult corrections, and is the current youth director for the Garden of Prayer #7. Additionally, Mr. Cherry has served as a resident advisor, campus ministry leader, and student leadership and engagement coordinator at Ferrum College. In his application for appointment to the School Board, Mr. Cherry stated, "My goal and philosophy of education is with the right support, every child succeeds, and when the child succeeds, every family wins." His personal motto in life is "not self, but others." Mr. Cherry and his wife, Brittany, have twin daughters, who attend Highland Park Elementary School.

Mailing Address: 10 Church Avenue SW #308, Roanoke 24011
Phone: 540-819-1425 (mobile)

Natasha N. Saunders

Ms. Saunders was appointed to serve her first three-year term as a School Board Trustee from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. Ms. Saunders earned a bachelor of science from North Carolina A&T State University, a master's in human environmental sciences from the University of Kentucky, and a certificate from the London College of Fashion. As she indicates, she is a "proud product" of Roanoke City Public Schools, having attended Fairview and Roanoke Academy elementary schools, Breckinridge Middle School, and graduating from William Fleming High School. Ms. Saunders is the Director of Multicultural Affairs at Roanoke College and has served in this role since September 2019. Her civic activities include serving as co-founder and CEO of TRIFECTA, Inc., a group that drives social change through creative avenues as innovators in youth empowerment and community sustainability throughout the Roanoke and New River valleys. She is also a member of the Lucy Addison Middle School PTSA, the Dumas Hotel Legacy Group, the Task Force to Reduce Gun Violence, and the Roanoke Chapter of the North Carolina A&T Alumni Chapter.

Mailing Address: 1622 Norris Drive, Roanoke VA 24017
Phone: 540-815-3257 (mobile)

Board members receive email at [email protected]