Personal
Luther, Marjorie, Kevin, Robin, Wendy, and April
Born August 1, 1953, I grew up in Bennett’s Creek. My home was situated on Knotts Creek directly across the creek from what is known today as Harbourview. My parents, Luther and Marjorie Alston, were excellent role models for being civic minded citizens. My father was the Driver Cub Scouts Leader, a member of the Ruritans, and the Bennett's Creek Volunteer Rescue Squad where he called bingo games until his health prevented him from returning. My mother was a member of the Bennett's Creek Rescue Squad Ladies Auxiliary and would help prepare the meals for the Ruritan Club meetings and cakes and pies for rescue squad bake sales. My three older sisters, (April, Robin, and Wendy) would also help with the bake sales. Robin eventually joined the auxiliary and was elected to office. I joined the squad at the age of sixteen and worked as a dispatcher and an Emergency Medical Technician into my college years.
I attended Driver Elementary and John Yeates High School. While at John Yeates I played football and participated in track where I threw the shot put and discus. After graduating in 1971, I attended James Madison University where I met my future wife, Sandra. After graduating in May of 1975, Sandra and I got married on June first. We returned to Harrisonburg, in August so that Sandra could complete her degree. Not able to find a teaching job, I accepted a full time job as a Cook's Assistant in the dining hall at James Madison and worked part time evenings at Leggett's Department Store and substituted as a teacher on my days off. After Sandra graduated in May, we returned home and I accepted a teaching job at John Yeates and Sandra went to work at Leggett's Department Store in Downtown Suffolk.
In November of 1981, our daughter, Ashley was born. Like her father, she attended school in Suffolk. She attended Elephant's Fork Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle School, and Nansemond River High School where she graduated as Valedictorian in 1999. During that time I moved from John Yeates to Suffolk High as head football coach(1984-1990), received my Master's Degree in Urban Education from Norfolk State University(1990), and moved to Nansemond River as Athletic Director/Assistant Principal (1990-1998).
In 1999, I was named Principal of Forest Glen Middle School(1999-2003). Forest Glen went from provisional accreditation to full accreditation in two years and remained fully accredited during my tenure. I then took the job as Middle School Coordinator(2003-2005) where 50% of the middle schools were accredited. When I was named Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services in 2005, all four middle schools were fully accredited.
I attended Driver Elementary and John Yeates High School. While at John Yeates I played football and participated in track where I threw the shot put and discus. After graduating in 1971, I attended James Madison University where I met my future wife, Sandra. After graduating in May of 1975, Sandra and I got married on June first. We returned to Harrisonburg, in August so that Sandra could complete her degree. Not able to find a teaching job, I accepted a full time job as a Cook's Assistant in the dining hall at James Madison and worked part time evenings at Leggett's Department Store and substituted as a teacher on my days off. After Sandra graduated in May, we returned home and I accepted a teaching job at John Yeates and Sandra went to work at Leggett's Department Store in Downtown Suffolk.
In November of 1981, our daughter, Ashley was born. Like her father, she attended school in Suffolk. She attended Elephant's Fork Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle School, and Nansemond River High School where she graduated as Valedictorian in 1999. During that time I moved from John Yeates to Suffolk High as head football coach(1984-1990), received my Master's Degree in Urban Education from Norfolk State University(1990), and moved to Nansemond River as Athletic Director/Assistant Principal (1990-1998).
In 1999, I was named Principal of Forest Glen Middle School(1999-2003). Forest Glen went from provisional accreditation to full accreditation in two years and remained fully accredited during my tenure. I then took the job as Middle School Coordinator(2003-2005) where 50% of the middle schools were accredited. When I was named Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services in 2005, all four middle schools were fully accredited.