For his tireless advocacy of public education and his dedication and outstanding service as a teacher, former VBEA president Dominic Melito was honored with the Virginia Beach Education Association’s 2016 Friend of Education Award during a June 8 ceremony at Kellam High School.
Melito, who also teaches at Kellam, is the immediate past president of the VBEA, having served from 2008 until 2012.
“The association is my passion,” Melito said. “Outside of my students, the next best thing to being a teacher is to support the association. Our number one job is to make life better for our students and provide the education and funding necessary to achieve all the dreams of our students. And I have found that the best way to do that is through the work of the association.”
Watch: Trenace Riggs awards Dominic Melito the Friend of Education Award
VBE
A president Trenace Riggs praised Melito’s dedication to teaching and to his students. Whenever she has come across one of his former students, to a person they have said he was their favorite teacher.
Outside the classroom, Melito has been an outspoken supporter of the association as well as political candidates who support public education.
“Above and beyond being an exemplary Virginia Beach City Public Schools teacher, this person has led and championed our association and its causes,” Riggs said. “He has opened the door to a more positive working relationship with the School Board and administration.
“And, in every election year, he has been a tireless advocate for public education and for the candidates who support it. It is through his robust efforts that we have many friends of education across the spectrum.”
Whole Village Awards
More than 20 businesses, organizations and community groups received Whole Village Awards during the VBEA’s Year-End Honors ceremony at Kellam High School on June 8. They were recognized for having provided extraordinary support to students and schools within the Virginia Beach City Public School division.
Honoring of VBEA Retirees
Also at the ceremony, members of the VBEA who are retiring this year were honored. They have had an outstanding career of serving the students of Virginia Beach City Public Schools and take with them a collective, and astounding 1,531 years of experience with them as they have played a key role in making our city’s schools among the best in the state and country.