Who Are We?
The Edenton-Chowan Educational Foundation is made up of a group of dedicated volunteers from every walk of life. We are community members who work to ensure our students have the best educational experiences possible, through raising awareness of needs and funding for grants, scholarships, and field trips.
Dr. Todd Korbusieski, Chairman
"Dr. K" earned a degree in Bio-Chemistry at Skidmore College before obtaining a Masters in Science Teaching from Boston College and, eventually, a doctorate from ECU in Education Leadership. During his career, he served for over 21 years as a school administrator in Edenton-Chowan Public Schools. He and his wife, Wendy, and their children have lived in Edenton for almost 30 years. Todd says, "Serving on this board allows me a way to continue to advocate for the students and staff of Edenton-Chowan Schools. Quality education is a necessity for our students to succeed in the future".
Michele Lewis, Vice Chair
Michele Lewis currently holds multiple professional positions, including Project Manager for Inverness Technologies, Chief Operating Officer for Rowan Initiatives & Consultants, and President of the Kristopher Fielding Lewis Foundation. This foundation is dedicated to awarding funding and scholarships in honor of her son. In 2017, Michele and her husband George decided to make Edenton/Chowan County our home. Since then, they have become active members of the community and have found joy in volunteering with local organizations, serving on the Steamers housing board, and hosting several players each year. Michele is also an active participant in her church community. Michele says, "I am thrilled to be a part of the Edenton-Chowan Educational Foundation, an organization that strives to enhance the educational opportunities available to our community's children. By making wise decisions regarding financial support, we can ensure that our children receive a high-quality education that equips them with vital knowledge, critical thinking skills, and a broader perspective. This, in turn, can break the cycle of generational limitations and pave the way for a brighter future for our kids. I firmly believe that when we provide additional resources, we empower our teachers to touch each child's learning needs, which in turn educates and empowers our children. A strong foundation in subjects such as mathematics, language arts, and the sciences encourages children to pursue their interests and aspirations, develop their curiosity and love of learning, and contribute positively to their community. Therefore, by supporting additional educational funding through the ECEF, we contribute to being a catalyst for a brighter future for individuals, families, and our community".
Sarah Phillips, Treasurer
Sarah is a native of Manteo. After graduating from Manteo High School in 2007, she attended East Carolina University, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 2010 and a Master of Science in Accounting in 2011. Sarah relocated to Edenton in 2015 and has worked in public accounting since, obtaining her Certified Public Accountant license in 2019. She shares two young children with her husband and looks forward to playing an active role in the betterment of educational opportunities in the Edenton-Chowan area.
Joy Harvill, Secretary
Joy is the proud daughter of a teacher and mother to two children who grew up in Edenton-Chowan Public Schools. She obtained a Marketing degree from Clemson University, where she met her husband, Brian. It has been her honor to serve this community in various roles, such as PTA President, working with children at Edenton Baptist Church, and as both the Chair and Executive Director for the Edenton Historical Commission. She sees her role with the Foundation as her greatest opportunity yet to have a positive and lasting effect on our children's lives and the future of Chowan county.
Keith Ammons
As a lifelong supporter of education, both public and private, Keith hopes to continue to promote all forms of education. He says, "The foundational early years of a child's life are very important, and often times the key to success in later life. Providing all children with learning opportunities is vital to the success of our society. Ensuring Children have books to read, teachers to teach them and safe environments to learn and grow, is at the heart of my service". Keith knows that teaching and managing our schools are not easy and that we need to support our teachers and administrators, which is exactly what we do through the Edenton-Chowan Educational Foundation.
Sherronne Battle
A native Washingtonian and a product of the District of Columbia's Public Schools, Sherronne holds a degree in psychology from the University of the District of Columbia. She has resided in Edenton for 22 years and has been a realtor, along with serving on many committees in the community, and presently serves on the Edenton-Chowan School Board. Believing that the future rests greatly in the hands of capable and knowledgeable young people, she continues to focus on attracting great teachers, improving school resources, and enabling our community to build on the shoulders of the future leaders of Edenton. She is excited about this opportunity to participate with the ECEF as it coordinates support to provide additional resources to our local public schools.
Anthony Downing
Pastor Anthony Downing is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and is in full time ministry at Shalom International Church alongside his wife, Pastor Jonthan Downing. God has so graciously blessed them with three wonderful sons, Anthony Jr., Kevin, and Maurice, three beautiful daughter-in-love, and eight grandchildren. "Coach D" can also be found working with athletes from multiple sports at John A. Holmes High School.
Martha Foster
As an educator for the last 20+ years, and currently teaching at Chowan Middle School, Martha Foster has seen first-hand the positive impact a committed group such as this can have in helping teachers, students and parents provide an atmosphere that promotes excitement in learning. Her enthusiasm is exceeded only by her valuable input.
Lee Lolkema
A retired schoolteacher and public-school administrator, Lee Lolkema has been involved in children's programming at the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library in Edenton for the past 20 years . She's always been passionate in availing children the best of educational and cultural experiences. By working with the Edenton-Chowan Educational Foundation, Lee hopes to continue to continue doing just that. In 2000, Lee and her husband, Peter, moved to NC from the Atlanta area are happy to be active members of our community.
Kelly O’Hara
Kelly O’Hara strongly believes that motivated children are the future of this world. She was born and raised in Virginia and fell in love with education during her junior year of high school. She credits the outstanding teachers who taught her discipline and hard work are the keys to success. In 2013, she graduated from Arizona State University with a BS in Communication and currently works for a local accounting firm. Kelly says, “I am grateful to be part of such a dedicated foundation that strongly supports our teachers and students!”
Brian White
Brian White is the Director of Strategic Operations for ECU Health at two community hospitals in northeastern North Carolina, including ECU Health Chowan Hospital in Edenton and ECU Health Bertie Hospital in Windsor. He holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Before his career in healthcare, he worked for NASCAR public relations. Brian is the chairman of the Chowan County Board of Adjustments and past president of the Edenton Lions Club. He currently serves as Vice-Chair for the College of the Albemarle Foundation and United Way of North Carolina in Cary. Additionally, he serves on various other boards and committees in the area. On weekends he is often at two nearby motorsports complexes, including Langley Speedway in Hampton, VA and Dixieland Speedway in Elizabeth City, NC, providing play by play commentary. Brian and Casey have two daughters, Mackenzie, 12 and Alexis, 8, who both attend Edenton-Chowan Schools.
Victoria Winslow
Victoria is a native of Belvidere with ties to Chowan County and education through her mother. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting with a Finance minor from Meredith College in 2016 and returned that fall for graduate school, obtaining a Master in Business Administration degree with a concentration in Project Management. A Senior Accountant at Sykes & Company, P.A., Victoria enjoys spending time with her dogs and family during her spare time. Active in her church, Victoria also enjoys serving in various roles at Hobbsville Baptist Church including Treasurer, Vacation Bible School Director, and as a Sunday School Teacher for the Junior Class. As a member of the Edenton-Chowan Educational Foundation, Victoria is excited to help positively impact the education experience for the students and teachers within the Edenton-Chowan School System.
Dr. Brooke Rich
After earning a Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina State University in 2007, Brooke went on to graduate from the UNC Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy in 2011 with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Many community members will remember her from her days working as a staff pharmacist and pharmacy manager at Walgreens. A strong supporter of education, Brooke began her involvement with local schools as an active volunteer at White Oak and D.F. Walker, where her children attend. She has filled many roles, including serving on the School Improvement Team and working one on one with students as a reading buddy, so she has witnessed firsthand the critical role that education plays in the lives of students. As the Executive Director of ECEF, Brooke is committed to finding ways to support educational opportunities by striving to ensure every student has the resources they need to succeed and thrive in their educational journey.
