Meet the A4L Staff

Christine Everly

Chris Everly came to Arts for Learning in 2017 after retiring from a 30-year career at Bank of America where she held several executive positions in the areas of credit and operational risk. In this “second act” at A4L, she uses her business acumen to lead an organization that combines two of her passions: helping children, especially those who are disabled or disadvantaged, and the arts. Mrs. Everly received both her B.S. in business administration and her MBA from Temple University in her hometown of Philadelphia. A resident of Virginia Beach, she is the mother of two adult children.

Anna Heywood Green

Anna Heywood Green has provided committed leadership at Arts for Learning since 2004. Her expertise includes developing new artistic programming as she works with A4L staff and artists, educators, and community partners. She also oversees financial matters at Arts for Learning, including budgeting and payroll. A lifelong arts advocate who has been involved in various aspects of arts management since 1996, Mx. Green has attended both Tidewater Community College and the College of William & Mary.
As a volunteer, Mx. Green:

• Serves as a member of the Community Engagement Council for Norfolk Public Schools.
• Serves as secretary of the Nonprofit Advisory Group for Norfolk Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
• Served a three-year term on an advisory panel for the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
• Served on the External Review Committee that recommended revisions to the Fine Arts Standards of Learning adopted in 2020 by the Virginia Department of Education.

A resident of Norfolk, Mx. Green is the mother of a teenager.

Drew Lusher

Andrew Lusher joined Arts for Learning in September 2022 after six years teaching secondary vocal music in York County Schools and Virginia Beach City Public Schools. While in Virginia Beach, he was responsible for writing and updating the city-wide Middle School Vocal Music Curriculum. He holds a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in conducting from the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, Germany, where he also served as a professor. While earning a Bachelor of Music in music education from Westminster Choir College, he was a member of two choirs that performed at leading concert halls. A resident of Norfolk, Mr. Lusher is a member of the Virginia Chorale and sings for services at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and at Ohef Sholom Temple.

Aisha Noel

Since joining Arts for Learning in 2019, Aisha Noel has used her background in theater and nonprofit organizations to build relationships with our education and community partners. Prior to joining A4L, she worked at the Hampton-Newport News Community Service Board and the Boys and Girls Club of Virginia Peninsula, and she interned in arts administration at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia. Ms. Noel completed a two-year acting program at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and is currently pursuing two certifications in arts management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Among other theatrical credits, she has performed with the Williamsburg Players and in a production at the historic Attucks Theatre in Norfolk. Ms. Noel is a resident of Newport News.

David Powers joined Arts for Learning in August 2023, after a career highlighted by extensive experience in nonprofit management, marketing, and event planning. He has worked for Norfolk Botanical Garden and the National Gallery of Art among other organizations, and volunteered with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. A resident of Hampton Roads, Mr. Powers holds a B.A. in drama from the University of Virginia.

Stephanie Jackson

Stephanie Jackson joined Arts for Learning in September 2022, after working for Norfolk Public Libraries since 2015, most recently as the supervising librarian for the Richard A. Tucker Memorial Library. She has helped develop new programming and activities to engage library users of all ages, with a focus on teen programming related to art, STEM, and mental health. Ms. Jackson earned a master’s in library and information science from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in English with a minor in music from Hollins University. A pianist, writer, and visual artist, Ms. Jackson lives in Hampton Roads.

Katie Driskill joined the Arts for Learning team in September 2023, bringing with her years of experience planning, promoting, and conducting programs at Norfolk Public Library. An advocate for youth education and literacy, Ms. Driskill worked as a library associate, primarily at the Lafayette branch, where she focused on services for children and teens. She also served as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Norfolk for five years. Ms. Driskill earned an associate’s degree from Tidewater Community College and a B.S. in psychology from Old Dominion University. A resident of Virginia Beach, Ms. Driskill is the mother of a young son.