Patricia Popp has spent 28 years working in the office of the state coordinator for the education of homeless children and youth; was past president of NAEHCY; has 13 years of experience working on educational stability of students in foster care; 10 years as a teacher for students with disabilities; was past president of the Virginia Council for Learning Disabilities; holds a B.S. in elementary and Special Education; a M.Ed. in Learning Disabilities; and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership with an emphasis in Special Education.