The Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) has appointed Chilesa J. Ready Esq. as its new legal counsel. With extensive experience and a diverse skill set, Attorney Ready brings a wealth of knowledge to the department.
Ready is an accomplished attorney, speaker, writer and educator who has served in various prominent legal roles. Prior to joining the Department of Education, she was a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Willard Proctor Jr. of the 5th Division Circuit Court in Arkansas, an assistant attorney general in the Civil Division of the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, and most recently, a staff attorney and VOCA director at Legal Services of the Virgin Islands.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science from Tougaloo College and her juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas William H. Bowen School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Arkansas, Arizona and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Her impressive career also includes time as a high school English teacher in San Antonio, Texas, where she focused on education while raising her family.
Ready is committed to service and community involvement. Her volunteerism includes work with Prison Fellowship, Hope Women’s Center, and the Family Resource Center. A staunch advocate for education, she believes in the power of commitment and hard work, and her personal motto, “Nothing is Impossible When You Take the Limits Off Your Life,” reflects her passion for making a positive impact.
Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington expressed her excitement about Ready’s appointment, saying, “We are pleased to welcome Attorney Ready to the Virgin Islands Department of Education. Her extensive legal experience, dedication to service and commitment to education will be invaluable as she works to support our mission of providing quality education and resources for students, employees and families across the Virgin Islands.”
The Virgin Islands Department of Education is confident that Chilesa J. Ready’s skills, experience and passion will contribute greatly to the department’s ongoing efforts to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for all stakeholders.
