Denise Banks

Denise Banks is the GRASP Advisor for:

Heritage High School - heritage@grasp4va.org

Menchville High School - menchville@grasp4va.org

Phoebus High School - phoebus@grasp4va.org

I am a retired biology teacher with a diverse background in education and skilled trades. Before earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Norfolk State University, I graduated from The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, now Huntington Ingalls Industries. I subsequently became a journeyman in heavy metal fabrication. I later earned a Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University.

Following my retirement from teaching, I immediately began working with students as a College and Career Specialist. Although I greatly enjoyed teaching, I found this role to be the most rewarding chapter of my career. I researched scholarship opportunities, guided students through scholarship and college applications, and assisted them with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). I also supported students who were uncertain about their plans after high school, helping them explore educational and career pathways that aligned with their interests and goals.

During my seven years in this position, I gained invaluable knowledge and discovered that helping students prepare for life after high school was truly my calling. Supporting young people as they made important decisions about their futures became one of the most meaningful highlights of my retirement