Tamara L. Shewmake is a native of the City of Portsmouth, VA. She graduated from I. C. Norcom High School in 2000, where she received her Advanced Diploma. She is a graduate of Norfolk State University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, and graduated Cum Laude with a M.B.A in 2010. Tamara is the wife of Joshua Shewmake and mother of three beautiful children Nia, Nyle and Nyla.
Honorable Shewmake spent her early years in the field of banking and later transitioned into the federal and local government sector. During her time as a Special Investigator, she obtained a Top Secret Clearance with the Office of Personnel Management. Currently, she is the Chief Administrator of Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office under the Stephanie N. Morales Administration.
Honorable Shewmake served as the youngest board member of Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia Executive Board from 2009-2013 and President of Center for Aging (CFA) Housing from 2011-2013. Currently, she is the Founder of the I. C. Norcom Alumni Cheerleading Association, Portsmouth Board Member and Executive Committee member of Hampton Roads Chamber, Portsmouth PTA Council, Cradock Lions Club, Virginia Young Democrats, Portsmouth Democratic Committee and the Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee.
On November 6, 2018, Honorable Tamara L. Shewmake was elected to the City of Portsmouth School Board. In fact, she was the only woman listed on the City of Portsmouth ballot to win a seat that year. Early literacy, financial literacy and vocational training was her campaign platform, and she is dedicated to every entity being improved upon while elected. She is committed to ensuring an equal and high quality education for all children throughout the City of Portsmouth.
“More often than not, financial education is learned through economic crisis, rather than taught to prevent a personal fiscal calamity.” ~ Tamara L. Shewmake
*School Board members are individually elected by a vote of eligible citizens. Individual members have no authority or duties except as may be assigned to them by the School Board as a whole. Information provided in the School Board member biographies is provided by the member and does not necessarily represent the position of Portsmouth Public Schools or the School Board as a whole.