Verastine Wardlaw, also known as Vera, Miss V, Miss Pie, received her teacher certification from Chicago State University. She holds additional degrees from Northeastern Illinois University and UIC.

Vera began teaching in CPS in April 1968. She has had responsibilities as general education classroom teacher, special education teacher, special education case manager, special education program facilitator, assistant principal and principal.

Vera retired in November 2006 and founded Connections to the Future, Inc., because she agrees with Frederick Douglass that, “It is better to build strong children than it is to repair broken men.”