Meet Antoinette Kahan

Educator.
Program Builder.
Lifelong VB Resident.

44 years of service to students, families, and the healthcare community of Virginia Beach.

  • Dental Assisting Program Director

  • VBCPS 2005–2018 Registered Dental Hygienist

  • 44 Years3× VBCPS Teacher of the Year

  • Parent, Volunteer & PTA Leader,

  • VBCPS Virginia Beach Resident for Decades

  • BA in Philosophy, Old Dominion University

Thank you for your interest in my candidacy for the VBCPS School Board. This website is a place to learn about my background, my priorities for our schools, and my commitment to thoughtful non-partisan leadership. I believe strong public education depends on open communication, careful decision-making, and a shared commitment to student success. I invite you to explore, ask questions, and be part of the conversation about the future of our schools.

-Antoinette Kahan for School Board District 6

Antoinette Kahan was the Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center’s Dental Assisting Program Director from 2005–2018. Since its inception in August 2005, she wrote the curriculum, established the clinic, and coordinated many community service dental projects for the dentally disadvantaged in the area. Prior to teaching Dental Assisting, she was a 25-year veteran of dentistry as a registered dental hygienist, co-owner of A & A Pro-Den-Temps, Inc., and manager of Strawbridge Dental Associates.

Mrs. Kahan was awarded the Distinguished Teacher Award for the 2010–2011 school year and was the 2011–2012 and 2015–2016 Teacher of the Year recipient. She pioneered the pilot program for a partnership with the Virginia Beach Department of Dental Public Health to combine resources to more effectively and efficiently serve the dental needs of the Tech Center students and gave her dental assisting students valuable chairside experience with the dentist. The partnership won the Outstanding Partnership Award for the City of Virginia Beach in April 2014 and was featured at the National Oral Health Conference: The Nuts and Bolts of Programs that Work.

The program won the Region 2 CTE Program Award, Creating Excellence 2015, for exceptional and exemplary student career development. She was one of five women featured in the “Passion for Dentistry” summer issue of the Incisal Edge, honoring women in dentistry.

Mrs. Kahan was the president for the Oral Health Improvement Coalition of South Hampton Roads (OHIC), following a six-year position as the chair for the Patient Education Committee. She received her Certificate in Dental Hygiene from Howard University in 1981 and her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Old Dominion University in 2008.

She has been married to her dentist husband for 44 years. Through OHIC they worked together to offer free dental services to the Tidewater area’s dentally uninsured.

Record of Achievement

2011
Distinguished Teacher of the Year
Virginia Beach City Public Schools

2015
CTE Creating Excellence Award
Exceptional Student Career Development

2015
“Passion for Dentistry” Feature
Incisal Edge Magazine — Women in Dentistry

2016
Teacher of the Year
Virginia Beach City Public Schools

2011
Distinguished Teacher of the Year
Virginia Beach City Public Schools

2014
Outstanding Model Partnership Award
City of Va Beach — VBDPH Partnership

Antoinette’s Professional Summary:  

Registered Dental Hygienist 1981-2025

  • 44 years of experience in various types of private and capitation practices

  • Dental Assisting Program Director, Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center 2005-2018

  • Wrote the curriculum, established the clinic, and coordinated community service dental projects for the dentally underserved 

  • Established a partnership with Virginia Beach Dental Public Health to provide dental service to eligible students within the school system

  • Dental Lead Teacher for VA DOE to address VA Board of Dentistry Rules and Regulations

  • Competitive Event Manager for SkillsUSA and HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America)

Oral Health Improvement Coalition of South Hampton Roads 2006-2015

  • President: Presided over a board of dentists, hygienists, community organizers, and public health officials to coordinate Dental Access Days

  • Education Chairperson: Coordinated patients education activities at Dental Access Days, joined efforts with the local dental assisting society to provide continuing education courses to DA’s, LPN’s, CNA’s, RN’s, and assisted living facility staff members

Public Speaking:

  • National Oral Health Conference: Nuts and Bolts Community Programs that Work 

  • Health Occupation Students of America National Student Leadership Conference

  • Virginia Health and Medical Science Educators of America Summer Conference 

Education:

  • 1981 Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Howard University, Washington DC 

  • 2008 BA in Philosophy, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 

Accomplishments:

  • 2011 Distinguished Teacher of the Year (VBCPS)

  • 2012 Teacher of the Year (VBCPS)

  • 2014 Outstanding Model Partnership Award for the City of Virginia Beach

  • 2015 Career and Technical Education Creative Excellence Award

  • 2015 Team Clean: Passion for Dentistry featured in Incisal Edge

  • 2016 Teacher of the Year (VBCPS)

Professional Affiliations:

  • Regional II Chair Virginia Health and Medical Science Educators Association

  • American Dental Hygienists Association