HR 296 — Commending John B. Gordon III.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 23104618D I HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.

296 NE OfferedN February 8, 2023 Commending John B.

––––––––––Agreed Tto Patrons––Jenkins,by Clark,the PriceHouse andof Scott,Delegates, D.L.February 13, 2023 R O WHEREAS, John B.

RGordon ––––––––––III, WHEREAS,a Johndedicated B.educator and the current superintendent of Suffolk L fullest potential in and out of the classroom;

GordonandCommonwealth III,the atools dedicatedthey educatorneed andto theachieve currenttheir superintendentWHEREAS, ofJohn SuffolkGordon Ois Publica Schools,passionate haslifelong givenlearner studentsand throughoutholds thedegrees Commonwealthfrom the toolsUniversity theyof needL toVirginia, achieveVirginia tDeirCommonwealth fullestUniversity, potentialand inVirginia andPolytechnic outInstitute ofand theState classroom;University;

andE WHEREAS,andWHEREAS, John Gordon isbegan ahis passionatecareer lifelongin learnereducation andin holds1995 degreesas froma theteacher University of andginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginiabasketball Polytechniccoach Institutein andD StateMaryland; UniverCity;

WHEREAS, John Gordon began his career in education in 1995 as a teacher and basketball coachEin Maryland;

and WHEREAS, in 2005, John Gordon was appointed as the dean of students at Meadowbrook High School and was subsequently promoted to assistant principal;

he later served as assistant principal of Monacan High School until 2009, when he became the first Black principal of James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg;

and9,and whenH he became the first Black principal of James Monroe High WHEREAS, during his tenure at James Monroe High School, John Gordon worked diligently to close2 achievements gaps and help minority students achieve success in advanced placement and honors classes;

in his final year as principal, the school was ranked in the top seven percent of highHschoolshigh schools in the nation by U.S.

and 2R WHEREAS, from 2014 to 2017, John Gordon served as director of administrative services for 6 Fredericksburg City Public Schools;

and WHEREAS, John Gordon joined Suffolk Public Schools as superintendent in October 2019 and has continued his commitment to excellence in service to the teachers, administrators, and young people and their families;

andtment to excellence in service to the teachers, administrators, and young people and WHEREAS, John Gordon is the author of The Teacher's Lounge:

The Real Role of Educators in :Your Schools, and the president of Schools That Inspire, LLC, an educational consulting firm;

35he shared his expertise with others in the field as an engaging speaker and presenter and has inspired future 36 generations of educators as an adjunct professor at Eastern Mennonite University, the University of /future 37 Mary Washington, and the University of Virginia;

now, therefore, be it / 38 RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That John B.

Gordon III hereby be commended for his 39 outstanding achievements as an educator and school administrator;

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to John B.