More than 400 attendees were present to celebrate the announcement of this year’s Virginia Superintendent of the Year, Dr. John B. Gordon III.
Dr. Gordon, Superintendent of Suffolk Public Schools, was presented with the award during the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS) Awards Luncheon today, Monday, April 27, in Roanoke. VASS officers and presidents of several major state education organizations participated in the selection process.
“On behalf of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, our deepest congratulations go to Suffolk Public Schools Superintendent Dr. John Gordon on being named the 2027 Virginia Superintendent of the Year,” says VASS President and Portsmouth Public Schools Superintendent Elie Bracy III. “A passionate leader who brings great enthusiasm and energy to his role, Dr. Gordon is a proven advocate for children. He works each day to ensure that every student has the best educational environment in which to learn and grow. I have had the good fortune of serving in a neighboring division with Dr. Gordon throughout his tenure in Suffolk, so I can personally attest to his enduring desire to see his students, staff, and schools succeed. He is a collaborative and thoughtful leader who will no doubt do a remarkable job representing Virginia as he moves on to the national competition.”
Dr. Gordon was appointed Superintendent of Suffolk Public Schools in 2019, bringing more than 27 years of experience in public education across Maryland and Virginia.
Dr. Gordon has received national recognition, including being named a Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association and a Distinguished Alumni honoree by Virginia Tech. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Tech, and continues to lead with a focus on collaboration, equity, and inspiring students and educators to reach their full potential.
Dr. Gordon began his career in 1995 as a substitute teacher and basketball coach on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He taught at both the elementary and secondary levels in Maryland and Virginia, earning a reputation for energetic, engaging instruction. As a high school basketball coach, he led teams at Armstrong and Meadowbrook High Schools to multiple championships over a decade. He transitioned into administration in 2005, serving as dean of students and later assistant principal before becoming principal of James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia. There, he led a school improvement plan focused on closing achievement gaps and expanding access to advanced coursework. In his final year, the school ranked in the top 7 percent of high schools nationally by U.S. News & World Report.
From 2014 to 2017, Dr. Gordon served as director of administrative services for Fredericksburg City Public Schools, where he helped bring the International Baccalaureate program to the division and led the renovation of the historic Walker-Grant Center. He has also served as an adjunct professor at several Virginia universities and authored multiple books focused on leadership, equity, and 21st-century education.
Congratulations to Dr. Gordon and all of this year’s Region Superintendents of the Year!