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Suffolk celebrates superintendent named Virginia Superintendent of the Year; district spotlights student, staff awards and promotions
Summary
Superintendent Dr. John B. Gordon III was celebrated after being named Virginia Superintendent of the Year. The board recognized student scholarship totals ($49.66M), communications team awards, administrative promotions (new principal, director of technology, coordinator of employee relations), and announced a $75.6M JFK project ribbon cutting.
Suffolk Public Schools paused its June 11 meeting to recognize Superintendent Dr. John B. Gordon III as the Virginia Superintendent of the Year and to highlight a series of district accomplishments and personnel moves.
Multiple speakers — staff, parents and board members — praised Dr. Gordon’s school-centered leadership. One parent described his approach this way: "He doesn't lead from downtown. He leads in the schools with us. He helps create a culture of trust," and several remarks congratulated him on the statewide honor.
Anonet Dickens, communications and community engagement officer, highlighted national recognition for the district’s communications team (17 awards from the National School Public Relations Association), student winners in the TTAC special education writing competition, and a new all-time scholarship total for the Class of 2026: $49.66 million, including Alexis Morrison of Lakeland High School who reportedly received over $4 million and plans to attend Clemson University.
Dr. Gordon introduced personnel appointments approved by the board earlier in the meeting: Dr. James Avery as the new principal at Kings Fork High School; William Hallwig as the new director of technology; and Candace Binham as coordinator of employee relations. The superintendent and chiefs also recognized graduates of the division’s internal leadership program and outlined the calendar of upcoming events, including a JFK Middle School ribbon cutting tied to a $75.6 million project.
The board approved the personnel report and related consent items during the meeting. District leaders noted that several of the positions announced are part of multi-year pipelines and that Title I and local funds are used to support some instructional specialists and intervention positions.
The superintendent closed the recognitions with a brief message to staff and families about summer schedules and next school-year preparation.
