Dr. John B. Gordon III is the division superintendent of Suffolk (VA) Public Schools. A lifetime educator with leadership experiences in Chesterfield, Fredericksburg, and Richmond, Dr. Gordon understands how education should be customized to fit the needs of all students while expanding opportunities for their future. As a former successful high school basketball coach, where he won numerous championships over a ten year career, he is an expert in team building and strategic planning and serves as a role model to today’s youth. Dr. Gordon was the first African-American principal at James Monroe High School and the first African American chairman of the Virginia High School League. A renowned speaker and motivator, Dr. Gordon is the author of The Teacher’s Lounge: The Real Role of Educators in Your Schools, which navigates life as an African American male in predominantly white suburbia. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Old Dominion University, and is president of Schools That Inspire, LLC, where he develops transformational strategies for students, teachers, and instructional leaders. Dr. Gordon was recently named as a “2022 Superintendent to Watch” by the National School Public Relations Association. Dr. Gordon is also the President-Elect of the Virginia Alliance of Black School Educators, and the Vice-Chair for Region II. Dr. Gordon earned a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Virginia, a master’s of education with a concentration in social studies from the University of Virginia, a post-master’s certificate in educational leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech. He has three children, Marcus, Kennedy, and Simone.