It’s time to welcome the new superintendent of Suffolk Public Schools to the city, and we hope everyone in the community can join in extending warm greetings to our city.

Dr. John B. Gordon III comes to Suffolk from Chesterfield County, where he has served since 2017 as the chief of schools. He also previously served as director of administrative services for Fredericksburg City Public Schools and has experience as a school principal as well.

Everyone in the school division and in the community is excited to see what kind of things Dr. Gordon can do, working closely with the School Board and the existing leadership and thousands of excellent teachers and other staff in the school division. The change comes as the entire school division celebrates being fully accredited, and we expect Dr. Gordon can continue to lead the division to such great outcomes.

A slate of introductory meet-and-greets are planned this month, and we hope many people in the community will come out and visit one or more of them.

The first will take place Oct. 15 at Nansemond River High School, with the others on Oct. 23 at Lakeland High School and Oct. 28 at King’s Fork High School. All three events will begin at 7 p.m. The public will get the chance to hear Gordon’s vision for the school division and ask him questions.

The public is also welcome at the swearing-in ceremony and reception at 5 p.m. this Thursday at Suffolk City Hall, prior to the 7 p.m. meeting.

We are excited that Dr. Gordon is about to get started on his duties in Suffolk, and we look forward to reporting on his success.