Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994 TAG: 9406280077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
She has worked for Roanoke County schools as a teacher, assistant principal, instructional supervisor, director of elementary education and assistant superintendent. It's the only place she has ever worked.
Fresh out of Roanoke College, she became a county school teacher in 1960. She stayed on for 34 years, rising through the ranks.
Her loyalty has been rewarded.
On Friday, Gordon will become the county's school superintendent.
Gordon has such a strong emotional bond with county schools that she has never applied for the superintendent's post in another locality.
"About five years ago, I decided that if the superintendent's job in the county opened up, I might apply," she said, "but I would not have applied anywhere else."
As she prepares to assume the post, Gordon says she is confident and ready, but aware of the enormous responsibilities of the job.
"I'm aware of possible pitfalls, but I have an excellent staff that I can depend on," she said.
Gordon already is doing homework for decisions she will have to make soon after she becomes superintendent.
By all accounts, Gordon is a respected and popular choice to succeed Bayes About five years ago, I decided that if the superintendent's job in the county opened up, I might apply, but I would not have applied anywhere else. Deanna Gordon Next Roanoke County school superintendent Wilson, who is leaving after 38 years with the school system, including 14 as superintendent.
Maurice "Buck" Mitchell, vice chairman of the county School Board, said that eight out of every 10 people with whom he has talked about Gordon supported her for the post. She has firm support among the School Board members, he said.
Gordon has the support of teachers, who say she has always been willing to listen to their concerns and ideas. She has had good relations with the Roanoke County Education Association, according to Debbie McClure, outgoing president of the teachers' group.
In choosing Gordon, board members said they saw no reason to bring in an outsider when the school system has no major problems. They believe the school system is in good shape.
Gordon will be the first woman superintendent in Roanoke County - and one of only nine women superintendents in 135 school divisions in the state.
Salem School Superintendent Wayne Tripp said he was pleased that the School Board chose Gordon because the state needs more women superintendents. Men dominate the superintendent jobs, while most teachers are women, he said.
Mitchell said board members gave only brief consideration to gender in choosing Gordon. Her qualifications and ability to work with everyone made her the top applicant, Mitchell said.
Gordon will be the second woman superintendent in the Roanoke Valley. Dorothy Gibboney was superintendent in Roanoke from 1966 to 1969.
As superintendent, one of Gordon's early priorities will be the coordination and oversight of building projects, ranging from roof replacements to a proposed new high school in the Cave Spring area.
Although the county is experiencing only moderate growth, several schools need to be expanded and renovated. School administrators have compiled a list of needed projects that could cost more than $50 million.
Finances could delay some projects several years unless county voters approve a bond issue and agree to take on more debt for school improvements.
At the request of the Board of Supervisors, the School Board has prepared a plan for school building projects over the next four to eight years. Building needs total more than $30 million. The county may have a bond issue this fall to help pay for part of the projects.
Gordon will have to deal with tight finances for schools as she takes over the post. The School Board was forced to trim its budget by $800,000 this year because the Board of Supervisors said it didn't have the money. The supervisors provided $3.3 million in additional funds for schools, but the School Board requested $4.1 million.
County school officials are hoping that the General Assembly will provide more state funds for suburban school systems next year. The legislature provided a large increase in state funds for poor rural counties and financially strapped cities. Roanoke received about $1 million in disparity funds for the next school year, but the county received less than $150,000.
Gordon is optimistic that the supervisors and School Board members can work together to adequately fund education despite the small increase in state aid.
Faced with limited funds, she said, the schools will have to balance the needs among the academically gifted, average students and vocational education students. She said the school system must serve all types of students.
"We received next to nothing in disparity funds, but we face financial pressures, too," she said.
County schools will have to buy more computers and other instructional technology in the next few years to keep pace with other school systems and equip students with the technological skills to compete in the job market, Gordon said.
Technology could be expensive, she said, but she asks whether the school system can afford not to acquire what it needs.
Gordon says schools will have to assume a larger role in ensuring that health needs of children are met. While the county has far fewer students from low- and moderate-income families than Roanoke, she said, the county has some students who need more medical attention. "I think we will be called on to coordinate [health services] more," she said.
As superintendent, Gordon said she plans to visit schools periodically and talk with teachers and students.
"I don't see myself being tied to the office all of the time," she said. "I want to get out in schools as much as I can."
Gordon will have to deal with one thing that none of her predecessors did: an elected school board. Three board seats will be on the ballot in November and the two others will up for election in November 1995.
"It will mean some differences, but it is an unknown at this point. We will have to learn how it will work," she said.
The change in the method of choosing board members could cause a quick turnover on the board. Gordon could find herself working with a board that didn't hire her, but she trusts voters to make the right choice.
She has been reading about how elected school boards operate in other states. More than 70 localities in Virginia have approved the switch to elected boards and elections have been held in 20 school divisions.
Gordon, who is cautious about educational fads and reforms, said she doesn't foresee dramatic changes in county schools when she becomes superintendent.
She has reservations about two educational reforms that are being considered in several states: vouchers and charter schools.
In a voucher system, students can receive public funds to help pay for education in private schools.
Under the charter school concept, groups of parents or others could be given a charter to operate their own school. The schools would be financed with public funds, but they may not have to follow some regulations that public schools follow.
As assistant superintendent, Gordon tried to balance her career with civic and community activities. As superintendent, she knows she might have an even tighter schedule, but hopes to find some time for hobbies and recreation.
Gordon and her husband, Edward, who drives a truck, live in Vinton. They enjoy yard work, bird watching and taking traveling vacations.
Gordon has spent most of her adult life preparing for the superintendent's post. When she was growing up in Bedford County and attending the old Stewartsville High School, she was inspired to go into education by a history teacher.
Once she began teaching, she knew that was what she wanted to do. Three decades later, Gordon will find out whether she really wants to be a superintendent.
\ DEANNA W. GORDON\ ROANOKE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS\ \ Age: 55.\ \ Hometown: Bedford County.\ \ Education: Roanoke College, bachelor of arts, 1960; Hollins College, master of arts in liberal studies, 1971; Virginia Tech, doctor of education, 1982.\ \ Professional: Assistant school superintendent in Roanoke County, 1990-present; director of elementary education, 1986-90; instructional supervisor, 1976-86; assistant principal, W.E. Cundiff Elementary School, 1972-76; assistant principal, Herman L. Horn Elementary School, 1968-72; teacher at the former Andrew Lewis High School and at the Herman L. Horn Elementary School, 1960-68.\ \ Additional professional: Visiting professor, Virginia Tech, 1988-90; consultant to Silver-Burdett and Ginn, a book publishing company, on student social studies texts, 1984-89; consultant to Holt, Rinehart-Winston on materials for reading programs, 1985-87; adjunct instructor at the Roanoke extension center for the University of Virginia, 1978-89.\ \ Civic and community activities: Board of directors of the United Way of the Roanoke Valley; Roanoke Symphony Society; Roanoke Valley chapter of the American Red Cross; Virginia State Committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Salem/Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce; Roanoke Valley Historical Society; and administrative board of Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church.\ \ Family: Husband, Edward.
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by CNB