LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Richard M. Gordon IV was nominated by his colleague, Keith Newman.

Mr. Gordon is an award-winning educator who has been the principal of Paul Robeson High School in the West Philadelphia/University City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for approximately eight years. In 2012, the city was dealing with a historic, unprecedented financial crisis. During this time, the School District of Philadelphia’s budget deficit crippled city public school budgets throughout the entire school system. The District elected to close approximately 30 schools in total over a two-year period, aimed at balancing the School District’s budget. The closures mostly targeted disadvantaged Black and brown children scoring poorly according to standardized testing results, as well as students hailing from the city’s poorest neighborhoods in North and West Philadelphia. Since Paul Robeson High School was one of the schools that met the District’s criteria, it was slated for permanent school closure in 2013. 

Spared at the 11th hour, Paul Robeson High School was placed under Mr. Gordon's leadership. His transformative and innovative leadership led Paul Robeson High School to be recognized as the “2017 Most Improved High School” in the City of Philadelphia.  With a 100% minority student population (95% African-American) and a 100% school poverty rate, Mr. Gordon is credited with developing a model college and career readiness program, as well as achieving a 95% annual graduation rate (the city average is a 70% graduation rate).

In 2019, the Pennsylvania State Department of Education recognized Mr. Gordon for leading Paul Robeson High School to becoming a “High Progress” school. They removed the school from the State’s list of academically high-needs/lowest performing schools.  Recently, Mr. Gordon was named the 2020 Pennsylvania State Principal of the Year and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)'s 2021 National Principal of the Year. Mr. Gordon is also the winner of the 2021 Inaugural Philadelphia Integrity Icon Award.  The Integrity Icon Award program is a global campaign from the Accountability Lab that is powered by citizens in search of honest government officials, celebrating individuals serving the public good. 

After receiving some of the nation's highest honors in education, Mr. Gordon's media profile in the 8th largest school district in the country has significantly enhanced. He has utilized the resources of the 4th largest media market in the country to market his brand, garner community support for Robeson program initiatives, and continue to create partnerships that will provide equitable opportunities for students of color.  Mr. Gordon has not only earned personal endorsements from the Honorable Jim Kenney, the Mayor of Philadelphia, and the City Council of Philadelphia, but he has also received more than 30 different national/state/local awards, honors, and accolades since 2017 for his work at Paul Robeson High School:

• Schoolmen's Club of Philadelphia Commitment to Education Award: 2021
• Lincoln University Professional Achievement Award: 2021
• NASSP National Principal of the Year Award (National Winner): 2021
• 6ABC Philadelphia Visions Black History Month Honoree: 2021
• Philadelphia Integrity Icon Award (People’s Choice Top Icon Winner): 2021
• NASSP National Principal of the Year Award Finalist: 2020
• Pennsylvania Principals Association State Principal of the Year Award: 2020
• NASSP National Distinguished Principal Award (State Winner): 2020
• NASSP Distinguished Service to Education Award: 2020
• Diversity MBA Magazine Top 100 Under 50 Executive and Emerging Leaders Award: 2020
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated Zeta Iota Iota Chapter Philadelphia Citizen of the Year Award: 2020
• City Resolution, City Council of Philadelphia (Six Citations awarded): 2020, 2019
• US News & World Reports "Best High Schools" Honorable Mention: 2020, 2019, 2017
• National Alliance of Black School Educators National Principal of the Year Award: 2019
• Black Enterprise Magazine’s Modern Man of Distinction Award: 2019
• The Lincoln University’s Dr. Frank “Tick” Coleman Distinguished Alumni Award: 2019
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium on Social Change Community Education Award, University of Pennsylvania: 2019
• Wilt Chamberlain Memorial Fund (WCMF) FAFSA Challenge Award: 2019 & 2018
• Citation, City Council of Philadelphia (Six Citations awarded): 2019 & 2017
• The “Made Man" Foundation's Distinguished Leader & Advocate for Change Award: 2018
• Citation, School District of Philadelphia’s Outstanding Student Achievement: 2018
• Citation, School District of Philadelphia’s Outstanding School Climate: 2018
• Education Dive K-12 Magazine’s National School Administrator of the Year: 2017
• Marcus A. Foster Outstanding Philadelphia School Administrator Award: 2017
• Echoes of Africa Community Service Award: 2017
• Citation, Pennsylvania State Senate: 2017
• School District of Philadelphia, “Most Improved High School” Award: 2017

Mr. Gordon is an administrator who is a skilled agent of change in the community. He is willing to take risks to broaden educational opportunities for students, and he respects and values all people. During one of numerous visits innumerable stakeholders make to Paul Robeson High School, Mayor Kenney and his Education Commissioner, Mr. Otis Hackney, announced at a public press conference that Mr. Gordon was “one of the best school principals in this city today”. Mr. Gordon’s skills and compassionate spirit are not only recognized locally, but in the national spotlight. 

"In a tough city where families can choose from a dizzying number of public, charter, private, and Catholic school options, we have seen a steady increase in the number of families expressing interest in Paul Robeson High School.  We have no doubt it is because of Paul Robeson’s great principal," said Newman. "Not only has Principal Gordon dedicated his life to the transformation and rise of Paul Robeson High School, but he is dedicated to affect change in our city that is in crisis as the 'Poorest Big City' in America...His exceptional career accomplishments are not an anomaly, and so remarkable in nature, that we cannot think of a more deserving candidate for such an honor, or better role model for the City of Philadelphia."

Below is a summary of media coverage featuring Mr. Gordon.

1. https://inservice.ascd.org/key-lessons-from-the-nations-top-principal/
2. https://6abc.com/6abc-2021-black-history-month-honorees/10326865/
3. https://whyy.org/articles/robeson-principal-said-the-students-are-the-secret-to-his-success/
4. https://www.phillytrib.com/philly-school-leader-named-principal-of-the-year-by-national-association/article_820c9cf5-022e-5b96-b5b4-7e303251041a.html
5. https://www.k12dive.com/news/lessons-in-leadership-principal-paul-robeson-richard-gordon-equity-preparing-students-coronavirus/584034/?%3A+2020-08-26+K-12+Education+Dive+Newsletter+%5Bissue%3A29308%5D=&%3A+K12=
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZPZ-FGKa9Y
7. https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/top-10-education-stories-of-2020/article_97b6257f-65d3-5e17-b837-6769146495de.html
8. https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2020/12/22/rapper-meek-mill-12-days-of-christmas-inc-help-fulfill-holiday-wishes-of-philly-school-children/
9. https://www.philasun.com/local/the-school-district-of-philadelphia-celebrates-national-principal-of-the-year-richard-m-gordon-iv/
10. https://www.philasd.org/blog/2020/10/14/district-leader-named-national-principal-of-the-year/
11. https://www2.lehigh.edu/news/lehigh-alum-richard-gordon-iv-named-national-principal-of-the-year
12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35e-qR4vdcg
13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_lNYhPe5E&t=302s
14. https://www.diverseforceonboards.com/cohorts-5
15. https://www.phillymag.com/news/2020/10/17/robeson-richard-gordon-best-principal/
16. https://philadelphia.chalkbeat.org/2020/10/13/21514679/west-philadelphia-principal-gets-national-principal-of-the-year-honor
17. https://www.phillyvoice.com/philly-paul-robeson-high-school-best-principal-united-states-richard-gordon/
18. https://fusion.inquirer.com/education/principal-of-the-year-robeson-richard-gordon-naasp-20201013.html
19. https://online.fliphtml5.com/eunc/rrje/#p=1
20. https://www.penncapital-star.com/education/philly-principal-named-top-school-principal-in-the-state/
21. https://phillyschoolleaders.org/2020-richard-gordon/
22. https://patch.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/philadelphia-principal-named-best-pennsylvania
23. https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2020/08/28/philadelphia-school-district-working-to-identify-barriers-with-virtual-learning-as-school-year-rapidly-approaches/
24. https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/richard-gordon-integrity-icon-philadelphia/
25. https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/video/4618297-philadelphias-richard-gordon-named-pennsylvanias-top-principal/
26. https://6abc.com/education/philadelphia-public-school-principal-receiving-two-prestigious-awards/6305245/
27. https://6abc.com/west-philadelphia-principal-national-of-the-year-philly-schools-school-district/7001455/
28. https://www.fox29.com/video/860947
29. https://www.nassp.org/publication/principal-leadership/volume-21-2020-2021/principle-leadership-january-2021/nassps-2021-national-principal-of-the-year/
30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpCIBHTUT30
31. https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/top-10-education-stories-of-2020/article_97b6257f-65d3-5e17-b837-6769146495de.html
32. https://phillyschoolleaders.org/2020-richard-gordon/
33. https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/philly-principals-prepare-for-virtual-start-of-school-year
34. https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2020/08/28/philadelphia-school-district-working-to-identify-barriers-with-virtual-learning-as-school-year-rapidly-approaches/
35. https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/richard-gordon-robeson/
36. https://integrityicon.org/philadelphia/
37. https://www.philasun.com/local/the-school-district-of-philadelphia-celebrates-national-principal-of-the-year-richard-m-gordon-iv/
38. https://www2.lehigh.edu/news/lehigh-alum-richard-gordon-iv-named-national-principal-of-the-year
39. https://www.diverseforceonboards.com/cohorts-5
40. https://www.philasd.org/blog/2020/10/14/district-leader-named-national-principal-of-the-year/
41. https://www.nabse.org/2019-honors-awards-recipientss/
42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7_lNYhPe5E
43. https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2020/12/22/rapper-meek-mill-12-days-of-christmas-inc-help-fulfill-holiday-wishes-of-philly-school-children/
44. https://www.educationdive.com/news/administrator-of-the-year-richard-gordon-iv-paul-robeson-high-school/510191/
45. https://www.phillytrib.com/the_learning_key/robeson-partnership-with-philadelphia-education-fund-provides-students-with-tools/article_e3101111-a3ef-5e85-b684-c7da3cc410d8.html
46. https://www.educationdive.com/news/lessons-in-leadership-principal-paul-robeson-richard-gordon-equity-preparing-students-coronavirus/584034/
47. https://whyy.org/episodes/philadelphia-school-principals-roundtable/
48. https://www.phillytrib.com/the_learning_key/robeson-high-principal-reflects-sets-goals-for-new-school-year/article_258d8006-b1ab-557d-8a2a-905f772e0644.html
49. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/education/what-makes-this-hs-phillys-most-improved-20170619.html
50. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/education/phillys-robeson-high-school-national-spotlight-20171212.html
51. https://phillyschoolleaders.org/richard-gordon-iv/
52.  https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/winners-martin-luther-king-jr-community-involvement-awards-named
53.  https://www.phillytrib.com/the_learning_key/robeson-high-principal-wins-award-talks-new-school-year/article_d613bb87-1678-5c88-8433-7dab3c12b1ee.html
54.  https://phillyschoolleaders.org/paul-robeson-high-school-now-in-national-spotlight/
55. https://www.facebook.com/JannieBlackwell/posts/congratulations-to-principal-richard-gordon-and-the-entire-paul-robeson-high-sch/1479575778732174/
56. https://twitter.com/teamdomb/status/938130181683843072?lang=en
57. https://twitter.com/phillymayor/status/940632283689701379?lang=en
58. https://www.phillytrib.com/the_learning_key/good-news-in-the-district/article_4fd7f46c-883a-57e0-b0c1-4431437f0462.html
59. https://www.phillytrib.com/the_learning_key/good-news-in-the-district/article_b2c6409e-74a0-5d85-98c1-d4fff77b53ad.html
60. https://www.inquirer.com/education/starbucks-arrest-philadelphia-racial-schools-financial-literacy-20191021.html
61. https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/netter-center-financial-literacy-philadelphia-schools
62. https://6abc.com/5636451/
63. https://www.inquirer.com/education/starbucks-arrest-philadelphia-racial-schools-financial-literacy-20191021.html
64. https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/2-men-turn-bad-experience-chance-learn-students
65. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZPICfuqJApjeSR6zBlGZMd_rXjC-6mBj 
66. https://soundcloud.com/user-245375075/episode-2-the-rise-of-paul-robeson-high-school-with-principal-richard-gordon
67. http://ucreview.com/communication-key-to-paul-robeson-high-schoolxs-recent-improvements-p8042-1.htm
68. http://ucreview.com/the-consortium-partners-with-paul-robeson-high-school-enhancing-learning-an-p6662-87.htm
69. https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/video/4578850-roberson-high-school-seniors-pick-up-caps-and-gowns/
70. https://whyy.org/articles/pushed-into-adulthood-philly-podcast-brings-together-hs-seniors-upended-by-shutdown/
71. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf2snGGzEcc
72. https://cc.philasd.org/service/home/~/?auth=co&loc=en_US&id=266254&part=2
73. https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/video/philadelphia-high-school-student-surprised-50k-scholarship-77390923
74. https://6abc.com/education/she-deserves-it-local-teen-surprised-with-$50k-college-scholarship/10559866/
75. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.inquirer.com/education/philadelphia-school-district-lyric-wise-scholarship-robeson-20210429.html%3foutputType=amp