Admin

Picture of Kat Gordon School Board Member District 5

A former South Carolina and Orange County, Florida educator, Dr. Kathleen "KAT" Butler Gordon was elected to the school board in November 2000. During her 20 years of service on the School Board, she served as Vice Chair from November 2013 - 2015 and again in November 2018 - 2019. She has been a resident of Orange County since 1968 and served as librarian at Bonds-Wilson High School in 1967. She was also a librarian and counselor in Orange County for 25 years and became "Teacher of the Year" in several schools in which she served. She later became Orange County's first Teacher of the Month. She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida and at Valencia College. She was promoted to Regional Vice President in a top financial company and worked full-time in the business world for six years as a licensed mortgage broker, life insurance agent and a registered securities representative.

As a school board member, Dr. Gordon has chaired the Master Calendar Committee, the General Counsel Evaluation Committee and the Superintendent's Evaluation Committee, which designed the current template for evaluation of the superintendent. Also, Dr. Gordon chaired the School Building Design Committee process for engaging the community with the design of a school building project. Currently, this instrument is being used throughout the NSBA Southern Region.

Dr. Gordon has traveled throughout the world assisting librarians in Germany, Paris, France, South Africa, Amsterdam and Holland. She has worked with schools in the Bahamas & Hawaii. In 2005, she earned Board Member Certification from the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA) and also served on FSBA's Board of Directors. Mrs. Gordon is a former member of the board of directors of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) Black Caucus, former Southern Regional Director for African Americans School Board Members and is the former chairman of the nominating committee for the NSBA Black Caucus. She also served on the nominating committee for the National School Boards Association.

In 2006, she received the Junior Achievement's Educator of the Year Award. In addition, she received the Humanitarian Award at the 2006 Annual Scholarships and Volunteers Awards Dinner sponsored by Orange County Mayor Richard T. Crotty and the Board of County Commissioners for services on the Head Start Policy Council and Community Action Board. She was elected treasurer for Florida School Counselor's Association and was selected Elementary Counselor of the Year for Orange County and the State of Florida.

Dr. Gordon was named the 2007 Teacher of the Year for the New Beginnings Education Center in Osceola County. She also received the Distinguished Dove Award for being selected Osceola County's Vocational Teacher of the Year and was selected Denn John MS Minority Educator of the Year and later became Osceola County's Ida S. Baker Minority Educator of the Year. Dr. Gordon has been awarded by her church, Saint Mark A.M.E., for her civic and social involvement in her community.

In October 2007, the College of Education at the University of Central Florida named Dr. Gordon as one of its "Alumni of the Decades" as part of its 40th anniversary celebration.

In February 2008, Dr. Gordon received an award from the Osceola Classroom Teachers Association for her dedication and service to cultural persity within Osceola District Schools. Also, the My Sister-My Friend, Inc., honored Dr. Gordon with the Women of Excellence Award for her courage, determination, strentgh and efforts as an advocate for education. Dr. Gordon has served on the Governor of Florida State Dropout Task Force. On February 26, 2009, in the name of the President of the United States of America, she was appointed as a member of the Selective Service System Local Board in the State of Florida serving Region II.

On May 16, 2009, Dr. Gordon was honored with the General Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. Four Star Major Award for community service. The award was presented by the Central Florida Chapter of the Tuskegee Airman, Inc. and Congressional District 3.

In addition, on January 20, 2013, Dr. Gordon was recognized by the Carter Tabernacle CME Church for her dedication and contributions. The Honorable Alan Grayson member of the United States of America House of Representatives recognized Dr. Gordon during the proceedings and debates of the 113th congress in honor of Women's History Month on March 27, 2014. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. Dr. Vanessee J. Burns, Pastor. Saint Mark Church Senior Pastor Terence R. Gray presented Dr. Gordon with the Pillar Award for Education during the Centennial Celebration on November 6, 2015. The Haitian American Art Network, Inc., recognized Dr. Gordon as a recipient of the "I Am Extra-Ordinaries" award for her diligent, tireless efforts to improve the OCPS system for children's education on November 8, 2014 during their Third Annual One Day Women's Conference of Women Celebrating Women.

Dr. Gordon received her bachelor's degree in library science from South Carolina State University, her master's degree in guidance and counseling, and her certification in administration and supervision from the University of Central Florida. She received certification in library science and counseling from Florida State University and Duquesne University. Dr. Gordon recently earner her Doctor of Philosophy in Education with a Specialization in Organizational Leadership. She is a member of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc., PDK International, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Gordon is the widow of the late Reverend James D. Gordon, Jr. and the mother of three Jones HS graduates. She was selected in the Targeted Selection Principal's Pool in Orange County but decided to retire in 1990 from Orange County Public Schools, later to return to teaching in 1996 winning the Disney's Teacherrific Top Program Award and serving in 2001 and 2003 on the WDW Judges Committee. She is an award-winning teacher in Osceola County and is presently serving as the librarian at New Beginnings Educational Center where she continues to serve the communities of Seminole, Osceola and Orange Counties. In April 2015, Dr. Gordon was selected the 2015 Secondary Media Specialist of the Year for Osceola County Schools.

The Women's Executive Council of Central Florida honored Dr. Gordon by selecting her as the recipient of the 2015 Women's Achievement Award for Education during their award's ceremony on September 28, 2015.

District 5 Goals: Student Achievement, Parental Involvement, and Great School Facilities

Contact Information

E-mail: [email protected]
Phone:
407-317-3236
Mobile: 407-716-6861
Address: P.O. Box 271
Orlando, FL 32802

Kat Gordon's Biography
Kat Gordon's Newsletter - Click the box below to sign up for the newsletter!

Sign Up Now!

News & Information

District 5 Construction and Maintenance Projects 2020-21

40% Construction Community Meeting - Gateway & Cherokee Consolidation

OTC- Orlando 60% Design Community Meeting - Video

Oak Hill ES Dedication School Creed - Video

Oak Hill ES Dedication Ceremony - Video

Mrs. Gordon at Margarita Ball
Mrs. Gordon at the Margarita Ball - Toys are collected at the Margarita Ball, sorted and then provided to Central Florida charities that focus on underprivileged children. The charities then distribute the toys to the children.

Mrs. Gordon riding in car
OCPS Kat Gordon 2000 to today - a tribute to Kathleen "Kat" Gordon for the many accomplishments during her time as an OCPS School Board Member

photo of school board with kat gordon

OCPS Leadership at the Council of Great City Schools celebrating Ms. Gordon's Green-Garner Award

Understanding School Grades - Video provided by the OCPS Research, Accountability and Grants Department discussing the school grades matrix

Scholarship Information

Scholarship Information for African American Students

Represented School

Elementary

Catalina, Eagle's Nest, Eccleston, Hiawassee, Ivey Lane, Millennia, Millennia Gardens, Mollie Ray, Oak Hill, Orange Center, Orlo Vista, Palmetto, Pine Hills, Pineloch, Rock Lake, Sadler, Shingle Creek, Tangelo Park, Washington Shores and West Oaks

K-8

OCPS Academic Center for Excellence

Middle

Carver, Memorial, Robinswood and Westridge

High

Jones and Oak Ridge

Other Schools

Orange Technical College College Mid-Florida and Orange Technical College Orlando

*Charter schools can be found at the School Choice page.