6abc 2021 Black History Month honorees: Dr. Ala Stanford, Richard Gordon IV, William H. Gary III

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- 6abc honors Black History Month 2021 by celebrating the local visionaries & leaders, both past and present.

In 2021, we celebrate a doctor on the frontlines of the COVID fight, a principal earning national acclaim, a historic museum and a trailblazing politician.

See more stories and profiles of past and present influential African Americans at 6abc.com/blackhistory.

We recognize the contributions of Dr. Ala Stanford.

Principal Richard Gordon is one of our 3 honorees for Black History Month.

• Principal, Paul Robeson High School of Human Services, School District of Philadelphia

• 2017 Neubauer Fellow

• Richard has been an educator since 1996. Prior to becoming a principal, Richard served as teacher, special education teacher, truancy liaison, and assistant principal.

• Has served, since 2013, as Principal of a school that was slated for permanent closure. The school was recognized as the 2017 Most Improved School in the city of Philadelphia.

• Credited with developing a model program for college and career readiness. Paul Robeson High School is ranked in the top third of Philadelphia and PA Schools (2020, 2019, 2017 US News & World Report Rankings).

• In 2017 Education Dive Magazine recognized Principal Gordon with the National School Administrator of the Year Award.

• In 2018 and 2019, received the "MADE MAN" Foundation's Distinguished Leader & Advocate for Change Award.

• In 2019, the Pennsylvania State Department of Education recognized Principal Gordon for Paul Robeson High School becoming a "High Progress" school, removing it from the Commonwealth's list of academically "high needs"/lowest performing schools. Numerous state and national acknowledgements, including, the National Alliance for Black School Educators' 2019 National Principal of the Year Award, Black Enterprise Magazine's 2019 Modern Man of Distinction Award, and the University of Pennsylvania's 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Social Change Community Education Award.

• Received three citations from the City Council of Philadelphia, and a citation from the Pennsylvania State Senate for Outstanding Student Achievement.

• Recognized in 2020, as the Pennsylvania State Principal of the Year, and he was given the Distinguished Service to Education Award.

• Named the 2020-2021 National Association of Secondary School Principals' (NASSP) National Principal of the Year.

• Board member of the University of Pennsylvania's Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships (Community Advisory Board).

• Grew up in Camden, NJ and Philadelphia.

• Graduate of Pennsauken High School

• Product of an incarcerated father and single mom who raised 3 boys while a hairdresser in Camden, NJ.

• Studied at Lincoln University and Lehigh University. Currently a doctoral candidate at Northcentral University.

The Underground Railroad Museum at the Belmont Mansion Fairmount Park is one honoree for Black History Month.

Congressman William H. Gray III is one honoree for Black History Month.