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Celebrating the life of Anita Gordon Plaskett, Ed.D.
Agreed to by the Senate, January 22, 2026
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 26, 2026
WHEREAS, Anita Gordon Plaskett, Ed.D., an esteemed educator and education administrator, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and treasured member of the Hampton Roads community, died on October 30, 2025; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from Christ the King High School in New York City in 1967, Anita Plaskett earned an associate degree from St. John's University in 1969, a bachelor's degree cum laude in 1974 and a master's degree in education with a concentration in reading in 1978 from the University of the Virgin Islands, and an educational specialist degree and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction in 1983 from the University of Connecticut; and
WHEREAS, Anita Plaskett's illustrious, four-decade career in education began with teaching and administrative roles in St. Croix, including as principal of the Eulalie R. Rivera Professional Development Elementary School and as insular superintendent of public schools for St. Croix; and
WHEREAS, Anita Plaskett prepared and mentored future educators as a tenured professor at the University of the Virgin Islands and in a number of other capacities with institutions of higher education in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Anita Plaskett settled in the Commonwealth and became an administrator with Newport News Public Schools, working tirelessly for the benefit of her students and rising to the position of assistant principal of instruction before her retirement in 2012; and
WHEREAS, Anita Plaskett's commitment to creating educational opportunities for all young people led her to serve as the founding president of the board of directors for the Bridging the Gap Learning Center; and
WHEREAS, Anita Plaskett was an active and engaged member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and she served as president of both the Mu Gamma Omega Chapter in the Virgin Islands and the Gamma Upsilon Omega Chapter in Hampton; and
WHEREAS, Anita Plaskett will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by her loving children, Osman and Shakima, and their families; and by numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Anita Gordon Plaskett, Ed.D., a cherished member of the Hampton Roads community whose light brightened countless lives; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Anita Gordon Plaskett, Ed.D., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory.