WHEREAS, for four years, Gary Morris served and inspired young people in Lorton as principal of South County High School; and

WHEREAS, Gary Morris holds a bachelor's degree from Norfolk State University, where he was a star wide receiver on the university's football team; he played professional football in Canada while completing his master's degree, then coached football at George Mason University before earning an education specialist degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; and

WHEREAS, Gary Morris began his career in teaching as a technology education instructor with Fairfax County Public Schools; he later served as principal of Fairfax County Adult High School and Mountain View Alternative High School, earning the admiration of his peers for his commitment to building a culture of academic excellence, professional development, and lifelong learning; and

WHEREAS, Gary Morris previously served as the first assistant principal of South County High School, then known as South County Secondary School, when it opened in 2005 and returned to the school to become principal in 2018; and

WHEREAS, at the time, South County High School had more than 2,200 students and a staff of 167, and Gary Morris used his extensive experience as both an educator and administrator to build a focused and unified team and highly engaged student body; and

WHEREAS, Gary Morris implemented the Stallions for Success program and a program to identify at-risk students and provide resources across departments to ensure that these students receive the support they need to be successful; and

WHEREAS, Gary Morris exemplified South County High School's One Stallion slogan, and he worked diligently to make the school community feel like a caring and supportive family; and

WHEREAS, Gary Morris maintained an open-door policy for students to ensure that concerns were heard and met; he has been a trusted mentor to many of his fellow teachers and administrators and built strong relationships with parents, families, and community stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure as principal, Gary Morris helped South County High School fulfill its mission to help students discover their talents and passions and gain the skills they need to achieve a brighter future; and

WHEREAS, on July 1, 2022, Gary Morris transferred to Manassas City Public Schools to become principal of Metz Middle School, the only middle school in Manassas, which serves more than 1,100 students in seventh and eighth grades; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Gary Morris hereby be commended for his outstanding service to the students of South County High School and contributions to the field of education; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Gary Morris as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his achievements on behalf of young people in Fairfax County.