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On September 24, 2019, Delegate Gordon Helsel was awarded the 2019 VSBA Legislative Award of Excellence. Since 1985, the VSBA has honored individuals with the annual VSBA Legislative Award of Excellence to recognize their work on behalf of public education and the VSBA. This is the second year in a row that Delegate Helsel has received this recognition.

Delegate Helsel has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2011. During the 2019 session, Delegate Helsel showed political independence by breaking rank with his party and voting “no” on key pieces of education legislation as a member of the House Education Committee.

Delegate Helsel serves the 91st District of the Virginia House of Delegates, is a former Mayor of Poquoson, and is a decorated Vietnam Veteran. Delegate Helsel has announced he will not seek re-election to the House of Delegates in 2019.
"I am honored and humbled to receive the Virginia School Boards Association’s Legislative Award of Excellence,” said Delegate Helsel. “Education policy has been a top priority of mine since first being elected, and VSBA has been a helpful partner in ensuring that I am informed about important legislation affecting our school systems. Thank you for bestowing upon me this honor and thank you for all that you do for Virginia’s students."

“The VSBA is honored to present Delegate Gordon Helsel with the VSBA Legislative Award of Excellence for the second year in a row”, stated VSBA President R. Tyrone Foster “Delegate Helsel has demonstrated continued support of public education throughout his career to Virginia’s local school divisions and we thank him for his work and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”