Dear Friend of Public Education:
Welcome and thank you for visiting my Website!
I look forward to continuing my service as your District 3 School Board member because I am committed to "Building World Class Schools: One Student at a Time." I want to serve our more than 163,000 students and their parents, the 24,000 faculty and staff, and the civic, business, and other community members who comprise one of the nation’s most dynamic live-work-play communities in the nation.
Public education is at the heart of the success that Gwinnett County has had in recruiting world-class businesses to locate in Georgia. We educate one of every ten public school students in the State of Georgia in Gwinnett County. What we do here has impact throughout our nation and our world.
My commitment as District 3 School Board Member is based on the following beliefs:
- All children can learn;
- Public schools serve all students;
- Teachers are leaders, principals are leaders of leaders, and parents are the first teachers of children;
- Business and civic leaders are vital partners in the vision and business of public education;
- All Gwinnett County residents have a stake in public education--those with students in the schools and those with no students in the schools;
- Educated students become productive citizens.
I have been involved, visible, and dedicated as an advocate for public education in Gwinnett County. I have devoted myself to earning your trust and representing your interests for:
FISCAL RESPONSIBILTY – Since 1996, I have worked with other members of the Gwinnett County School Board to reduce bond indebtedness by $200 million; to increase bond ratings from Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s from Aa to Aaa; to balance the 2012 budget of $1.9 billion; to open DEBT FREE forty-six new schools, WHILE NOT RAISING PROPERTY TAXES.
SAFETY AND SECURITY - We kept our 24,000 employees and more than 163,000 students safe and secure in a national climate of violence, vandalism, and threats to personal safety
FAIRNESS - After hearing your concerns, I championed an AUTOMATIC APPEAL PROCESS for the Gateway Tests for 4th and 7th graders so that a single measure DOES NOT determine if a student passes, fails, or is or is not promoted;
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE – In 2012, the average SAT score of Gwinnett County Public Schools exceeded the Georgia average by 52 points and was 13 points above the national average;
DEBT RELIEF FOR ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUBS AND PARENTS - In 2008, the Gwinnett County Board of Education completed repayment of debt incurred over the years by Booster Clubs and parents whose personal financing built and renovated athletic facilities when school system funds were not available. This initiative removed such indebtedness from the books of each one of our local high schools–including Norcross High School, Duluth High School, Peachtree Ridge High School, and North Gwinnett High School–and allowed Booster Clubs to move forward to fund operations only and not current capital projects related to the Gwinnett County School System athletic program.
IMPROVED STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMIDST PHENOMENAL GROWTH - We grew from 84,000 students in 1996 to more than 163,000 students in 2012, while Gwinnett County Public Schools educated students to a level recognized as among the best in Georgia and in the nation. We did this while our student and family socio-economic and poverty levels changed sharply. In 2010, Gwinnett County School System was selected as the Best Urban Public School System in the nation by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and received $1 million in college scholarships for more than 50 students in the GCPS Class of 2011.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my site.