Memorandum from Mary Kay Murphy
Mary Kay Murphy, Ph.D. District 3  School Board Member and 2004 Chairman of the Board

August 16, 2004

Academics First in 2005

   As the new school year begins in District III of Gwinnett County Public Schools-all schools in the Norcross Cluster, all schools in the Duluth Cluster, and two schools in the Peachtree Ridge Cluster-we welcome our principals, students, teachers, parents, and staff.

   The year ahead promises to be a great one, especially in the area of academics. Thanks to the principals, faculty, staff, and parents for paving the way for one of the smoothest openings of our public schools in recent memory. 

   Thanks, also, to the school system's Physical Plant, District III welcomed several new schools and facilities with the opening of the 2005 school year. 

   With Carlotta Rozzi as Principal, the school system opened the new $5.7 million Charles Brant Chesney Elementary School on Old Norcross Road serving the Duluth community. With Dr. Kay Harvey as Principal, Gwinnett County opened a new $12.5 million Duluth Middle School on Pleasant Hill Road.

   Utilizing the previous Duluth Middle School facility on Main Street in Duluth, Dr. Barbara Martin opened the revamped Monarch School to serve pre-school aged children as well as to provide programs for adults. 

   At each one of these schools, as well as at all the schools in District III and in Gwinnett County, focus on the academic program has the highest priority. 

   In the Norcross Cluster, Pinckneyville and Summerour Middle Schools made history by launching the only middle school programs in the county that are part of the nationally-recognized Middle Years International Baccalaureate Program.

   Norcross High School provides the only International Baccalaureate Program among the 15 high schools in Gwinnett County. This academically rigorous program for juniors and seniors is offered in only 600 high schools in the world. Teachers in the program must be prepared through approved training programs offered in the United States and abroad.

   The programs at Pinckneyville Middle School and Summerour Middle School are designed to challenge students who want to excel in academics by strengthening their skills in language, reading, critical thinking, and creativity. These programs provide an added opportunity to develop high performing academic stars. 

   Congratulations to Pinckneyville Principal Joyce Callahan and her outstanding staff and to Summerour Principal Dana Pugh and his outstanding staff on this singular achievement in District III.

   Principal Pat Blinke of Duluth High School and Principal Mary Anne Charron of Norcross High School continue to emphasize the importance of academic achievement at their respective schools. 

   Duluth High School will open a new $13 million addition in February 2005. Included in the facility will be classrooms, laboratories, and a 570-seat Performing Arts Center. Long awaited and anticipated, this facility will provide space and structure to expand the academic and Performing Arts facilities that will benefit Duluth High School students in 2005 and for generations to come.

   To complement Norcross High School's strong academic program, the school community opened a new building in August 2004-constructed solely with private funds-to showcase the school's Spalding Drive location and its athletic facilities. The Paul Duke Center honors a long-time Gwinnett County leader and founder of Peachtree Corners. 

   In addition to the above schools, the academic programs of District III's schools are enhanced by the return of several principals, the addition of several principals new to the District, and their commitment to the highest of academic standards in their local schools.

   Returning are Principal Kathy Eichler of Peachtree Elementary School; Donna Ledford of Stripling Elementary School; Dr. LaVerne Watkins, Principal of Norcross Elementary School; and Dr. Nancy Hammond, Principal of B.B. Harris Elementary School 

   Also returning are Leigh Westcott, Principal of Berkeley Lake Elementary School; Dr. Paula Deweese, Principal of Mason Elementary School; Dr. Gwen Tatum of Hull Middle School; and Ms. Kristie Clements, Principal of the Buchanan School of Technology.

   New principals are leading the academic programs at several of District III's schools. Simpson Elementary School welcomed its new Principal, Bron Gayna Schmidt who joins District III after 12 years as Principal of Walnut Grove Elementary School. Also, Chattahoochee Elementary School welcomes its new Principal, Cyndie Burgess, fresh from her previous post as Assistant Principal of Beaver Ridge Elementary School. New to Gwinnett County is Beaver Ridge Principal Esther Adames-Jimenez, recruited from Boston, Massachusetts. 

   As your District III School Board member, I pledge to you my continued support for excellence in the school system's academic program, strength in its leaders at the local school level, and support for the very best and safest facilities that our county can produce. 

   I continue to stand by my commitment to that all children can learn; that public schools must serve all students; and that teachers are leaders, principals are leaders, and parents are the first teachers of their children. 

   As we begin another school year in District III, we are reminded that business and civic leaders are vital partners in the vision and business of public education; that all Gwinnett County residents have a stake in public education-those with students in the schools and those with no students in the schools; and that educated students become productive citizens.

081604

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