Memorandum from Mary Kay Murphy
Mary Kay Murphy, Ph.D. District 3  School Board Member marykaymurphy@aol.com

September 12, 2008

Builders of Civic Support for Public Education

   Last night I witnessed an act of civic support for public education of such importance that I want to share it with you, the loyal readers of The Weekly.

   The setting was the Gwinnett County Instructional Services Center Board Room. 

   The event was the monthly Public Meeting where citizens address the Gwinnett County Board of Education. The meeting began at 6:30 p.m. and—because of the number of citizens who wanted to speak—continued well into the 7:00 p.m. monthly board meeting.

   Speakers came from all over our vast community. They moved to the podium one at a time for a purpose they believed to be of great significance. 

   Each speaker who addressed the Board of Education last night spoke of their personal knowledge of Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks’s sterling character. Remarks made by Mr. Wilbanks in a previous public meeting caused some to call for his ouster as Gwinnett Superintendent.

   The leaders who spoke at last night’s meeting challenged negative views of Mr. Wilbanks and provided unambiguous support of their trust in him and of his leadership of Gwinnett County Public Schools on behalf of all students.

   Those who spoke last night on Mr. Wilbanks’s behalf are leaders in their chosen fields—government, business, religion, civic and community development. Each has deep roots in Gwinnett County and each is a friend of public education.

  Several said they had known Mr. Wilbanks for decades--dating back to his years at a teacher and administrator in DeKalb County. Others knew him in Gwinnett County when he opened Gwinnett Tech. All have known him in his tenure as Gwinnett Superintendent. 

   All spoke of Mr. Wilbanks’s desire for all children to learn and of his actions behind the scenes and in the public eye on behalf of every child being well educated as well as building the skills they need to be successful.

   The first speaker who came to the podium to praise Mr. Wilbanks was Bishop William Sheals, pastor of the Norcross-based Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church and the City of Hope.

   Bishop Sheals has been a steadfast and tireless friend of public education in Gwinnett County. He has been with us every step of the way, constantly vigilant in his support but most especially in times when his voice of reason is needed.

   When emotion escalated in the late 1990s over redistricting in Norcross and Peachtree Corners, Bishop Sheals was a strong and steady leader who moved community concern to a positive direction.

   When anger erupted in the early 2000s over standardized testing to ensure that all students were learning at or above grade level, Bishop Sheals provided a powerful lesson in community outreach. Under his leadership, the Hopewell Baptist Church opened the “Gateway Sunday School,” a tutorial for ALL children in the community to prepare them to pass the “Gateway” standardized test. A requirement of attendance at the Hopewell Gateway Sunday School was that parents would attend the tutorial along with their students. 

   Once again, with some in the community expressing emotion and anger directed at Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks, Bishop Sheals stood in public last night and spoke of his trust in Mr. Wilbanks and of his belief in the goodness of the Gwinnett County Public Schools under Mr. Wilbanks's leadership.

   The Norcross and Peachtree Corners communities, as well as all of Gwinnett County and the other communities from which Hopewell Baptist Church draws its congregation, are blessed to have Bishop William Sheals in our midst. 

   Other speakers from Norcross, Peachtree Corners, and Duluth included L.C. Johnson, a retired educator and long-time Gwinnett community leader. Mr. Johnson spoke of his personal knowledge of Mr. Wilbanks’ leadership of Gwinnett County Public Schools through Mr. Johnson’s role as a Board member of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful. 

   Another speaker familiar to our Duluth community was Mr. Herman Pennamon who has known Mr. Wilbanks since 1987 when Mr. Pennamon started the Gwinnett Unity Group and Mr. Wilbanks offered his support and guidance and asked others in the school district to help in the effort, as well. 

   Mr. Pennamon told the audience of approximately 200 that in his opinion Mr. Wilbanks is more concerned kids than some of their parents.

   While Bishop Sheals, Mr. L.C. Johnson, and Mr. Herman Pennamon have community roots in Norcross, Peachtree Corners, and Duluth, other leaders from all parts of Gwinnett County spoke on Mr. Wilbanks’s behalf.

   These included, among others, Bishop Ron Sailor, leader of the Christ the King Baptist Church in Dacula; State Representative Melvin Everson of Snellville; Mr. Eron Moore Jr., a member and leader of Gwinnett’s United Ebony Society; and Lawrenceville business owner Mr. Lanier Levett, father of three children who attend Gwinnett County Public Schools.

   As District III Board Member, I deeply appreciate the leaders who shared with us their experience in building civic capacity and support for public education with leaders who are themselves of such sterling character.

Archive