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

August 10, 2009 

Accolades for GCPS as 2009-10 Year Begins 

Welcome back to school in Gwinnett County and District III – K-12 students, parents, faculty and staff members, community members, business supporters, and all others who have make it possible for the year 2009-10 to be one of the best ever for public education. 

The Gwinnett County Public School system has achieved much of which to be proud. We will build on these strengths in the new school year and beyond. Among these many achievements, as cited in the August 9, 2009 edition of the Gwinnett Daily Post, are the following: 

GCPS has been named as one of five national finalists for the best urban school system in the nation as the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation in its 2009 “Broad Prize for U.S. Urban Education” initiative. As one of the five finalists, the system will receive $250,000 in scholarships for the Class of 2010. Awards will be made to students who would not have been able to go to college without the Broad funds. On September 16, 2009, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., we will find out if GCPS has been named #1 in the nation. The prize for “Best Urban Public School System in the Nation is $1 million in scholarships for GCPS students in the Class of 2010. 

Ninety-seven percent of GCPS elementary, middle, and high schools required to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) did so in 2009. Achieving AYP is a requirement of the No Child Left Behind federal legislation, while reporting these results is the domain of the Georgia Department of Education. ALL schools in District III achieved AYP in 2009. Congratulations to the principals, teachers, students, staff, parents, and others involved in this great achievement!! 

Twelve of Gwinnett County Public School systems’ sixteen high schools (two more high schools opened in the 2009-10 school year) were cited by Newsweek Magazine’s list of top high schools in the Nation, including Norcross High School and Duluth High School. This distinction is achieved by the Newsweek rating system, known as the Challenge Index, using the formula of dividing the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Cambridge tests taken by all students at the school by the number of graduating students. 

Black Collegian Magazine, a career and self-development magazine for black college students, named Gwinnett County Public Schools as a top employer. The recognition of GCPS being named #14 on the list came from review of the school system’s recruiting and retraining practices. The list includes other of the nation’s top employers, including Microsoft Corporation at #15, Walt-Mark Stores at #13, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car at #1. This is the second consecutive year that Black Collegian Magazine has recognized GCPS as one of the nation’s top employers. 

The Georgia Association of School Psychologists applauded GCPS for its service to Gwinnett children, presenting the Psychological Services Department with the “Innovative Practice Award.” 

Leading District III Schools in these initiatives are outstanding local school principals, faculty and staff, parents and volunteers, business and civic leaders, and a remarkable cadre of students in grades K-12. We welcome each one of the principals and their faculty and staff members to District III and wish each one success in the 2009-10 school year ahead. 

Among these leaders are the following returning principals and their faculty and staff: 

Ms. Priscilla McHam, Principal, Stripling Elementary School; 
Dr. Beverly Smith, Principal, Peachtree Elementary School; 
Dr. Doreen Hill, Principal, Norcross Elementary School; 
Mr. Jose DeJesus, Principal, Beaver Ridge Elementary School; 
Ms. Bron Gayna-Schmit, Principal, Simpson Elementary School; 
Ms. Dorothy Parker-Jarrett, Principal, Summerour Middle School; 
Ms. Wanda Yeargin, Principal, Pinckneyville Middle School; 
Mr. Jonathan Patterson, Principal, Norcross High School; 
Ms. Marianne Grimes, Principal, Give Center West; 
Dr. Barbara Martin, Principal, Monarch School; 
Dr. F.A. McLeod, Principal, Berkeley Lake Elementary School; 
Mr. Jeff Lee, Principal, Chattahoochee Elementary School; 
Ms. Paula DeWeiss, Principal, Mason Elementary School; 
Ms. Carlotta Rozzi, Principal, Chesney Elementary School; 
Dr. Laurie Burton , Principal, B.B. Harris Elementary School; 
Ms. Deborah Fusi, Principal, Duluth Middle School; 
Ms. Denise Showell, Principal, Hull Middle School; 
Mr. Jason Lane, Principal, Duluth High School. 

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