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

June 9, 2010

33rd Leadership Conference for GCPS 

For the 33rd consecutive year, the Gwinnett County Public School system held its annual Summer Leadership Conference for principals, assistant principals, and other administrators serving as leaders in the system’s 123 schools. 

Location of the conference was the system’s Instructional Support Center located on Old Peachtree Road. The facility provided a central location with three large areas for keynote sessions as well as breakout rooms, conference rooms, cafeteria, and small group rooms—all outfitted with state-of-the art technology. 

A cost-effective benefit from holding the 2010 Summer Leadership Conference was its home location, thus reducing travel costs and overnight lodging stays for the anticipated 775 participants expected to attend the 2 ½ day event. 

The conference began in 1978 in a newly constructed conference room at Lilburn Elementary School when the school system enrolled fewer than 10,000 students. Every year since then—in good economic times and in troubled economic times—the School Board and the Superintendent have advocated for inclusion of the annual Summer Leadership Conference in the school system’s budget. 

Now, in 2010, over three generations of leaders have matriculated through the annual Summer Leadership Conference. Their contributions to the school system have been noteworthy and sustainable. Investment in these leaders has moved the Gwinnett School System in 2009 and in 2010 to being selected as one of the top five Urban Public School Systems in the nation by the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. 

This achievement has been based on results—student achievement scores that reflect closing the achievement gap among ethnic groups at high levels over at least five academic years. 

Peter Drucker defined leadership as being known by its results, not by its attributes. 

Likely Drucker would view Gwinnett County Public Schools’ results leading to selection as one of five top Urban Public School Systems in the nation as evidence of leadership of the highest order. 

Here in Gwinnett County, the largest school system in Georgia and the 14th largest in the nation, leaders of the 123 schools that comprise the system take seriously their study of leadership and their desire for acquisition of leadership skills needed in the 21st Century. 

As the 2010 Conference opened, leaders were reminded that profound changes in our community, our nation, and our world will manifest themselves between now and 2020. 

Understanding and leading these changes at the local school and system levels will be among the most persistent challenges facing these principals, assistant principals, and other administrators. 

Contributing to the challenges will be the following: 

Results from the 2010 Census will likely confirm increased in-migration 
in Georgia that is expected to expand school-age enrollment; reflect a larger minority and low-income student population; identify a smaller work-age population; and confirm a larger number of retirees. 

Open seats in the Governor’s and the State Superintendent of Education 
Races in November 2010 will impact public education in Georgia—having a possible profound impact up to 2018 and beyond. 


Tough economic times will continue to impact local and State public 
education budgets and support. 

To sustain the successes that the Gwinnett County School System has experienced in the past ten years between now and 2020, research suggests that the leaders of our high performing organization will be required to continue to make leadership development a priority; manage talent within the 123 schools with a clear strategic focus; and reflect the realities of a brave, new, flat, global world. 

As they do so, they will be reminder of Peter Drucker’s view of the difference between Management and Leadership. “Management,” Drucker said, “is doing things right. 

“Leadership is doing the right things.” 

Congratulations and continued success to the 2010 GCPS Summer Leadership Conference participants. We are proud of you and thank you for your continued service to our 161,000 students where our mission is teaching and learning in a world class system of schools.

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