Lanier High School, near Buford, Ga.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
FEB. 2, 2021 | The current unrest caused by two new members of the Gwinnett School Board threatens the school board’s accreditation. The problem centers on governance.
Gwinnett schools are accredited by Cognia, the umbrella non-profit company under which three accrediting agencies operate, including the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Some older Gwinnett schools have been accredited since the early/mid 60’s, a relationship spanning 53 years. In recent years, the accrediting agency no longer accredits the 134 individual schools within the Gwinnett district, but now accredits the district as a whole. School districts are evaluated every five years.
Cognia’s continuing mission is to maximize opportunities in education — through advocacy, initiatives in school improvement and recognition, meaningful assessment, and respected guidance.
Accreditation is not about earning a label for a one-time evaluation. Gwinnett County Public Schools have sustained an exemplary commitment to continuous improvement in education for its students, as exemplified in student outcomes.
What has been so praiseworthy at Gwinnett schools is that they often enroll first time students speaking no English, and move them through the system so that they have outstanding records when they graduate. What is particularly remarkable about this is that so many diverse students are among its students.
A key factor in accreditation is the relationship between the school board and the superintendent and staff. There is a code of ethics and functions spelled out which defines the roles and responsibilities of the board and school staff.
Once elected, the duties of board members are to:
- Set overall policy of the school board;
- Adopt the annual budget; and
- Hire the superintendent.
The accrediting agency looks to make sure that the board members are not involved in day-to-day operations of the schools, or seeking to direct the board staff, but are engaged only in the above duties.
What is often seen in poorly-run school systems are board members demanding that an individual be hired as a principal or teacher; or championing ideas brought by citizens which are outside the purview of the school members; or trying to exert influence in discipline tribunals; or even demanding that this employee or that one, sometimes a football coach, be fired. Such operational items are not matters to be solved by board members, but by the superintendent and school administrators.
In past years, Alvin Wilbanks and the duly-elected school board have worked beautifully together, keeping within the parameters set by the accrediting agency. The board and its superintendent should work as a team, each understanding their role, crystallize policy to insure high performance standards and seek to have the best possible outcomes for students.
Gwinnett must continue to have excellent public schools, which promotes a good Gwinnett business climate. Keeping board members out of operational procedures is one way that will continue.
Working within Gwinnett County public schools is a highly sought position for educators who seek leadership roles. We’ve come across this following list of people who became principals and staff members in Gwinnett County, and did such a good job that they have won superintendent positions in other systems.
As an example, just last week, Associate Superintendent Steve Flynt was announced as the new superintendent in the Columbia County system, to begin this fall. Here is that list.
Former Gwinnett County public school employees who became school superintendents
- Beauty Baldwin, Buford, Ga. City system, (1984 to 1994);
- Dr. Charles Mason, Mountain Brook, Alabama, (1993 to 2009);
- Dr. David Stiles, Saraland City School District, Alabama;
- Dr. Cindy Loe, former Fulton County, Ga.;
- Dr. Angela Pringle Hairston, former in Richmond County, Ga., Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (N.C.) and current superintendent in Danville, Va. Public Schools;
- Dr. John Green, Jackson County, Ga.;
- Dr. Jonathan Patterson, currently in Fayette County, Ga.;
- Dr. Calvin Watts, currently for the Kent, Wash. School District;
- Dr. Paul Brooksher, currently in Bryan County, Ga.;
- Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis, currently in Henry County, Ga.;
- Dr. Terry Oatts, currently in Rockdale County, Ga.;
- Dr. Mark Albertus, currently in Carrollton, Ga. City Schools;
- Tom Wilson, formerly in Carrollton, Ga. City Schools, Buford, Ga. City Schools, now serving in Anderson, S.C. School District Five;
- Dr. Steve Flynt, recently named in Columbia County, Ga.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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