Our Commitment to Students and Families

As a reminder, Gwinnett County Public Schools remains committed to ensuring that every student learns in a safe, caring, and supportive environment, even as current events raise questions for some families. While the district does not take positions on political issues, it continues to follow all applicable laws and district policies while supporting every student’s right to learn in a safe and caring environment.

GCPS serves a diverse community with a range of perspectives. Our focus is — and will remain — on students’ learning, well-being, and safety while they are at school.

What GCPS students, families, and staff should know:

Every child has the right to a public education, and a student’s background does not affect their ability to attend school or participate fully in learning.
GCPS does not ask about or keep records of immigration status.
Student information is private and protected by law. Records are only shared when legally required.
Schools follow clear safety and visitor procedures during the school day to protect students and staff.
Counselors, teachers, and administrators are available to support students who may feel anxious or have questions, regardless of the reason.

Families with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact their child’s school directly so staff can provide accurate information and appropriate support.

Read the full January 2026 message: GCPS Reaffirms Commitment to Safe, Caring, and Supportive Schools for Every Student

Learn more about GCPS Procedures if Law Enforcement or Immigration Officials Come to a School

GCPS Educational Effectiveness Surveys in February

Each year, to help improve our schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools collects feedback from our families, students, and staff members about their school experience. This year, the school district is giving Educational Effectiveness Surveys (EES) to get feedback on nine characteristics of high-performing schools. Students, families, and staff will have the opportunity to respond in February.

Here are key dates and valuable information regarding the survey process for our families, students, and staff:

February 2–27: Staff Survey is open, and GCPS staff received an email with the link.
February 2–27: Student Survey is open for students in grades 3-12. Students will access the survey through the Student Portal.
February 2–March 6: Family Survey is open. All GCPS Families receive a link to the survey via ParentSquare. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. The link to the survey will also be available in ParentVUE.

Learn more about these surveys, review the Student Survey, and how the opt-out process works if you do not wish for your student to participate. Please note that parents/caregivers may opt out if they do not want their child to participate in the EES Student Survey.

It's National CTE Month!

February is National Career and Technical Education Month, and GCPS has been celebrating its Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) student honorees! Mark your calendar for the CTAE Student of the Year awards event on Tuesday, February 24. Learn more about GCPS' exciting career pathways in the 2025-26 GCPS Career Guide. Translations are available online.

GCPS students named Regeneron Scholars

A round of applause is in order for two talented GCPS students, recently named Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars! These students are included in the competition's Top 300 students, coming from more than 200 American and international high schools in 34 states, Washington, D.C., and China.

STAR Students and Teachers, take a bow!

GCPS seniors and their selected teachers were recognized by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators with the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Student and Teacher awards. Twenty-nine students were honored for their achievements, and six students were announced as system winners.

Dr. Candice Richardson holds Teacher of the Year plaque

Dr. Candice Richardson of GIVE Center East is the GCPS 2027 Teacher of the Year

On January 29, teachers and education leaders gathered to celebrate teachers of the year from every school, and recognize Dr. Candice Richardson of GIVE Center East as the 2027* GCPS Teacher of the Year (TOTY). Tram Nguyen of Bethesda Elementary School was named Elementary School Teacher of the Year and runner up, and Austin Hannon of Twin Rivers Middle School was named Middle School Teacher of the Year. Learn more about Dr. Richardson, the finalists, semifinalists, and all our exceptional educators. Check out this photo gallery featuring the honored finalists.

*The 2027 TOTY designation reflects the district's alignment with the Georgia TOTY program, as the chosen teacher begins their tenure in the summer of 2026 and completes it in 2027.

Counselors of the year, left to right: Butler, Ferguson, Medlin, and Axmann

Counselors of the Year recognized

As part of National School Counseling Week, celebrated February 2-6, GCPS recognized counselors from across the district on February 3. Pamela Medlin of Meadowcreek High School was named the High School Counselor of the Year, Robin Butler of Snellville Middle School was named the Middle School Counselor of the Year, and Sherry Ferguson of Ferguson Elementary School was named the Elementary School Counselor of the Year. In addition, Sarah Axmann of Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology was named the Mary Joe Hannaford Administrator of the Year for support of their school's counselors and counseling program, and Dr. Erin Kilpatrick of Archer High School was named Gwinnett County Writer of the Year.

Reminder: Friday, February 6 is a Digital Learning Day.

February 7, 2026 is the GCPS Signature Teacher Job Fair at the Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road NW in Suwanee. Registration for all participants is encouraged at www.teamgcps.com.

Families who are interested in the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program for Rising Kindergartners are invited to register for the webinar on February 19 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Georgia Gwinnett College Preview Day

Make plans to attend the Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) Preview Day on Saturday, February 21 from 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. This half-day event provides opportunities to learn more about GGC, and the access it provides to a high-quality, 4-year college education with the personal experience you deserve. Register here before February 18 to attend the event.

GCPS students can attend a special session between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for help with financial aid, the FAFSA application, and assistance with college applications to any college.

Univision 34 Atlanta's 2026 "Orgullo de Nuestra Juventud" Scholarship is now open

Univision 34 Atlanta announced the launch of its annual scholarship program, Orgullo de Nuestra Juventud (formerly Liga de Campeones), for the 2026 school year, recognizing outstanding students for their academic excellence and community involvement. Learn more about eligibility requirements and the application process. The application deadline is March 31, 2026.

The 48th Annual Gwinnett Regional Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair is coming to the Gas South Convention Center on Friday, February 27 and we need your expertise to inspire the next generation of innovators! This year's theme is Building Our Future: One Project at a Time. Your time and engagement are needed to help provide the architects of tomorrow, our students, with the building blocks they need to maximize their potential.

Put on your hard hat and lend your expertise — we need experienced professionals to review projects, provide constructive feedback, and help us identify the next generation of scientific innovators.

Sign up to be a judge by February 13. Want to see what makes this event so special? Check out last year’s highlights.

Georgia DOE Public Hearing

On Saturday, February 7 at 10 a.m. the District 9 representative on the State Board of Education – Martha Zoller – will be at Rabun County High School for a public hearing.

The purpose of the hearing is to hear comments from interested citizens and educators within the congressional district regarding K-12 public education. All residents of the 9th Congressional District – which includes part of Gwinnett County – are invited to attend.

For more information, visit gadoe.org or email gprice@doe.k12.ga.us.

Family Advisory Council meeting on March 3

The GCPS Family Advisory Council (FAC) brings together parent representatives from across the district to partner with GCPS leaders on topics that impact our students and schools. The next meeting is scheduled for March 3, from 6:30–8:30 p.m. at the Instructional Support Center.

Please register by February 26 to attend, so we can plan better for the event.

2026 Board Meeting date changes

Board Meeting in March: March 18, 2026
Work Session in May: May 12, 2026
Board Meeting in May: May 14, 2026

View the full 2026 meeting calendar on our website.

You can email your School Board members, individually or as a group; or contact the Coordinator of Board Services at 678-301-6040 or by email at MySchoolBoard@gcpsk12.org.

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