Dr. Candice Richardson with Teacher of the Year plaque

Dr. Candice Richardson of GIVE Center East named 2027 GCPS 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.

GCPS 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.

Ken Yant named 2026 Foodservice Achievement Management Excellence Golden Director

GCPS applauds Ken Yant, Executive Director of the School Nutrition Program, for being named the Foodservice Achievement Management Excellence (FAME) 2026 Golden Director. The FAME Golden Director award is a prestigious distinction and pinnacle of achievement in the K-12 school nutrition industry.

All GCPS staff are invited to take part in the 2025 Educational Effectiveness Survey

Each year, to help improve our schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools collects feedback from families, students, and staff members about their school experiences. Staff members received an email from Ibis Public Sector with a link to their staff survey on February 2. GCPS staff can complete the survey between February 2-27.

Reminder: Team GCPS receives emergency messages through ParentSquare

Don't miss out on emergency messages or important alerts! Like families, all GCPS staff have access to the ParentSquare app! Download it and adjust the settings for your use. Please visit the ParentSquare page on the district website to learn more.

The ParentSquare app is a great way to stay informed when inclement weather results in changes to the school schedule. You can find more information about GCPS' inclement weather policy here.

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. There's still time to get involved. Sign up to be a judge by February 13.

Small Gifts. Big Futures.

Every day, GCPS staff lift up our students. With the GCPS Foundation, you can make an even bigger difference. Small gifts — just a few dollars per paycheck — create big futures through scholarships, classroom grants, and emergency support for families. Your gift supports nearly 200 student scholarships, classroom innovation, CTAE programs, and emergency needs for students and families. Every contribution to the GCPS Foundation matters — and every dollar goes directly to student support.

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.

New Board Meeting Schedule for 2026!

In 2026 the Board of Education will hold its Board Work Session and Board Business Meeting on two separate days each month, instead of one day. View the full 2026 meeting calendar on our website.

The next Board Work Session is Wednesday, February 18, beginning at 6 p.m.
The next regular Board Business meeting is Thursday, February 19. (Online, find links to sign up for the public comment sections of the meeting .)

Follow the Board of Education on social media: