Education

Navigating Back to School in Gwinnett County

Published

4 years ago

August 2, 2021

Mark Woolsey

In mid-July, GCPS held New Teacher Orientation to welcome our newest educators to Gwinnett. Photo from GCPS facebook.

Here we go again.

As the school year draws nigh, local administrators are having to grapple — one more time — with a school-related twist in the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the official and public response to it.

Fortunately, more positive changes are waiting in the wings as well.

Gwinnett County Public Schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) has fallen into line with new Centers for Disease Control guidance issued Tuesday, July 27. The federal public health agency is now recommending that students, teachers, staff and visitors in K-12 schools universally mask up indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.

GCPS says as a result, masks are now required for all students, all adult personnel and visitors in all school facilities and on school buses, even those who previously had been fully vaccinated.

School officials said the toughened requirement takes into consideration such factors as the rise in Gwinnett County COVID cases and that children younger than 12 are ineligible for the current menu of inoculations.

“We must do all we can to keep students in school in person,” said Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks. He added that “a layered approach is needed to keep students safe in school.”

Wilbanks said, nonetheless, it was disappointing that the year was starting with masks. In addition to the mask requirement, he’s urging those who are eligible for the vaccines, but who haven’t yet taken that step, to roll up their sleeves.

The district had gone mask-optional in June following Governor Kemp’s signing of an executive order restricting public school face-covering mandates.

Additionally, GCPS spokeswoman Sloan Roach said the district continues to stress deep cleaning and disinfection practices in schools and has installed upgraded air filters in some buildings.

Gwinnett school officials said that in light of the latest curveball, they’ll allow families to decide on whether children should be in school or learn remotely through Monday, August 2. Families wanting to make a change should contact their local school. The first day of school is August 4, with a staggered start for in-person learning.

A spokeswoman for GCPS said — before the latest announcement — that 98% of their students would be physically in school come the beginning of the year.

Private schools

In contrast to the county schools, private and parochial institutions serving Peachtree Corners had not announced any changes in policy resulting from the CDC’s new guidance change at press time, but indicated they were taking a close look.

Director of School Life Jimmy Chupp at Greater Atlanta Christian said that “we are reviewing mitigation strategies in light of the new recommendations and hope to have an answer soon.” Like Gwinnett, the campus had become mask-optional June 1. Chupp had said earlier that they had expected to continue that this year.

With such uncertainty present, the headmaster at Cornerstone Christian Academy said that they are still weighing options. Colin Creel said they had planned on publicizing their COVID protocols August 2. He emphasized that the school is in the process of consulting with health officials and others and hoped to have an announcement shortly.

“We’re going to stick to our plan,” he said in an email. “We’ve made some adjustments and we’ll continue to make appropriate adjustments as necessary.” Creel said that aside from the CDC recommendations, they’re still waiting for guidance from the health department, saying there’s always a chance a local mandate could be laid down.

Could the CDC change impact the number of families choosing digital learning? Chupp said in a previous interview that GAC does have a digital learning option in place, a platform so finely tuned that it virtually brings absent students into the classroom.

Parents and students will be able to choose either in-person or remote learning each day, so giving estimated numbers is difficult, he said. “That option allows for great flexibility,” Chupp added.

That theme of being nimble has been played up by other administrators. Head of School at Wesleyan School Chris Cleveland said he thinks the lessons learned and approaches taken during the 2020-2021 school year will stand them in good stead.

Departing from other campuses he said — before this latest announcement — that a digital option will not be offered at Wesleyan. In an email, he had said, “We believe students need to be in school every day. Teachers are more effective, and students learn best when they are in the classroom with their peers.”

Exceptions could be made in the case of prolonged illness or multiple quarantines, he added. Wesleyan had similarly eased its mask mandate. Cleveland could not be reached before press time to comment on what officials there may do as a result of the CDC guidance alteration.

What else is new at GCPS

An altered COVID landscape isn’t the only change for the new school year. New school facilities and new policies will greet some students and their parents.

In the Gwinnett schools, procedures on visiting will be tightened up. Campus employees will start using a tool called Raptor enabling each school building to screen all adult visitors against the National Sex Offender Registry.

That will dictate a change in the sign-in process, said school officials. After visitors show up and are “buzzed in” using a bell on the visitor management panel, they’ll head to the front desk. Staffers will ask first-time adult visitors for a drivers’ license or other state-issued ID. After cross-checking visitors against the database, those who are cleared get a detailed badge with the name of the visitor, the date and the reason why the visitor’s on-campus.

A district news release indicates subsequent visitors will be screened as well.

Also new this year, more surveillance cameras are being installed in district high school stadiums. “As a district, we have a responsibility to ensure the schools are safe and secure for our students, staff and visitors,” said Al Taylor, GCPS Associate Superintendent for School Improvement and Operations in a news release.

Also new in Gwinnett this year is the opening of a School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett High School. Administrators call it a state-of-the-art facility with more than 50,000 square feet of new space, where students can delve into performing and visual arts as well as arts technology classes.

In addition, Benefield Elementary and Grayson High School added classrooms, and Berkmar High School added theater performance facilities.

Growth and changes at local private schools

At Greater Atlanta Christian, Chupp said the new school year won’t bring any noticeable changes other than a shift in the structure of class schedules.

Some changes and upgrades are in the works at Wesleyan School. Cleveland said this fall will mark the debut of the school’s newly redesigned cross-country course, the last piece of the recently developed Hoyt Family Athletic Complex.

It includes a 13,000 square-foot fieldhouse plus other amenities. Also, growth in the school’s STEM program dictated construction of a STEM wing in their library as a temporary home for the program.

Incidentally, this year is the 25th anniversary of the first day of the school on the Peachtree Corners campus, following a 1996 move from Sandy Springs.

Students and parents at Cornerstone Christian Academy will see substantial physical changes, including demolition of the middle building and creation of a campus mall with a stage on one end. A plaza will be added on the other. A middle school plaza is also being added.

■ Watch for further changes in COVID guidance and mandates on the Peachtree Corners Magazine website.

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Gwinnett County Public Schools to require masks based on latest CDC guidance

Mark Woolsey

Education

GA Tech, Peachtree Corners Solidify Partnership with First-of-its-Kind Venue

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2025

Arlinda Smith Broady

The fortunate 200 or so attendees of the opening of the Georgia Tech Atrium at Curiosity Lab in Peachtree Corners can say they witnessed a significant bit of history. The ceremony highlighted a decade-long partnership between the Georgia Institute of Technology and the city of Peachtree Corners and introduced one of the university’s new global initiatives.

A group of people sitting in white chairs inside a spacious event space with lots of windows. They are the audience at the opening of the GT Atrium space in Peachtree Corners. — photo credit: Rico Figliolini

Led by the Center for 21st Century Universities at the Georgia Tech College of Lifetime Learning, each GT Atrium will offer a space for the institute’s faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners to advance their academic and professional interests in the country or region that it serves.

Designed to foster hands-on student research, industry collaboration and technology breakthroughs, they will provide tailored programs, event space, a study abroad base, co-working and co-learning spaces and opportunities to engage and associate with Georgia Tech.

The opening of the GT Atrium in Peachtree Corners is the first of many planned collaborations to come between the school and municipalities throughout the state.

A group of people in suits standing outside the GT Atrium space in Peachtree Corners for the ribbon cutting ceremony — photo courtesy of the City of Peachtree Corners

“The Georgia Tech Atrium at Curiosity Lab represents the future of higher education — where learning extends beyond the classroom and where broad community collaboration creates novel opportunities and advances,” said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera.

“This initiative proceeds from a concerted strategy to extend Georgia Tech’s reach, expand access to our resources and expertise and build connections that benefit students and advance research. We’re proud to partner with the City of Peachtree Corners to bring this vision to life.”

Key points

Key points of the event included the Atrium’s role in fostering innovation, upskilling and community engagement. Through this and other initiatives, Georgia Tech aims to double its degree awards and enhance its research impact.

The atrium will offer professional education, K-12 programs and networking opportunities.

The project aligns with the state’s economic development goals, having created 193,000 jobs and $90 billion in investments since 2019.

The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, emphasizing the significance of the Atrium in Georgia’s innovation ecosystem.

A collaborative project

With Gov. Brian Kemp, his wife Marty Kemp, Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason, Ga Tech President Ángel Cabrera, Georgia state Rep. Scott Hilton-R, Peachtree Corners and many other politicians and dignitaries present, Gov. Kemp made a point of thanking local Georgia Department of Economic Development board member Jose Perez for his hand in bringing the project together.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp standing at a podium speaking to the audience at the opening of the GT Atrium in Peachtree Corners — Governor Brian Kemp at the opening of the GT Atrium in Peachtree Corners; photo credit: Rico Figliolini

“And I just want to thank Jose Perez — you’re a great champion,” he said. “We appreciate your leadership and your friendship. You know this pro-business environment that we have is essential to Georgia’s success, and it’s why we’ve been named the number one state in the country for business for 11 consecutive years.”

A resident of Peachtree Corners, Perez is the retired President of Target Market Trends, Inc. (TMT), a consulting firm he founded in 2002 to help clients develop market strategies. He also spent 25 years at BellSouth in various management roles and worked as an international consultant with Gartner, Inc.

From 2004 to 2011, he served on the Board of Education and held leadership positions with the National Association of State Boards of Education and the State Charter School Commission.

About Georgia Tech

The Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech, is one of the top public research universities in the U.S., developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition.

The Institute offers business, computing, design, engineering, liberal arts, and sciences degrees, as well as professional development and K-12 programs for fostering success at every stage of life.

Its more than 53,000 undergraduate and graduate students represent 54 U.S. states and territories and more than 143 countries. They study at the main campus in Atlanta, at instructional sites around the world, and through distance and online learning.

As a leading technological university, Georgia Tech is an engine of economic development for Georgia, the Southeast, and the nation, conducting more than $1 billion in research annually for government, industry, and society

For more about the GT Atrium at Peachtree Corners, visit atrium.gatech.edu/peachtree-corners.

Read the full story about the opening of the GA Tech Atrium in the May/June issue of Peachtree Corners Magazine available online beginning May 8.

Gallery photos of the event courtesy of Curiosity Lab

Arts & Literature

Q&A with Terry Gabbard, Norcross High’s New Theatre Director

Published

2 months ago

March 4, 2025

Shawne Taylor

A middle-aged man with short hair and glasses. He's wearing a grey long-sleeved shirt and his arms are crossed in front of him. He's standing in front of an empty high school theatre stage with a purple curtain behind him.

The Norcross High School drama department has a reputation for presenting quality productions each year, and 2024-2025 is no exception. They staged a one-act show of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in October followed by “Miss Nelson is Missing” in January. Next up for NHS Theatre is Matilda the Musical, set to open in April.

Leading the department this year is NHS’ new theatre director, Terry Gabbard, who came to Norcross with degrees in educational theatre and educational leadership, as well as over 20 years of public school theatre teaching and directing experience.

An award-winning director and playwright, he received the prestigious John W. Parker Award for excellence in directing in 2015, has had numerous productions named “distinguished play” from the North Carolina Theatre Conference and has three Best Musical wins from the Blumey Awards (Charlotte, NC’s version of the Tony awards).

Gabbard has also published two plays, one of which, “Our Place,” was named one of the top ten most produced short plays in American high schools.

Additionally, in 2020, his production of “Puffs” (a clever and comedic play set in the world of Harry Potter) was selected as one of only a handful of productions in America to perform at the International Thespian Society festival.

Though busy with preparations for Matilda, Gabbard recently took the time to answer a few questions about his career, his love of theatre and what’s next for the NHS drama department.

Which productions have you worked on since joining NHS?

We started off performing The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in October, and we did a performance of Miss Nelson is Missing in January.

Where did you teach and direct before coming to Norcross?

I always explain that my wife supports my teaching habit, so we tend to move as her opportunities change.

I’ve taught mostly in high schools in Florida, North Carolina and now Georgia. I have taught in Gwinnett Public Schools before at Paul Duke STEM and in Cobb County at Campbell High School.

How did the move to NHS come about?

After leaving GCPS for a short few years, I was anxious to get back to this system and this community, and when this opportunity presented itself, I jumped at the chance.

Have you always had a love for theatre?

I started participating in theatre when I was in 9th grade and have never stopped. For me, the thing that drew me to the art form was the sense of community that theatre creates.

What led you to pursue a career teaching and directing? Was there a specific moment that you realized it was what you wanted to do?

When I was a senior in high school, my theatre director let me direct a play in his theatre [for] one class. This is when I realized how much I loved directing and coaching other actors.

What was it like to win the John W. Parker award in 2015? And to be recognized with so many other honors?

I have been blessed to have been recognized several times by my peers and the organizations I’ve partnered with. It’s always nice to have these recognitions, but I have come to believe that any high school theatre production is a miracle in and of itself.

Producing theatre in high schools is always a challenge and getting to opening night is always a huge accomplishment.

Will you continue playwriting in addition to your work as NHS theatre director?

I haven’t written any plays in some time, but I’m definitely starting to get the itch. All of my plays have premiered at the schools where I was teaching. I imagine a world premier will happen at Norcross pretty soon.

I have never directed Matilda, and I am extremely excited for the challenge. The music is incredible, and the characters are big and over the top.

What plans do you have for the NHS theatre program for the remainder of this year and next year?

After Matilda, things wrap up for us. I haven’t yet decided what shows to tackle next year. I know that I want to find plays that have a different tone than the pieces we did this year. The shows have been comedic this year. Something more dramatic is definitely in our future.

Poster for a high school production of Matilda the Musical with dates, graphics and QR code.

The NHS production of Matilda the Musical opens in April.

Dates and show times are:

Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m.
Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 26 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit nhs-drama.com.

Education

Greater Atlanta Christian School Announces $30M Campus Investment

Published

2 months ago

February 21, 2025

Peachtree Corners Magazine staff

Rendered image of a seating area with high ceilings, white side chairs, an arched glass and metal framed entrance and art on the walls.

The investment will transform the campus and elevate student experiences

Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) has announced an investment of over $30 million in facilities and program improvements at GAC, made possible through the Light the Way Campaign, a visionary initiative designed to elevate the educational experience for generations of students.

This transformative campaign will fund a dozen renovation and building projects that reflect GAC’s commitment to preparing students for success in an ever-changing world while deepening the school’s strong Christian foundation. The school recently shared details about some of the program’s key projects.

The Tidwell Commons

At the heart of the campaign is the Jim & Julie Tidwell Commons, a dynamic hub for middle and high school students to gather, collaborate and innovate.

A rendering of a high school hang out space. It's modern with round white tables and sleek brown chairs, a coffee shop and rows of lighting on the ceiling. — Tidwell Commons; image courtesy of Greater Atlanta Christian School

The Tidwell Commons will feature a new student-run coffee shop and bistro, the new Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program, a creative media production studio and modern academic spaces, including an enhanced library and academic support areas. The space will also be home to Christian Life and Missions, providing a cornerstone for nurturing faith and spiritual growth within the GAC community.

“The Tidwell Commons will be more than a facility; it will serve as a hub where ideas come to life, equipping students with real-world skills in business, innovation and creativity,” said Dr. Paul Cable, GAC’s high school principal.

The Combee Elementary Complex

The Jim & Becky Combee Elementary Complex will undergo a complete redesign to better support the needs of today’s students. Renovations will include flexible, modern classrooms, enhanced STEM and outdoor learning spaces and a state-of-the-art engineering, science and design lab.

Rendered image of a sleek, state-of-the art school science lab with work stations, tables and stools to sit on. — Combee Elementary science lab; image courtesy of Greater Atlanta Christian School

“This renovation will not only modernize the Combee Elementary Complex but will also create an inspiring and secure environment where our younger learners can thrive and grow, reflecting our commitment to excellence in education and student well-being,” said Rhonda Helms, lower school principal.

Athletic improvements

The campaign also includes a new Athletic Field House to support GAC’s soccer, tennis, baseball, softball and girls flag football programs. Featuring locker rooms, training and meeting spaces and upgraded amenities, it will serve as a modern space for game-day operations and practices.

“This is a premier facility that will allow our athletes to compete at the highest level,” shared Athletic Director Tim Hardy.

Rendered aerial image of the exterior of a school athletic building, surrounding fields and tennis courts and walkways. — New athletic field house; image courtesy of Greater Atlanta Christian School

In addition to the Field House, GAC is renovating and doubling the space in the Naik Athletic Training Center, further strengthening one of the top performance training programs in the state.

“Our performance training program is among the best in Georgia, and these upgrades will align our facilities with the excellence of our programming,” Hardy said.

The expanded training center will feature state-of-the-art performance training equipment, a dedicated speed and agility area and a new recovery suite.

“This space will give our athletes the tools they need to recover efficiently and perform at their peak,” he added.

Wood Family Treehouse

Additionally, the new Wood Family Treehouse and Canopy Walk, which was completed last month, will inspire and elevate students’ outdoor learning experiences for years to come.

Wooden treehouse and walkway, just elevated off the ground, in a wooded area in fall. The treehouse is surrounded by leaf-less trees. Brown leaves cover the ground. — Wood Family Treehouse; photo courtesy of Greater Atlanta Christian School

Designed as a versatile hub for group learning, hands-on activities and after-school programs, the Treehouse is an exciting space for educational growth, exploration and team-building. It’s a place where students can connect with nature, develop new skills and deepen their love for the outdoors.

An investment in the future

This investment campaign is about more than just buildings though; each project focuses on today’s students as well as future generations, ensuring that GAC remains a beacon of excellence with a foundation of faith for years to come.

Rendered image of a hallway in an elementary school. White walls with natural brown wood beams and tree shaped pillars lead to an open hangout space with comfortable seating. — Elementary complex; image courtesy of Greater Atlanta Christian School

Through the Light the Way Campaign, students will benefit from improvements in academics, athletics, the arts, community and Christian faith.

About Greater Atlanta Christian School

Greater Atlanta Christian (GAC) is one of Atlanta’s largest Christian schools, serving over 1,800 PK-12 students. The walkable 90-acre campus is located in Norcross, just off of I-85 and Indian Trail Road.

GAC provides an array of in-person, online and hybrid options with over 65 STEM courses, 30 Advanced Placement (AP) courses, dual college credit courses and personalized and project-based learning.

In addition to forward thinking innovation, GAC students benefit from caring, responsive teaching and small class sizes.

GAC is a faith-infused, academically rich community, ranking at the top of the state for teaching quality, arts and athletics.

For more information, visit greateratlantachristian.org.