Dear Suwanee Families,

If you don't know where you're going, you just might get there.

In other words, without goals and direction, we probably won't be very successful. Sounds about right, doesn't it? I think that's true for us as people but also for organizations like our school and our school system. That's why I'm excited about Gwinnett County Public Schools' future and the work that's been done to make sure that children in our schools a decade from now are just as successful as the kids we serve today.

As you know, we have a high-performing school system that continues to educate our students at high levels, even as we grow and change. And we want to keep it that way. I'm very proud of the students, staff, and parents of our school community and all that we have accomplished together, but we must keep working and improving if we want to build on this record of success for our school and for our school system.

To do that, we need to know where we're headed, what we hope to achieve, and how we're going to get there. You'll find all those things in the school system's vision, mission, and beliefs; its goals, initiatives, and operational plans and local school plans for improvement.

What ties it all together are GCPS' Strategic Priorities for 2010-2020. Focused on 10 key areas, the Priorities communicate the direction in which the school district is moving for the next 5 to 10 years. They keep us focused on teaching and learning and drive continuous improvement in all that we do to educate and prepare students for the demands of the 21st century. The Priorities focus on the qualities and characteristics that employees and other stakeholders identified as important for:

·      Students

·      Employees

·      Parents and Guardians

·      Governance and Leadership

·      Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

·      Facilities and Operations

·      Financial Stewardship

·      Information Management and Technology

·      Communication

·      Public Image and Community Pride

I hope you'll take this opportunity to learn more about GCPS' strategic direction and the Strategic Priorities for 2010-2020. On the GCPS website, look for an informative publication and an overview video (Click here for link.) And throughout the school year, we'll share more about the specific priorities. 

     Personally, I would like to thank you for all that you do at home to support your child and his or her school success. You make your student and our school a priority, and we appreciate it. We need everyone- parents, students, employees, leaders, and community members- to pitch in and do their part. Together, we'll work to make sure that Gwinnett County Public Schools becomes the system of world-class schools we want for our children and helps build a better Gwinnett for all of us.

Warmly,

Dr. Kimberly M. Smith