Fall 2025 Essentials

A Message from Interim Superintendent Dr. Al Taylor

As we settle into the fall, I want to thank you for the many ways you support our students each day. It’s hard to believe we’ve already finished the first quarter! I continue to be inspired by our students’ commitment to learning, the dedication of our teachers and staff, and the strong engagement of our families and community.

This school year, Phase II of our Transition Plan is guiding our work as the Board continues the search for our next superintendent. The Transition Plan is rooted in our strategic plan, aligned to the Board of Education’s Core Beliefs and Commitments, and serves as a tool to guide our work until a new superintendent is named. Here are some of our focus areas this semester in GCPS:

Teaching and Learning: Strengthening literacy, academic excellence, and expanding college and career pathways.
Safe and Secure Schools: Installing Evolv security systems in all middle and high schools, providing safety officers at elementary schools, and working with families to keep schools safe and welcoming.
Family and Community Engagement: Building stronger partnerships through advisory councils, surveys, and school events. Your voice matters, and we are grateful for your involvement.
Operational Stability: Supporting teaching and learning every day while celebrating excellence across our schools—including our Teachers of the Year.
Preparing for the Future: Assisting the Board in the superintendent search and planning long-term needs, including how we fund and sustain our schools.

This fall, we are also sharing updates about our Capital Plan, funded by the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST). Thanks to past support from Gwinnett voters, E-SPLOST has funded many of the tools and spaces our students and staff rely on—classrooms, buses, technology, and safety systems. On November 4, 2025, Gwinnett County voters will decide on the continuation of E-SPLOST, which will shape school improvements for the next five years. Learn more at www.gcpsk12.org/capital-plan.

Thank you for your partnership. Together, we are creating classrooms and communities where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.

Committed to excellence, together,

Dr. Al Taylor,
Interim Superintendent

Get to know Katie Lessard,
the 2026 GCPS Teacher
of the Year

As we celebrate the talented professionals who lead student learning and achievement in Gwinnett’s classrooms, the 2026* GCPS Teacher of the Year (TOTY), Katie Lessard, shares her experience being recognized as the district’s top educator.

Lessard notes that the most rewarding aspect of serving as the GCPS TOTY is “connecting with the incredible educators” in this school district. “I’ve always believed that teaching is the most honorable profession, but also one that is too much for a single person to handle alone. GCPS is home to a vast wealth of talent and dedication, and it has been a privilege to share in the collective work of supporting our students.”

She adds, “This tenure has provided me with a renewed sense of purpose, prompting me to realize that my ‘students’ now encompass not just the children in my class, but also those throughout the entire district. This honor has amplified my voice, allowing me to advocate for students on a larger scale…
I am able to highlight the importance of valuing every child’s unique gifts and helping them leverage learning opportunities to reach their personal best.”

* The educator named 2026 district Teacher of the Year officially serves from July 2025 through June 2026 and applies for state Teacher of the Year consideration in the fall of 2025.

Dyslexia Awareness:
What Families Should Know

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising understanding and support for individuals with dyslexia. It’s an opportunity for schools, families, and communities to celebrate the strengths of learners with dyslexia and advocate for inclusive practices. October 8 marks Dyslexia Awareness Day, a special moment to spotlight the importance of early identification and effective intervention. Let’s use this month to promote empathy, education, and empowerment for all who experience dyslexia.

Screening for Characteristics of Dyslexia

Gwinnett County Public Schools screens students three times a year as part of a process to identify characteristics of dyslexia as a component of the Georgia Early Literacy Act. The screening does not diagnose students with dyslexia, but it helps identify students who may be at risk and in need of additional support. The screening looks at important reading skills like:

Identifying sounds in spoken words
Processing speed for language
Recognizing letters
Decoding words
Reading and understanding passages

If a student shows signs of difficulty, teachers take a closer look to decide what kind of support is needed.

The GCPS website can be personalized to aid accessibility for dyslexic visitors. Click on the
figure in the blue circle at the bottom. Choose “Font,” and Dyslexic is an option.

How We Support Students

When a student needs help, schools create a plan using proven teaching strategies and materials that build reading skills step by step. A trained teacher works with the student, and progress is checked regularly to make sure the support is working. The goal is to help students catch up quickly and feel confident in their reading.

Helpful Resources for Families

Want to learn more about dyslexia and how to support your child?
Review the local and national resources on our Top Literacy Resources for Parents and Educators page, where we provide the tools, advice, or support you will need to support your student.

2025 Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council

The 2025–26 Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council began meeting in September. Representing our middle and high schools, the students meet with Dr. Taylor to share their perspective on how to improve our schools, learn about district initiatives, and further develop their leadership skills. This year, the council will also be engaging in a service project in partnership with American Cancer Society at the Gwinnett Relay For Life event on April 25, 2026.

Evolv Weapons Detection in Schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools is about halfway through installing the new Evolv weapons detection systems. Most of our high schools are already using the Evolv system each morning, and installation will begin soon at all middle schools.

Students simply walk through with backpacks, phones, and keys — only if the system alerts is a quick secondary check needed. Installations are happening at about three schools each week, with all middle and high schools set to be finished by March 2026.

Thank you for your patience as schools adjust entry routines. Reviewing timely information from your school and arriving prepared for the scanners helps ensure a safe and smooth start to the school day.

You’re Invited: Family Advisory Council Meetings

Your voice matters in shaping the future of GCPS! Join us to:

Connect with district leaders;
Hear updates on important initiatives that impact our students and schools, and
Share your ideas and perspectives, and ask questions.

Upcoming meetings:

November 4 (register by October 30)
January 6 (register by January 1)
February 3 (register by January 29)

All GCPS parents and guardians are welcome to attend the Family Advisory Council meetings. All meetings are held in-person. Visit www.gcpsk12.org/FAC for meeting details and to RSVP—we look forward to seeing you there!

Safety is a Home-School Partnership

School should always be a safe place for learning, friendships, and growth. Parents and guardians play a critical role in making sure every child understands what is appropriate — and what is not — when it comes to school behavior and safety. These items and behaviors are never allowed at school:

Weapons of any kind — real or toy look-alikes;
Drugs, alcohol, or vaping products;
Fighting or aggressive behavior;
Terroristic threats, either verbal, written, or shared electronically.

GCPS maintains a zero-tolerance policy for weapons, drugs, alcohol, fighting, bullying, threats, intimidation, and terroristic threats, all of which carry serious disciplinary consequences, and can result in referral to law enforcement.

Use these tips for addressing school safety rules with your child:

Be clear and direct. Use simple, age-appropriate language when you explain why the rules exist. Connect safety rules to keeping themselves and others safe.
Periodically check backpacks, coats, and personal items with your child. Use this as a way to build trust and responsibility. Say, “Let’s look through your bag together to make sure you have everything you need for a safe and successful day.”
Keep the door open. Reassure your child that they can always come to you or another trusted adult without fear of “getting in trouble” for speaking up.
Remind your child that making safe and respectful choices shows leadership and maturity. Praise them when they demonstrate responsibility.

Superintendent Search graphic with magnifying glass

The Gwinnett County Board of Education has launched a national search for the next Superintendent/CEO of GCPS — a collaborative, forward-thinking leader who will champion student success and build on the district’s progress. Keep up with the process on the district website.

Tuesday November 4, 2025 is Election Day.

Make a plan to vote and make your voice heard!

Advance voting for the November 4 election runs from October 14–31. Election day is Tuesday, November 4 (a GCPS digital learning day). Gwinnett voters can find polling locations, hours, and voter I.D. requirements at www. gwinnettcounty.com/departments/elections.