Samuel Esowhode, Senior at Central Gwinnett High School
As of 2021, Gwinnett County Public Schools is officially the 13th largest school district within the United States. With nearly 180,000 students, Gwinnett County requires a leader that can appropriately manage and effectively lead Gwinnett County Public Schools to greatness and academic success.
As the county continues to burgeon, a flexible, leadership-oriented superintendent who aims to best serve the community is required.
Hiring a superintendent who will set a success-oriented tone and prioritize the needs and interests of Gwinnett County students, faculty, and parents is an integral stepping stone in further improving the condition of Gwinnett County Public Schools.
In order to progress as a district, Gwinnett County Public Schools needs a superintendent that will prioritize the voice of students, faculty, and parents. It’s impossible for the county to develop without putting forth the interests of the communities that it serves.
A superintendent who will fully represent the community’s interests and wishes is an essential characteristic; the superintendent must wear many hats but keep the focus of the district clear.
Additionally, the superintendent must have well developed soft skills in order to effectively communicate with the board, students, parents, faculty, and staff in a variety of formats. He or she must make a substantial effort to communicate the needs and interests of the Gwinnett County Public Schools community and all that are affected by such decisions.
Perhaps the most significant characteristic in a superintendent is the ability to take risks and make large commitments. It seems as though several superintendents have created weak, vague goals that do very little to serve and improve the condition of the district to be served.
Although an average superintendent is likely to create vague, weak goals, an outstanding superintendent is not afraid to make bold goals and work towards achieving such goals.
By hiring a superintendent with these characteristics, Gwinnett County Public Schools will improve its ability to serve each and every individual within the district to a previously unforeseen degree.
Jason has worked in education for over 15 years as a teacher, blogger and community advocate. He speaks and writes primarily about the need to improve education for Black boys, particularly increasing the number of Black male educators in schools. In addition to blogging here at EdLanta, Jason is also a featured writer at Education Post.
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