Gwinnett Schools Focused on Future Alignment
“I have 181,347 children, and only one that I claim on my taxes,” said Dr. Calvin Watts, Superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools. And then, he laughed. Watts was, of course, talking about the school system’s latest enrollment figures, and his now college-age son, as he delivered the annual State of the Schools Address to a sold-out crowd during the Gwinnett Chamber On Topic monthly luncheon, presented by Rocket IT.
An impassioned and experienced educator, Watts is a member of The Broad Academy Fellowship and has demonstrated a strong track record of success as an instructional, operational, and community leader. During his address this Wednesday, Watts highlighted the school’s current hiring initiatives noting its recent recognition in Forbes as one of the best employers in the state for 2022. He also shared that the system operates on a $2.8 billion annual budget and emphasized that this equates to roughly a $10,000 investment per student enrolled. He smiled like a proud father as he recalled spring of 2022 and the 13,000-plus graduates who received their diplomas, for which 77% had plans to continue their education. But perhaps the culminating point to Dr. Watt’s address was the focus placed on the schools’ newly adopted blueprint for the future; a blueprint designed to bring system-wide alignment in four key areas: empathy, equity, effectiveness, and excellence. The goal for this strategy, he explained, was to shift the culture of the organization to one that is whole learner-focused where every child is known by name, face, individual strength, and need.
Watts closed his message with a smile, resounding support for his team, and an energy and excitement about what the future holds for Gwinnett’s students and the community’s workforce. For more information on Gwinnett County Public Schools, visit GCPSk12.org, and to learn about our next On Topic luncheon, go to GwinnettChamber.org/Events.
