Teaching Gwinnett

They may not be firefighters or police officers, but they are often the first responders in Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS). We are talking about school social workers. School social workers are like Swiss army knives when it comes to helping students. They have just about every tool you need to advise, guide,

On this episode of Teaching Gwinnett, GCPS School Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts joins the show and talks to the finalists for the 2023 GCPS School Social Worker of the Year award. We also hear from Crystal Baskerville, GCPS' Director of Health and Social Services, who talks about what school social workers do, why they are needed and how they impact learning and student lives. And we end the show with another addition of Pop Quiz.

2020 Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Teacher of the Year Rebecca Carlisle returns to the show to guest host the "HR Takeover!- How to create teacher leaders." The fun energetic educator discusses her transition from high school teacher to Human Resources, where she is Assistant Director of Recruitment and Retention and whether she misses teaching. She goes on to interview Lin Thornton, Principal of Jones Middle and Teresa Blackman, 3rd grade teacher at Starling Elementary School. The two teacher leaders discuss their motivations, mentors and their journey to becoming leaders. They also share easy to understand strategies for becoming a teacher leader. Bernard Watson rejoins the show at the end to co-host another edition of "Pop Quiz."

Dr. Calvin Watts, Gwinnett County Public Schools' new superintendent, and the first African-American to hold the position, drops by to discuss a variety of topics including, the district’s face mask mandate, social emotional learning, his relationship with the Gwinnett Board of Education and so much more.

Episode Highlights:

Two former Gwinnett County Public Schools Teachers of the Year (TOTY) stop by to discuss:

From the hunters to the hunted! Collins Hill High School’s varsity football coach Lenny Gregory drops by to discuss the 2021-22 season and the challenges of winning the 7A state title after coming up short in the title game last year. The district’s athletic director also makes an appearance to discuss the success of girls flag football, allowing fans to watch games in person and another edition to, Pop Quiz. 

The new "School of the Arts" (SOTA) at Central Gwinnett High School is another example of Gwinnett County Public Schools' unwavering commitment to the fine arts. Shane Orr, the principal of Central Gwinnett High, stops by and explains why students obsessed with street dance or play an instrument, love recording or illustrate graphic novels, dream of art installations or write their own music, can pursue their artistic vision, explore their creativity, and learn from industry professionals at the SOTA. The district's director of fine arts explains how the SOTA came about and another edition of Pop Quiz.

Carla Hart, Transportation Manager with Gwinnett County Public Schools, joins the show to discuss transporting students during a pandemic, what the district is doing to keep students safe on the ride to and from school and what parents and students should know about taking the school bus this year. She also reflects on the COVID-19 related challenges the transportation department faced over the last 18 months, why Uber Eats and Door Dash could learn a thing or two from her department and her revealing reaction to “Pop Quiz".

Dr. Clay Hunter, Gwinnett County Public Schools' (GCPS) Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, drops by to discuss Summer Enrichment and Acceleration, GCPS' plan to help students brush up on what they learned this year--- while also exposing them to the curriculum they will be taught in the fall. 

In this episode of Teaching Gwinnett, Dr. Jon Valentine, Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Director of foreign language stops by to discuss the school district's ground breaking dual language immersion program, how COVID-19 is impacting teaching and learning and what's new in year 7 of the program.

In this episode of Teaching Gwinnett, we talk to GCPS counselors about the challenges of helping students during the pandemic, how they ensure no one is left behind and what students and parents should be doing now to prepare for college. We end the show with another edition of Did You Know?