Gwinnett County school officials have appointed three longtime educators as principals — including one who recently resigned from the Atlanta school district.

Howard “Gene” Taylor, who resigned from North Atlanta High School, will be the new principal at Sweetwater Middle School in Lawrenceville. Taylor had planned to resign last fall, saying he felt principals in the Atlanta district were micromanaged. Atlanta officials persuaded Taylor to remain through the school year, but he is now returning to Gwinnett. Taylor had been a teacher and principal in Gwinnett from 2000 to 2012.

Laura Callahan will become principal at Ivy Creek Elementary School in Buford, taking over for Yvonne Frey, who retired.

Todd Hamilton will be the new principal at Lanier Middle School in Sugar Hill. Hamilton was previously assistant principal at Meadowcreek High School.

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Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

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Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com