Gwinnett County school officials announced late Monday who will lead two of its schools for the upcoming school year.

Rachel Ernst will be the new principal of Starling Elementary School. She was most recently the assistant principal of McConnell Middle School in Loganville.

Melanie Lee will become the principal of Norton Elementary School in Snellville. She was most recently an assistant principal at the school.

Ernst and Lee replace Donna Ledford and Terry Watlington, who were named earlier this month assistant superintendents for Gwinnett's elementary schools. 

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Sheree Smith (left) casts her ballot at Wolf Creek Library in Atlanta on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. In addition to municipal races for mayors, city councils and school board members, this year’s election also will decide the members of the Georgia Public Service Commission. (Miguel Martinez / AJC)

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Public Service Commission candidate Peter Hubbard gets a hug from Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, during an election-night party in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.  (Ben Gray for the AJC)

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