Four views of the board
Sharon Capers, Gwinnett Schools parent, activist for students with special needs
Grade: B
“I think sometimes you have to work for [special education] services. The Gwinnett County school board also could be more receptive as a whole to communication from the community.”
Jim Maran, president and CEO Gwinnett Chamber
Grade: A++
“I don’t know of anybody on the executive board that wouldn’t give Superintendent [J. Alvin] Wilbanks an A++ and our school board. First of all, the most important attribute of the school system is the continuous [effort to] improve our SAT scores. We have very low turnover in our quality of teachers. It’s just a well-managed, efficient organization.”
Jennifer Falk, Gwinnett Schools parent, community activist
Grade: C
“I think some kids get an A education, and I think some kids get less. That is because the schools are too big. Some kids are getting lost. The community has to step up ... I would be willing to pay a whole lot more in taxes to make sure that every child is getting a grade A education.”
Jerry Oberholtzer, mayor of Snellville
Grade: A
“They respond very quickly to changes, changes that come down from the state and also they’re very innovative with their use of technology. They’re always looking at different ways of teaching students.”
Current board members
Carole Boyce
District 1, all or part of the Archer, Berkmar, Brookwood, Central Gwinnett, Collins Hill, Dacula, Grayson, Meadowcreek, Mill Creek and Mountain View clusters
Education: Furman University, bachelor's, English and elementary education; Georgia State University, master's degree in elementary education, middle grades
- Occupation: Public relations coordinator for a law firm
- Years served: 5 (current term ends Dec. 31, 2012)
- Relatives working for system: Daughter-in-law is a middle school special education teacher
- Children in Gwinnett schools: Six are graduates
- Two-year meeting attendance: 100 %
- Ethics complaints or recall attempts: None
- School board-related training: Georgia School Boards Association conferences and board training workshops; Reform Governance in Action Board-Superintendent Team Training Institutes.
- How she voted on three key issues: 2010-11 budget, in favor; filing a lawsuit against Ivy Preparatory Academy, in favor; to seek flexibility under the state's Investing in Educational Excellence legislation in exchange for more accountability over student achievement, in favor.
- Issue most known for championing: Appropriate funding for excellent academics to continue in county
Louise Radloff
District 5, represents all or parts of the Berkmar, Brookwood, Meadowcreek and Parkview clusters
Years served: 37 (current term ends Dec. 2012)
Education: Associate's degree in business
Occupation: Executive director of Interlocking Communities Inc. Relatives working for system: A former daughter-in-law teaches in the district
Children in Gwinnett schools: Children and grandchildren are graduates
Two-year meeting attendance: 100 %
Ethics complaints or recall attempts: None
School board-related training: Georgia School Boards Association conferences and board training workshops; Reform Governance in Action Board-Superintendent Team Training Institutes
How she voted on three key issues: 2010-11 budget, in favor; filing a lawsuit against Ivy Preparatory Academy, in favor; to seek flexibility under the state's Investing in Educational Excellence legislation, in favor.
Issues most known for championing: Student achievement as evidenced by test scores above state and national averages and the closing of the achievement gap; the development of our strategic priorities and our work to achieve our vision and mission; the district's history of fiscal accountability; our ability to recruit, develop, and retain outstanding teachers
Dr. Robert McClure **
District 4, all or parts of the Berkmar, Brookwood, Grayson, Parkview, Shiloh, and South Gwinnett clusters.
- Years served: 15 (current term ends Dec. 2010)
- Education: Bachelor's degree and medical degree
- Occupation: Physician in Lilburn
- Relatives working for system: Daughter and son-in-law work in the district
- Children in Gwinnett schools: Six children are graduates
- Two-year meeting attendance: 100 %
- Ethics complaints or recall attempts: None
- School board-related training: Georgia School Boards Association conferences and board training workshops; Reform Governance in Action Board-Superintendent Team Training Institutes.
- How he voted on three key issues: 2010-11 budget, in favor.; filing a lawsuit against Ivy Preparatory Academy, in favor; to seek flexibility under the state's Investing in Educational Excellence legislation, in favor.
- Issue most known for championing: Educating all children to high levels while facing unprecedented change and growth in our student body
Mary Kay Murphy, chairwoman
District 3, all or parts of Duluth, Norcross and Peachtree Ridge neighborhood school clusters
Education: Doctorate in education administration; master's degree in English and education; bachelor's degree in English
Occupation: Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta; book editor
Years served: 13 (current term ends Dec. 2012)
Relatives working for system: None
Children in Gwinnett Schools: None
Two year meeting attendance: All meetings except for meeting held on April 16, 2009
Ethics complaints or recall attempts: None
School board-related training: Georgia School Boards Association conferences and law seminar; board training workshops; Reform Governance in Action Board-Superintendent Team Training Institutes
How she voted on three key issues: 2010-11 budget, in favor; filing a lawsuit against Ivy Preparatory Academy, in favor; to seek flexibility under the state's Investing in Educational Excellence legislation in exchange for more accountability over student achievement, in favor.
Issues most known for championing: Funding public education in a growing school system; sustaining excellence in academics, technology and facilities to address mission of teaching and learning so that all students can perform at or above grade level
Dan Seckinger *
District 2, all or part of the Berkmar, Collins Hill, Dacula, Lanier, Mill Creek, Mountain View, North Gwinnett and Peachtree Ridge clusters
Education: Bachelor's degree in music education
Occupation: Former teacher; currently owns and operates Seckinger Homes, Inc., Seckinger Construction, LLC, and Seckinger and Associates.
Years served: 15 (current term ends Dec. 2010)
Relatives working for system: None
Children in Gwinnett schools: Two sons currently attend; a daughter and son are graduates.
Two-year meeting attendance: 100 %
Ethics complaints or recall attempts: None
School board-related training: Georgia School Boards Association conferences and board training workshops; Reform Governance in Action Board-Superintendent Team Training Institutes.
How he voted on three key issues: 2010-11 budget, in favor; filing a lawsuit against Ivy Preparatory Academy, in favor; to seek flexibility under the state's Investing in Educational Excellence legislation, in favor.
Issues most known for championing: Closing the achievement gap; empowering teachers and principals when it comes to discipline to ensure schools are better, safer learning environments
* Running for re-election, no opposition
** Running for re-election
Note: Meeting attendance is from Oct. '08 -Sept. '10.
Compiled by D. Aileen Dodd, adodd@ajc.com
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