Dear Gwin Oaks Community,

It is my pleasure to introduce myself to you. The Gwinnett County Board of Education appointed me as the next Principal of Gwin Oaks Elementary School following Dr. Barlow’s retirement at the end of December.
For the last six years, I served as Assistant Principal at Trickum Middle School. In this role, I have supported sixth-grade families transitioning to middle school, as well as gifted and multi-lingual learners. I also served as the Language Arts and Social Studies curriculum assistant principal.

Prior to my experience at Trickum, I served as a district-level and school-based instructional coach. As a Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) classroom teacher, I taught kindergarten and second grade.

Throughout my experiences in GCPS and other school districts, I have embraced the following core beliefs, which I hold close to my heart:

1. All students can learn at high levels.
2. All students and their families should feel a sense of belonging and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.
3. The school, families, and community partner alongside each other to develop strong relationships that value the contributions of all families and stakeholders.
4. The diversity of our community is our strength and provides us with an opportunity to learn from one another.

Beginning in January, I look forward to the opportunity to connect with you, learning about your aspirations for the future of Gwin Oaks. As I transition, I plan to host coffee talks for you to come into the school to get to know me and share your hopes and dreams for your students and our school. I look forward to partnering with you to maintain the rich tradition of excellence and community that embodies both Gwin Oaks and the Brookwood Cluster.

In partnership,
Wendy McDonald, Principal