Gwinnett Schools Salutes Retirees

The Gwinnett County school system is thanking its more than 400 professionals who are retiring this school year.

In all, 435 Gwinnett County Public Schools employees are retiring this year, with at least 45 being educators in Snellville schools.

In total, this year’s retirees contributed 11,233 years of their lives to education, and a total of 8,471 years to Gwinnett County students, according to a statement from the school district. 

In fact, 43 percent, or 186, of the retirees worked their entire careers in the school district as teachers, principals, bus shop, cafeteria and more. Among the retirees, 180 have more than 30 years of service in education, 15 have more than 40 years in education, and one has more than 50 years of service.

"I would like to personally thank each of our retiring employees for their service to Gwinnett County Public Schools, to our community, and most importantly to our students," said J. Alvin Wilbanks, GCPS' chief executive officer and superintendent. "Each and every one of these individuals made a difference through their contributions. While they are closing a chapter in their lives, their legacy will continue as our school system builds on all that they have accomplished to serve students next year and in the years to come."

School-speciifc retirees who worked in Snellville are:*

Elementary Schools  

:

• Denise Higgins, teacher, 27 years in education, 13 years in Gwinnett

• Mary Ballard, special education teacher, 27 years in education, 10.5 years in GCPS

:

• Kathleen Allen, reading recovery and EIP teacher, 31 years in education, 17 years in Gwinnett
• Carol Ann Chapman, media specialist, 30 years in education, 22 years in GCPS
• Carol Stewart, special education paraprofessional, 26 years in education, 18 years in GCPS

• Laurie Donovan, fourth-grade teacher, 33 years in education, 28 years in GCPS
• Betty Gossett, special education teacher, 36 years in education, 31 years in Gwinnett
• Susan C. Nelson, paraprofessional, 28 years in education, 22 years in Gwinnett
• Diane Parsons, third-grade gifted education teacher, 29 years in education, 10 years in GCPS
• Gail Pinkston, teacher, 34 years in education, 20 years in GCPS

:

• Bonnie C. Benedict, music teacher, 30 years in education, all in Gwinnett
• Linda Taylor, teacher, 27 years in education, 18 years in Gwinnett

:  

• Marlece Bettis, assistant principal, 29 years in education, 26 years in GCPS
• Pam Brooks, SASI clerk, 24 years in education, all in GCPS
• Sara Gray, teacher, 35 years in education, 27 years in GCPS
• Mary Lord, third-grade teacher, 20 years in education, all in GCPS

:

• Jerry A. Adams, teacher, 34 years in education, 11 years in Gwinnett
• Jan Mitchell, kindergarten teacher, 32 years in education, 12 years in GCPS

:

• Noreen A. Craig, Media Clerk, 24 years in education, all in Gwinnett
• Pam Hezlep, speech and language pathologist, 33 years in education, 17 years in GCPS
• , special education teacher, 17 years in education, all in Gwinnett
• Jerry Raymond, principal, 38 years in education, 25 years in GCPS

:

• Susan Blackburn, EIP teacher, 29 years in education, 25 years in GCPS
• Elaine L. Davis, first-grade teacher, 32 years in education, 23 years in Gwinnett
• Beth B. Goodman, special education teacher, 25 years in education, all in GCPS
• Marilyn Jennings, teacher, 35 years in education, 25 years in GCPS
• Julie Platt, SASI clerk, 20 years in education 17 years in GCPS
• Larry Satchwell, health and physical education teacher, 32 years in education, all in GCPS

Middle Schools

:

• Jean Callins, assistant principal, 31 years in education, 20 years in Gwinnett
• Catherine Lindsay, language arts teacher, 32 years in education, all in Gwinnett
• Becky Murray, health and physical education teacher, 32 years in education, 12 years in Gwinnett
• Alana O’Neal, school nutrition program assistant manager, 28 years in education, all in GCPS

:

• Karen Zielaskowski, clinic worker, 16 years in education, all in GCPS

High Schools

:

• Debbie A. Carter, special education teacher, 28 years in education, 14 years in Gwinnett
• Mike Fowler, health and physical education eacher, 37 years in education, 18 years in Gwinnett
• Shirley Fowler, language arts teacher, 39 years in education, 37 years in GCPS
• Faye Jones, assistant principal, 30 years in education, 26 years in Gwinnett
• Donna McCord, ESOL teacher, 40 years in education, 8 years in GCPS
• Jacki McLean, United States history, government, and political science teacher, 32 years in education, 21 years in GCPS
• Susan Patterson, administrative clerk, 27 years in education, all in GCPS
• Debbie Schulte, technology support technician, 25 years in education, 18 years in GCPS
• Ken Simpson, band teacher, 28 years in education, all in Gwinnett
• Peter Von Steinhauser, German teacher, 31 years in education, 28 years in Gwinnett
• Lynn Woods, school nutrition program manager, 17 years in education, all in GCPS

:

• Debbie Howard, counselor, 31 years in education, 23 years in Gwinnett

* For a full list of retirees, including those who did not work at a specific school or worked at the district office, see the Gwinnett County Public Schools website.