Gwinnett County Board of Education — 2026 Area Board and Town Hall Meeting - District III, April 29, 2026
How this page was made. These are not official minutes. This is a summary produced by transcribing the school board's own published recording, so wording is approximate and details may be imperfect. Every item below links to the moment in the video it came from, so you can check it yourself.
Source note: machine transcription of the official GCPS meeting recording — not official minutes
The Gwinnett County Public Schools Board of Education held a District III Area Board and Town Hall Meeting at Peachtree Ridge High School to introduce the newly appointed Superintendent, Dr. Alexandra Estrella. Dr. Estrella shared her professional background, family history, and her upcoming 100-day listening and learning tour starting July 1st. Board Member Steve Gasper hosted a Q&A session addressing student success, future career preparation, and community-submitted questions. Topics discussed included staff remote work on digital learning days, competitive compensation for special education staff, maintaining support for gifted and AP programs, and an upcoming multi-year redistricting process.
Topics
- town-hall
- superintendent
- community-engagement
- compensation
- special-education
- gifted-education
- redistricting
Discussion
Superintendent's Vision and 100-Day Plan
Dr. Alexandra Estrella outlined her upcoming 100-day listening and learning tour starting July 1st, which will focus on gathering community feedback and analyzing data. This information will be used to co-create a new five-year strategic plan for Gwinnett County Public Schools.
Staff Remote Work on Digital Learning Days
In response to community inquiries, Dr. Estrella stated she needs to evaluate the specific purposes and roles of students and staff during digital learning days before considering any policy changes regarding remote work for staff.
Compensation for High-Needs and Special Education Staff
Dr. Estrella addressed questions about increasing salaries for special education teachers and paraprofessionals, noting that while stipend models for hard-to-staff areas are common nationally, she must first study Gwinnett's existing salary structures.
Maintaining Support for Gifted and Advanced Programs
Dr. Estrella reassured the community that gifted, honors, and AP students will not be overlooked, explaining that gifted education is part of the special education continuum and requires tailored, differentiated strategies to push advanced learners further.
District III Redistricting Process
Board Member Steve Gasper shared information regarding an upcoming multi-year, multi-phase redistricting process that will impact Gwinnett County Public Schools, beginning with District III.
Public comment
Remote Work on Digital Learning Days
Inquired whether teachers and paraprofessionals would be permitted to work remotely during digital learning days.
Special Education Compensation
Advocated for higher salaries or stipends for teachers and paraprofessionals working in high-needs areas like special education.
Gifted and Advanced Academic Support
Expressed concern that advanced, honors, and AP students might be overlooked while the district focuses on historically underserved communities.
From the superintendent
100-Day Listening and Learning Tour
Dr. Estrella announced her plan to launch a 100-day listening and learning tour starting July 1st to gather feedback from families, students, and staff to inform the district's next five-year strategic plan.
Watch the meeting
Everything above is drawn from the board's own recording. Watch it in full and judge for yourself: