The Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) community has been blessed over the years with the exceptional leadership of Dr. Calvin Watts, our current Superintendent. Dr. Watts has brought tremendous value to our district, and his leadership has aligned with and promoted GCPS's mission and vision. Through his leadership, GCPS is building the bridge from Empathy to Excellence. He is exceptionally student-centered, staff-centered, community-focused, business-minded, and people-loving. His leadership has significantly steered Gwinnett County Public Schools on a progressive path of educational excellence, fueled by his relentless dedication and passion for supporting "Each and Every" child in our district while serving our community at the highest level. It is imperative that he continues to lead GCPS in implementing our "Blueprint for the Future."

Regrettably, the school board recently made a disheartening decision—by a 3-2 vote—to terminate Dr. Watts' contract. This decision has caused shock and disbelief across multiple school buildings and departments. It is puzzling why such a move was made, considering the steady improvement our district has experienced under Dr. Watts' leadership. His many contributions and visionary leadership have received widespread praise from GCPS employees, many of whom have expressed outright disappointment with this decision.

We, the GCPS employees, parents, students, and community stakeholders, are not OK.
We are not OK with this decision.
We are not OK with the lack of transparency—no justification has been provided.
We are not OK with standing by in silence when decisions like this directly affect our kids and our community.

We demand that the school board re-examine this decision for the greater good of Gwinnett County Public Schools. Overturning this decision would restore confidence, promote continued progress, and reduce anxiety and confusion among staff, students, and the communities that each board member represents. Now more than ever, GCPS needs experienced, student-focused leaders like Dr. Calvin Watts, whose track record speaks for itself.

The one bright spot is knowing that Dr. Al Taylor has been chosen to help bridge the gap and keep us on the right path.

For the sake of our staff, students, and community, we must stand against this decision and demand a clear explanation of each board member’s rationale. Join us in signing this petition to demand the reversal of Dr. Calvin Watts’ contract termination and a more transparent understanding of each board member’s vote.

Sign now and stand with us for the integrity and future of Gwinnett County Public Schools.