Superintendent Dr. Calvin Watts on leading Gwinnett Public Schools with empathy

July 7th, 2022

Gwinnett Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Calvin Watts discusses leading the largest school district in Georgia. (Photo courtesy of Gwinnett Public Schools)

Gwinnett Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Calvin Watts says he relocated 3,000 miles away from his home state of Washington to lead Georgia’s largest school district amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watts, the county’s first Black superintendent, was a guest on Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look.”

He told program host Rose Scott that when he first arrived, he made goals for his district to create a strategic learning process by leading with empathy and allocating equitable resources for support, effectiveness and excellence.

He further talked about the creation of a superintendent-student advisory council and the use of surveys to track the district’s progress and receive feedback from students.

“We want our students to know that they are cared for, that they are seen, they’re heard, they’re valued and they are accepted and that they belong in each and every one of our schools,” said Watts.