Incoming superintendent emphasizes inclusive programs, teacher capacity and curriculum parity to boost graduation rates

At a Parkview High School town hall, incoming superintendent Dr. Alexandra Estraa described specific instructional and program strategies she says have helped raise graduation rates in prior districts and that she plans to examine for Gwinnett.

Estraa said one important change was ensuring students receiving special education services had access to the same curricular expectations as other students, supplemented by appropriate scaffolds rather than wholly different materials. "Special education is a service, not a permanent placement," she said, adding that inclusive programming can benefit all learners and classroom culture.

She described program design changes that prioritize meeting student needs rather than slotting students into pre‑existing programs; she said that approach yielded a roughly 3% increase in graduation rates in a prior district. Estraa also emphasized the central role of tier‑one instruction and said her first step will be to assess what is currently in place so professional learning can target concrete classroom needs.

On teacher workload and relationship building, Estraa said she must understand current planning and prep time structures before prescribing changes, but asserted that adequate time for training and development is essential. She framed accountability as dependent on providing teachers the tools and support they need, rather than a checklist exercise.

The town hall included community questions on school safety, redistricting and other topics. No formal policy votes or personnel actions were taken at the meeting; Estraa's remarks and the community input will inform the district's next steps during the 100‑day listening period.