Dees Named High School Principal of the Year

Debbie Dees, principal of , has been named the state's 2011-2012 high school "Principal of the Year" by the Georgia Association of Secondary High School Principals.

Gwinnett County Public Schools released the information in press statement Friday, April 1.

The recognition goes to outstanding school principals who excel in educational leadership, resolving complex problems, personal and professional development, development of others, and who give back to their communities through volunteer service.

She will be recognized as Georgia’s top high school principal in September in Washington, D.C. She also moves on to represent Georgia in the national competition hosted by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and MetLife.

This school year, Dees also received the 2010 Jim Puckett Outstanding Educator Award from the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders and the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals.

She first began serving Gwinnett County students in 1990, as a teacher and coach at Meadowcreek High. Six years later she moved to Brookwood High where she served as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal. She was named Brookwood High’s principal in 2007.

In total, she has served 10 years as a Gwinnett County school administrator. In addition, she has taught in several other schools in south Georgia.

A graduate of the school district’s Quality-Plus Leader Academy, Dees holds a bachelor’s degree from Mercer University in health and physical education, a master’s degree from Georgia Southwestern University, and a specialist’s degree from the University of West Georgia. She also is certified in educational leadership from the University of Georgia.