New Beginnings for Snellville Middle

Today was a first day of sorts at – but not for the students.

As students and faculty arrived to begin a new day, Eric Thigpen, former assistant principal of , was there to greet them and introduce himself as the new principal.

Some of the faculty and students were already familiar with Thigpen. One such student recalled attending the same daycare as his second grade daughter.

"I think that this is the first time that the community has a principal who's fully vested in the school's success," said Misty Palmer-Claybon, co-president of the school's Parent-Teacher Association.

Specifically, she added, he lives in the community, and he has children who attend schools here. "It makes a big difference when you own a home in the ZIP code," Palmer-Claybon said.

Thigpen hopes such acquaintances as well as his participation with other area schools will "help build a sense of community and trust."

Although it was Thigpen's first day with the students, he has spent the past two weeks preparing to take over as principal. Monday he led a meeting with school faculty.

"It was intense,"he said. "It gave me time to dig into the data and…think about what I had to do to support the school as a leader."

No amount time, he added, "is enough time," but it was sufficient to begin anew.

In addition to South Gwinnett High School, Thigpen has served as assistant principal at Bainbridge High School in Decatur County. He also taught math and coached sports for both East Coweta High School in Coweta and Eastside High School in Newnan.

A long-time educator, he is no stranger to the inner workings of the education system. Growing up a preacher's son, Thigpen views teaching as "a similar calling."

Michael Ell, vice president of the South Gwinnett High School PTSA, said he is looking forward to working with him as principal of the middle school.

"I think they made an excellent choice in the leader," he said. "He's been instrumental in ensuring that the entire cluster has grown and in line with the mission of Gwinnett County Public Schools."

Learning from and working with faculty, parents and students are Thigpen's No. 1 priorities, though "it's too early to tell" the scope of new plans, he said. 

Snellville Middle already has implemented several new initiatives since the start of the school year that Thigpen can work with. Two such changes were dividing English and reading into separate classes and structuring the eighth-grade classes so they better reflect high school.

Palmer-Claybon, a parent of a student at Grace Snell Middle School, is confident that Thigpen has the right touch to improve student education and school image.

"I think he's doing the right things upfront to get it done," she said.

By the end of the school day, Thigpen spoke with parents, interacted with students and talked with a school board representative and business leaders. 

All in a day's work for a new principal who believes the best way to lead is to "lead people and manage processes," instead of the other way around.