Our Principal

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Simonton Elementary School. Simonton Elementary School is a gem in the Central Gwinnett Ridge cluster.  Our school takes great pride in creating a learning environment that is both rigorous and student centered.  Teachers work diligently to meet the individual needs of our students while creating lessons that are engaging and relevant.  At Simonton our daily instruction reflects our belief that every student, every day deserves to learn lead and excel.

Here at Simonton we recognize that parent involvement is a vital part of a child’s academic success, and the importance of establishing a very close connection between the home and school.  We are fortunate to have an active Parent Teacher Association that supports our school.  The partnership between the school and parents helps to create a nurturing school community.

If you are new to the community, we invite you to visit our school.  Each month we offer school tours and the dates can be found on our school calendar.  Our website is also a great resource for additional information about Simonton Elementary School.  We are excited to welcome you to the home of the Black Knights.

With Great Pride,

Tamara  G. Perkins
Principal

Ms. Perkins is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has called Gwinnett County home for 23 years.  Before being appointed to Simonton Elementary School, she served as the Principal of Parsons Elementary School for four years.  Her professional career has included working in several GCPS schools, two in the central cluster, as a teacher and administrator.  She has experience as a classroom teacher, local school technology coordinator and administrator.

Ms. Perkins graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in Music and Point Park University with a BS in Elementary Education. Her M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Policy and Leadership certification were earned while attending the University of Georgia.

Ms. Perkins' proudest accomplishment is being the mother of two beautiful children.  Both of her children attend local universities.  She also loves to read and listen to music in her free time.

CERTIFICATION:

1. Leadership ~ K-1 2
2. Early Childhood Education  ~ P-5
3. Middle Grades ~ Social Science – 4-8

EDUCATION:
University of Georgia (Athens, GA) - 2006
M. Ed in Educational Administration and Policy
Point Park University (Pittsburgh, PA) - 1998
BA in Education-Cum Laude
University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) – 1996
BA in Music
 
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 
Gwinnett County Public Schools
Principal, Simonton Elementary School ~ March 2019-present
Principal, Parsons Elementary School ~ 2015 - 2019
Assistant Principal, Berkeley Lake Elementary School ~ 2012 – 2015
Assistant Principal, Cedar Hill Elementary School ~ 2008 – 2012
Teacher, Alcova Elementary School ~ 2006 – 2008
Local School Technology Coordinator, Lawrenceville Elementary School ~ 2003 – 2006
Teacher, Lawrenceville Elementary School ~ 2000 – 2003

Other teaching experience
Teacher, Charter School (Pittsburgh, PA) ~ 1998 – 2000
 
Other Employment
Adjunct Faculty Member, Ashford University ~ 2008 – 2009
 
Experiences and Accomplishments:
Featured in public television video “Shaping the Vision for Academic Success for All Students” – WNET Thirteen and Wallace Foundation Principal Pipeline Initiative ~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvLA6CwpkRA

Participated in the podcast recording with the Wallace Foundation: Episode 4: Mentors Support Novice Principals on the Job  
 https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/pages/episode-4-mentors-support-novice-principals-on-the-job.aspx

Professional Organizations and Affiliations:
Graduate of the Gwinnett County Public Schools 2015 Aspiring Principal Program – Cohort 9
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Cohort I – Formative Instructional Practices
Local School Administrators’ Association
Golden Key National Honor Society
Professional Association of Georgia Educators
Gwinnett County Teachers as Leaders Alumni – 2003-04