Baldwin Elementary School

Baldwin Elementary School, located in Norcross, opened in August 2016 to relieve elementary schools in the Norcross Cluster. The school

opened its doors to serve approximately 1,150 students that first year in 51 classrooms. The school facility also included other learning units such as a science classroom, a STEM lab, two computer labs, a gym, a music room, and two art rooms. The total cost of construction for the new facility was $17,083,632.

A unique feature of the school is its Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program which started with its kindergarten class during its inaugural year. Through the DLI program, participating kindergartners learn the AKS curriculum; however, they learn language arts and social studies in English and science and mathematics in Spanish.

On September 25, 2016, the Gwinnett County Board of Education officially dedicated the new school at a festive celebration that involved the Norcross community and Beauty Poole Baldwin, the woman for whom the school was named. Mrs. Baldwin was a beloved educator and active community member in Gwinnett County. She served as the first African American female school superintendent in Georgia.

Mrs. Baldwin was born on March 9, 1942, and grew up on a small farm in Baldwin County, Georgia. Her parents, both sharecroppers, instilled in her the importance of school at a very early age. With only a sixth-grade education, Beauty’s parents were unable to help her with her homework but would sit with her every night until she completed the assignments; providing encouragement and support for their daughter.

Beauty developed a love for mathematics and in third grade, she knew that she wanted to be a teacher. In 1963, she graduated from Savannah State College with a B.S Degree in Mathematics and began her teaching career at John Lewis High School in Ellaville, Georgia. At the time, schools were still segregated and Beauty was considered “the” math department.

During winter break of 1963, Beauty Poole married her college sweetheart, Lucious Baldwin. In 1969, Mrs. Baldwin began teaching at the newly integrated Hardaway High School in Muscogee County, Georgia. Although Beauty was one of only two black teachers at the school, she had a great experience teaching there.

Mrs. Baldwin’s career in education progressed to leadership when she earned a Master’s Degree and a Specialist Degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of Georgia. She served as Vocational Academics Coordinator and Assistant Principal at Central Gwinnett High School in Lawrenceville and later became Principal of Buford Middle School. In June of 1984, Beauty Baldwin was appointed Superintendent of Buford City Schools making her the first black female school superintendent in the state of Georgia.

Mrs. Baldwin retired as Superintendent of Buford City Schools in June 1994 but her work in education was far from over. In 1997, she helped to establish Hopewell Christian Academy where she served as Administrator for 16 years. In June 2014, she founded and served as Board Chair of North Metro Academy of Performing Arts, which opened as a Gwinnett County charter school.

Mrs. Baldwin remains an active member of the community. She is a long-time member of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and has served several terms on the board. Mrs. Baldwin was honored with the Chamber’s “Public Service Award” and “Athena” Award for her commitment and service.

She also served on: The Gwinnett County Board of Registrations and Elections, the Rotary Club of Gwinnett, View Point Community Service Board, Chairman of the Jackson Electric Foundation Board, a founding member of Leadership Gwinnett, and the Executive Board of the Northeast Council of Boy Scouts of America as Vice President of Multicultural Markets.

Mrs. Baldwin is a lifetime member of Savannah State University Alumni Association and a lifetime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is a devoted member of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Norcross where she serves as an Elder, member of Deaconess Ministry, Shepherd’s Care Ministry, and on the Finance Committee.

Above all, Mrs. Baldwin enjoys spending time with her husband Lucious, daughter Geri, son-in-law Lorenzo, and two grandchildren, Loren and Evan.