Gwinnet County Public Schools: Karen Mulzac Watkins

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Karen and her husband, Garrett, have two children. She has an MBA and a BS in Biology. 

Karen is a supply chain network development leader and has been in the supply chain management industry for 15 years. 

Ballotpedia: Karen Watkins

Karen Watkins is currently a member of the Gwinnett County Board of Education for School Board District 1. She was elected in 2020.

As of June 8, 2025, Karen Mulzac Watkins’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Access to Education

School Curriculum

Opposes third party equity audits due to the costs, instead advocating for internal assessments.

- Opposes third party equity audits due to the costs, instead advocating for internal assessments.

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Aims to invest in teacher and staff recruitment, retention, and professional development.

Aims to increase support for multi-lingual and substitute teachers in schools with the greatest need.

- Aims to invest in teacher and staff recruitment, retention, and professional development.
- Aims to increase support for multi-lingual and substitute teachers in schools with the greatest need.

Teachers

Twitter

Karen Mulzac Watkins

Leroy is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended Gwinnett Technical College and American Military University. He and his wife live in Dacula with their three children.

AJC/ACC Voter Guide - School Board Questionnaire

Leroy is cybersecurity manager for a utility company for over 15 years. he was previously in law enforcement. 

Leroy Ranel Jr's campaign for County Board of Education Member in Gwinnett County School Board District 1 is his first entry into politics.

As of June 8, 2025, Leroy Ranel Jr’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes certain topics should not be discussed or taught in school.

Thinks parents should be allowed to opt in if they want their children to receive sex education, but doesn't think it should be up to the parent to opt out.

- Believes certain topics should not be discussed or taught in school.
- Thinks parents should be allowed to opt in if they want their children to receive sex education, but doesn't think it should be up to the parent to opt out.

Candidate website

Said, "Budget oversight is critically important to me and making sure every cent of your tax dollars is accounted for is the foundation to provide necessary resources to our teachers, administrators, staff and students."

- Said, "Budget oversight is critically important to me and making sure every cent of your tax dollars is accounted for is the foundation to provide necessary resources to our teachers, administrators, staff and students."

The candidate's website says, "Everyone in our schools deserves to go to school without any fear for their safety... It is important to promote and support a safe learning environment..."

Understands the importantance in promoting and supporting a safe learning environment so children can learn the necessary social and economic skill sets required to succeed.

Plans to work with other county departments to address challenges in  keeping schools safe, teachers teaching, and children learning.

- Understands the importantance in promoting and supporting a safe learning environment so children can learn the necessary social and economic skill sets required to succeed.
- Plans to work with other county departments to address challenges in  keeping schools safe, teachers teaching, and children learning.

Gwinnett Daily Post: Longtime law enforcement officer jumps into Gwinnett school board

Plans to address the teacher retention and trust issue by reaching out to teachers and creating an environment  that they want to teach in.

Said, “We should partner with our teachers, administrators, and staff not alienate or ignore them. They are the experts. I will listen to our experts and in concert with them work to develop, implement, and execute meaningful and measurable polices.”

Wants to review the points allotment formula since it impacts staffing at schools.

- Plans to address the teacher retention and trust issue by reaching out to teachers and creating an environment  that they want to teach in.
- Said, “We should partner with our teachers, administrators, and staff not alienate or ignore them. They are the experts. I will listen to our experts and in concert with them work to develop, implement, and execute meaningful and measurable polices.”
- Wants to review the points allotment formula since it impacts staffing at schools.

Instagram

Leroy Ranel Jr

Rachel has a Bachelor of Science in  History Education from Toccoa Falls College, a Juris Masters in Child, Family, and Educational Law from Emory University School of Law, and Tier 1 Education Leadership from  University of Georgia College of Law.

Rachel worked as a full-time English teacher at Dacula High School until 2023. She previously worked at the Georgia Department of Education. 

Ballotpedia: Rachel Stone

Rachel Stones' campaign for County Board of Education Member is her first entry into politics. 

As of June 8, 2025, Rachel Stone’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Pledges to prioritize college and career readiness through tailored training and development programs.

- Pledges to prioritize college and career readiness through tailored training and development programs.

Supports access to licensed professional counselors, social workers, and school counselors for students and teachers.

Promises to lobby for funding to support equitable resource allocation, particularly for migrant and homeless students, district-wide transportation, and staffing needs.

Supports an equity audit to garner data that will help with proper budget allocation.

- Supports access to licensed professional counselors, social workers, and school counselors for students and teachers.
- Promises to lobby for funding to support equitable resource allocation, particularly for migrant and homeless students, district-wide transportation, and staffing needs.
- Supports an equity audit to garner data that will help with proper budget allocation.

Supports competitive salaries, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities for teachers.

Advocates for proactive outreach efforts as well as strengthening partnerships with colleges to diversify our workforce.

Supports conducting exit interviews and implementing changes based on feedback to address reasons for turnover.

- Supports competitive salaries, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities for teachers.
- Advocates for proactive outreach efforts as well as strengthening partnerships with colleges to diversify our workforce.
- Supports conducting exit interviews and implementing changes based on feedback to address reasons for turnover.

Rachel Stone

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. The Board of Education is entirely independent from the rest of the county government.
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and appoint the superintendent to run the schools day to day.
- Board of Education members are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Gwinnett County Board of Education Member, District 1

Election results

Runoff election

Candidates (3)

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Access to Education

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers