J. Alvin Wilbanks has 45 years of experience as a teacher and administrator and has headed the Gwinnett County school system for 14 years as of 2009. The school system, the largest in Georgia, has drawn national attention for the way it operates and has shown that committed leadership and dedicated teachers can reach students from varied backgrounds. Norcross High has benefited from his vision and support of the International Baccalaureate program, and his intercession helped make possible the construction of the present NHS campus and continued facility improvements.