Karen Mulzac Watkins Vice Chair, District I | Gwinnett County Public Schools
Karen Mulzac Watkins Vice Chair, District I | Gwinnett County Public Schools
The Gwinnett County Board of Education recently approved the appointments of new principals for Cedar Hill Elementary School and Discovery High School. The decision was made during their regular business meeting on February 8, 2024.
Israel “Tony” A. Patino has been appointed as the principal of Cedar Hill Elementary School. He is currently serving as an assistant principal at Chesney Elementary School. Patino will be taking over from Dr. Jose M. DeJesus, who has retired.
Robert W. Maffeo will assume the role of principal at Discovery High School, where he is presently an assistant principal at Collins Hill High School. Maffeo replaces Marci Sledge, who is also retiring.
Patino's career with Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) began in 2015 as an assistant principal at Chesney Elementary School. His previous roles include a career academy specialist and teacher positions at various schools including Meadowcreek High School and Summerour Middle School. Patino's teaching experience extends back to 1992 with positions in Atlanta-area schools such as Dunwoody High School and The Lovett Upper and Middle Schools.
Patino holds a bachelor's degree in History and a master's degree in English from Winthrop College, along with a Leadership Specialist degree from West Georgia University.
Maffeo has been part of GCPS since 2006, starting as a special education teacher before becoming an assistant principal at Collins Hill High School in 2015. He earned his bachelor's degree in Forest Resources from The University of Georgia and pursued further studies with a master's degree in Education and Specialist certification in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College.
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