Coleman Middle School

Coleman Middle School, located in downtown Duluth, opened in August 2016 to relieve Duluth Middle School. The school was designed and opened as Gwinnett County Public Schools’ flagship STEAM middle school. At Coleman, students, parents, and educators work with business partners, community members, and postsecondary faculty to enrich the curriculum; integrating science, technology, engineering, the fine arts, mathematics, and humanities as a foundation for the learning experience.

The school is named for Dr. Brooks P. Coleman, a ongtime educator and public servant. The school’s facility is unique in that it actually has held a place in the school system’s and the City of Duluth’s history for some time. This plot of land has been the site of public education in Duluth since before 1900. It was originally donated by Singleton Howell and has been the home of Duluth School (grades 1–12), Duluth Elementary (grades 1–7) and Duluth Middle (grades 6–8). Most recently it served as the home of Duluth Middle School (1978-2004) and Monarch School (2004-2015).

In planning to renovate the existing building into the new Coleman Middle School, school district leaders made a number of modifications. The school’s 58 instructional areas include 39 classrooms and other learning areas such as three general science labs, one chemistry lab, three computer labs, three innovation labs, three collaboration rooms, one makerspace, a band room, an engineering lab, an orchestra room, an art room, and a music technology lab. Coleman also is home to the only middle school dance studio in Gwinnett County Public Schools. The construction cost for the renovation and opening of Coleman was $5,775,836.

On September 18, 2016, the Gwinnett County Board of Education officially dedicated the new school at a festive celebration that involved the Duluth community, Dr. Coleman, and a host of other dignitaries.

When naming the school, the name Coleman clearly was a community favorite. Brooks P. Coleman, Jr. has committed his life and unbounded energy to serving others as an educator, state representative, and community servant. He is an icon in the Duluth community.

Dr. Coleman was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and has lived in Gwinnett County for over 50 years. He was educated in the Atlanta Public Schools, graduating from Bass High School. Coleman received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mercer University, his Master’s Degree and his Specialist Degree from The University of Georgia, and his Ph.D. from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Mary Claire, have one daughter, Amy Mock, who is married to Stephen. Amy teaches at Mason Elementary. When the school opened, Dr. Coleman had two grandchildren attending Gwinnett County public schools.

Brooks Coleman began his Gwinnett career in 1963 at Duluth Elementary School, located on the site of the present Coleman Middle School, teaching fifth grade and coaching basketball and football. He worked in Gwinnett for a total of 30 years as a teacher, principal, curriculum director, and assistant superintendent. Since retiring from the school system, he has devoted his time to serving as a State Representative, currently serving his twelfth term in the Georgia State House of Representatives. Representative Coleman serves as the Chairman of the Education Committee, and member of the Appropriations, Intragovernmental Coordination, Natural Resources & Environment, and Retirement committees. In addition to his work as a motivational speaker, Brooks also donates numerous hours as an auctioneer, raising funds for schools and charities throughout the area. He also assisted the Gwinnett Hospital Foundation in raising thousands of dollars for special hospital projects, and has served the community as past Chairman of Gwinnett United Way, on the Board of Gwinnett Children’s Shelter, President of Peachtree Corners Rotary Club, and over 30 years in children’s sports as a coach, official, and “the Voice of the Wildcats” at Duluth High School for 45 years. The annual Duluth Fall Festival would not be the same without the energy he brings to the stage each year. The Duluth Fall Festival honored him in 2010 by selecting him to serve as the Grand Marshall.

Over the years, Dr. Coleman also has received numerous other awards including awards from Gwinnett County School Counselors Association, Georgia School Food Service Employees Association, Georgia Association of Educators, Georgia Charter School Association, Communities and Schools Education Association, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, and The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. In 2015, Representative Coleman was awarded The State Department of Education Superintendent’s first ever Impact on Education Award for his sponsorship of House Bill 91.

Coleman Middle School honors Brooks Coleman through its commitment to demonstrate the many positive character attributes to which Brooks Coleman has dedicated his life, including:

Caring
Optimism
Leadership
Education
Motivating
Affirming
Nurturing

History Contributor: Dr. Kay S. Harvey