Elementary school principal found dead at school
William J. Meyerbeck
By MIKE MORRIS
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
The principal of an elementary school in Gwinnett County was found dead in
her office early this morning, Gwinnett County police said.
Police spokesman Ray Dunlap said Betty Robinson shot herself in the head in
her office at Simonton Elementary School in Lawrenceville.
Her body was found about 2:30 a.m. today after her husband contacted police
to report that she didn't return home Wednesday.
Dunlap said Robinson's husband drove by the school, didn't see her car
parked in front where she normally parked, and went to the Lawrenceville
police department.
Lawrenceville police notified Gwinnett police since the school is outside
the city limits, and an officer entered the school and found Robinson's
body.
Robinson's car was found in a rear parking lot, Dunlap said. Officials had
not determined what time she died, but the county medical examiner has ruled
the death a suicide.
Dunlap said Robinson, who was in her mid-50s, had been in a meeting
Wednesday, in which it was discussed that her school and one other school
"had not come up to some standard."
"I'm sure that played some part," Dunlap said.
Robinson was named principal of R.D. Head Elementary in 1987 and served for
six years before being named as principal at Simonton Elementary. Head
Elementary was named a Georgia School of Excellence in 1991 while under
Robinson's leadership.
Gwinnett school officials said classes would be held today at Simonton
Elementary, which is on Simonton Road just outside Lawrenceville.
"They're trying to have as normal a day as they can for the children's
sake," said Gwinnett schools spokeswoman Berney Kirkland. Gateway testing
for the school's fourth-graders has been postponed and all after-school
activities have been canceled, she said.
Counselors and other support personnel were on hand to help the children and
staff, Kirkland said.
Some parents, when they have dropped off their children, wanted to hear
first-hand from school officials what happened. Assistant principals were
available to meet with them in the media center, Kirkland said.
"It's busy but they are handling things very very well," she said.