Kathy Cox State Superintendent of Schools for Georgia [2005]

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Kathy Cox

State Superintendent of Schools for Georgia

Kathy Cox is the State Superintendent Cox passionately pursues policies and

Superintendent of Schools programs that support teachers, empower parents, and

and the Chief Executive inspire students. She led the creation and adoption of

Officer of the State Board of the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS)--a world-

Education, presiding over class, standards-based, statewide curriculum that sets

Georgia's 181 public school districts. She has made high expectations for all of Georgia's students.

countless contributions to public education through Embraced by the state's education professionals, the

her work as a teacher for more than 15 years and GPS outlines specific guidelines for instruction,

through her service for two terms in the Georgia student work, and assessment. It represents the most

legislature as a State Representative. Superintendent fundamental change to Georgia's public educational

Cox has dedicated her entire career to the education system in more than 18 years.

and welfare of Georgia's most precious resource

--its children.

An astute administrator, Superintendent Cox

reorganized the Georgia Department of Education

Since being elected State Superintendent in November into a policy-driven, service oriented agency that

of 2002, Superintendent Cox has succeeded serves local school systems as they prepare all

in building a coherent statewide system of public

students for college or a career in a

education through improved communications

safe and drug-free environment.

among the state's leadership, school district

She established an ambitious,

superintendents and education stakeholders.

strategic agenda that contains eight

GEORGM] Superintendent Cox has cultivated
strong partnerships with the Governor and the State Board of

priorities for focused action to achieve results regarding teacher quality, the curriculum, testing, school improve

Education such that Georgia now DEPARTMENT OF

ment, high school improvement,

EDUCATION has the benefit of an unprecedented
united front when it comes to

data development, financial man agement, and sound policy.

education. Mrs. Cox refocused and

Superintendent Cox has moved

rallied Georgia's education partners around a single the entire Department of Education towards more

unified vision of "leading the nation in improving data driven decision-making, particularly as it relates

student achievement."

to school improvement and student achievement.

Superintendent Cox believes, fundamentally, that all children can learn and deserve a high quality education. As such, she has worked tirelessly to insure that the state's public education system supports the growth and development of all Georgia's schoolchildren. She oversaw the implementation of No Child Left Behind legislation and was publicly commended by President George W. Bush on the fine work that she and others had done in crafting the state's implementation plan.

Superintendent Cox earned both the Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Political Science from Emory University, graduating with high honors. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
A resident of Fayette County, Superintendent Cox and her husband, John, are the proud parents of two school age sons--John III and Alex. They are mem bers of the Peachtree City United Methodist Church.

www.gadoe.org

We will lead the nation in improving student achievement.

The Georgia Department of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer

State Superintendent Kathy Cox's
Strategic Goals
Leading the nation in improving student achievement is the vision. Realizing it requires significant gains in eight key areas.

Recruit, Train and Retain:
Reduce the number of teachers who leave the profession for reasons of job dissatisfaction
Ensure a highly qualified teacher for every classroom
Quality Core Curriculum:
New QCC Published & Used
Testing:
Well-designed testing program aligned with Georgia QCC
School Improvement:
Decrease the number of schools on NCLB needs improvement list
Ensure that the overwhelming majority of 3rd graders are proficient at reading and math
Eliminate persistent danger in all schools

High School Improvement:
Significantly improve Georgias SAT scores Ensure that AP courses are taught well in every
high school Cut drop out rates substantially Increase the number of students graduating
with technical or two-year college certification
Data Development:
Best in class, actionable report card Develop and implement best in class student
information system
Financial Management:
Clean Audit Report
Policy:
Reputation for Expertise, Transparency, & Strong Policy

af GEORG
DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION
www.gadoe.org We will lead the nation in improving student achievement.
The Georgia Department of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer