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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