Kathy Cox is currently finishing her first term as Georgia's State Superintendent of Schools, the latest chapter in a life dedicated to education.

Her passion for education began as a young girl and has grown throughout her career in the classroom, her years in the State Legislature and her first term as Georgia's State Superintendent of Schools.

Since taking the Superintendent's office in January 2003, Kathy has set her sights firmly on improving student achievement, believing that all of Georgia's children deserve a high-quality public education no matter where they live.

She has turned the Georgia Department of Education from an agency mired in bureaucracy into a full-service, policy-driven organization focused on the singular goal of leading the nation in improving student achievement.

Kathy oversaw the creation and adoption of a new statewide curriculum, the Georgia Performance Standards. This new curriculum is more focused and more rigorous, setting high expectations for all students so they are ready for college and the work world. The Georgia Performance Standards have received accolades across the state and the nation.

Kathy earned both the Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Political Science from Emory University, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Kathy has worked in education for nearly two decades, including 15 years as public school teacher in Fayette County. She brought the voice of teachers, parents and students to the state legislature for two terms, 1999-2003.

A resident of Fayette County, Kathy is married to John Cox, a homebuilder, and they are the proud parents of two sons: John III and Alex, who attend public schools. Kathy and her family are active members of Peachtree City United Methodist Church