Fulton County school board member Linda Schultz announced at a meeting Tuesday she’s stepping down from her District 1 post.
Schultz, who represents areas in Alpharetta and Roswell, said she is leaving the elected post she’s held since 2005 to spend more time with her family. She served as school board president from 2010 to 2014 and also has twice served as vice president.
Schultz, 56, plans to move from her home in Fulton County. Board members are required to live within the district they serve in order to maintain membership on the board. Schultz’s current term expires December 31, 2016.
The board will interview potential candidates and make a selection, with the approved candidate expected to join the board and complete the unexpired term. Fulfilling the term, however, does not guarantee the candidate a future seat on the board as they must still qualify with the Secretary of State’s office and run during the November 2016 election.
Board members said Tuesday they expect to begin interviewing candidates later this month and naming a replacement as soon as possible.
“It has been my honor to serve the students, employees, parents and community of Fulton County Schools for the past 10 years,” said Schultz in a released statement. “Dutch [my husband] and I are excited to become full-time retirees, but it’s bittersweet to be leaving behind the many wonderful people in this community. Serving our children and our schools has been one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of my life.”
Board members thanked Schultz for her service on the board: “We do appreciate all that you’ve given the students of Fulton County,” said current president Linda McCain.
During Schultz’s tenure, the board received both the National School Boards Association’s Magna Award as well as NSBA’s Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) Award.
Before she took office, Schultz advocated for children and public education for more than 12 years. At the state level, Schultz has served as legislative chair for the Georgia PTA, "where her accomplishments include securing state funding for clinic aides, increasing state funding for education, lowering class sizes and advocating stronger teen driving laws and policies to reduce underage drinking," according to the Fulton schools' website.
In addition to the school board, she works as web consultant for the Georgia School Council Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to education reform and community involvement in schools.
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