Education
Education

Governor names two new state school board members

The Georgia Board of Education makes policy for the state Department of Education
Rep. Mike Cheokas (left), R - Americus, Vice-Chairman of the Higher Education Subcommittee, speaks with Tom Daniel, Sr. Vice Chancellor, External Affairs with the University System of Georgia, who is retiring after more than 40 years with state government. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres

Credit: Bob Andres

Rep. Mike Cheokas (left), R - Americus, Vice-Chairman of the Higher Education Subcommittee, speaks with Tom Daniel, Sr. Vice Chancellor, External Affairs with the University System of Georgia, who is retiring after more than 40 years with state government. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM
By Ty Tagami
Jan 10, 2017

Gov. Nathan Deal has named two new members to the Georgia Board of Education: Mike Cheokas of Americus and and Lee Anne Cowart of Thomson.

Cheokas will represent the 2nd Congressional District, replacing W.T. Henry. Cowart will represent the 10th Congressional District, replacing Brian Burdette.

Ginger Howard (left) and Lee Anne Cowart set the stage with paintings of Donald Trump and Mike Pence for the Republican watch party Tuesday at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: Curtis Compton

icon to expand image

Credit: Curtis Compton

Cheokas, a businessman who owns a liquor store, is a former Republican state representative who was unseated last year and has experience serving on a college foundation. He is married with three children. Cowart, a businesswoman who owns an interior design firm, has experience on a university board. She is married with four children plus two children-in-law and one grandchild.

About the Author

Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.

Follow Ty Tagami on facebookFollow Ty Tagami on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

The DeKalb County Board of Education gave Norman Sauce III a one-year contract to serve as its interim superintendent. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Acting Dekalb superintendent gets salary bump, 1-year contract to ensure ‘stable leadership’

The contract, obtained via an open records request, doesn't mean Sauce will be the permanent superintendent of the DeKalb County School District.

Lovett School gets ‘historic’ $30 million gift from Rollins family

The gift honors the oldest child of Randall and Peggy Rollins, who died in 1970.

Some Decatur parents feel blindsided by school plans, few details

Aggravation brews over lack of specifics and what some see as poor communication.

The Latest

The DeKalb County Board of Education gave Norman Sauce III a one-year contract to serve as its interim superintendent. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Acting Dekalb superintendent gets salary bump, 1-year contract to ensure ‘stable leadership’

Lovett School gets ‘historic’ $30 million gift from Rollins family

Full circle: Sisters who were APS students now serve as APS principals

Featured

Amber Hicks and Cherokee County firefighter Justin Hicks were found dead from gunshot wounds inside their home in November 2021. (Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services)

Credit: Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services

Man convicted of murdering Cherokee firefighter, wife as they watched TV

The deaths of Amber and Justin Hicks shocked their family and community. On Thursday, Matthew Lanz was convicted on all 13 charges he faced.

Report: Georgia unauthorized immigrant population reaches nearly 500,000

Georgia now has the nation’s sixth largest population of unauthorized immigrants, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

Atlanta airport’s troubled Concourse C food court gets new management

OHM Concession Group will take over the Atlanta airport's Concourse C food court, as well as restaurants in Concourses B and F.