State schools superintendent Kathy Cox says she is leaving her job at the end of June.  She will become the founding CEO of the U.S. Education Delivery Institute (EDI). She takes the helm of EDI on July 1.

In a joint press release from the Ga. Department of Education and EDI, Cox calls the new organization not "another think tank, but rather the fuel to inject action in state and local efforts to improve student achievement across our country."

As for leaving her job as state schools superintendent, Cox in the release says "I will greatly miss my colleagues and friends in Georgia, especially at the Department of Education.  But I feel confident that I will be leaving the Department and Georgia's public K-12 system better than I found it.  And in this new position, I will have many opportunities to work with leaders across the country, including Georgia, so I will still be able to help Georgia continue making great progress."

A statement from Governor Sonny Perdue on Cox's departure: “Superintendent Cox has been a passionate advocate for Georgia’s students, committed to improving achievement for every child. She pushed strongly for a more rigorous curriculum, which is preparing our students to compete on the global stage. While we will miss her here in Georgia, I share her excitement in this new opportunity.”

Governor Perdue will begin the process of apointing a new schools superintendent.

Tags: Georgia, education, Kathy Cox, Governor Sonny Perdue, state schools Superintendent, U.S. Education Delivery Institute