A Coweta County mother has been appointed by State School Superintendent John Barge to serve on the 2012 Parent Advisory Council (PAC). The appointment of Beth Barnett will give the Newnan resident with children in two Coweta schools an up front look at education issues from a statewide perspective.

State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge last week named Barnett and 29 other parents from across the state to serve on his 2012 Parent Advisory Council.
Barnett has children that attend Elm Street Elementary School and Newnan High School.

Parents are nominated to serve on the PAC by their local school district at the beginning of each school year. Members are chosen by a committee of Georgia Dept. of Education representatives based on the applicant’s response to questions.

“Parents play a vital role in the education of their children,” Barge said. “I look forward to working with these parents and seeking their advice on how to encourage and strengthen parent and family engagement in our state.”    

Council members will meet three times this year with Barge to discuss education issues in Georgia. Their primary focus will be increasing parent and family engagement to ensure student success, according to the Georgia Dept. of Education spokesperson Matt Cardoza.

Cardoza said the advisory council meetings will allow parents to provide feedback and input on new policies, projects, and materials that influence students and their families. The superintendent’s PAC will share the information they learn with community members, other families, and schools. They will also serve as advisors and ambassadors in their respective communities, Cardoza said.