"Stephen Dolinger brings

a wealth of experience and knowledge to our table," said David Ratcliffe,

chair of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and President

and CEO of Georgia Power Company.

"His demonstrated track

record of making public education a partnership with businesses and the

community parallels the Partnership's mission. He will assume a vital

role in our organization, and we are confident he has the right tools

for the job."

Board of Education President

Linda Bryant concurs with the Partnership's decision to seek Dr. Dolinger

as its leader.

"The Board of Education

obviously is saddened to see Dr. Dolinger go, but we understand that this

is a tremendous opportunity for him and for the Partnership," said

Board President Linda Bryant.

"The schools in Fulton

County have prospered under his leadership and he has laid a foundation

for continual improvement that will benefit our schools for years to come."

Board Vice President Ron Jackson

agrees.

"In his seven years with

our system, Steve Dolinger has been a great asset to Fulton County Schools."

Jackson said.

"We will certainly miss

him in Fulton, but we are excited both for him and for Georgia. Now all

students and school systems in the state will be able to benefit from

his insights. I consider his selection as Georgia Partnership President

to be a great compliment to the Fulton County School System because it

shows that people recognize what we have accomplished and how that can

be shared across the state."

Bryant and Jackson said that

the board will soon name an interim superintendent so that the transition

will go more smoothly. A nationwide search to fill the position, which

could take six to eight months, will begin sometime in the fall.

Dr. Dolinger was named Fulton

County's Superintendent of Schools in August 1995, and in that time the

system has seen a steady increase in school achievement.

During his tenure as superintendent,

the Fulton County School System steadily raised test scores throughout

the county, including an increase of SAT scores each year since 1995 while

also increasing the percentage of students taking the test and began the

turnaround of the achievement gap between north Fulton and south Fulton

schools.

Dr. Dolinger is active in professional

organizations such as the Georgia School Superintendents Association,

of which he is currently president and was named the 2001 Georgia Superintendent

of the Year, and the Urban Superintendents Association of America, of

which he will become president in July.

He also has been on the board

of directors for the Alliance Theatre Company, Georgia State University's

Southern Center for Organizational Excellence, the Greater North Fulton

Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Humanities Council, Junior Achievement of

Georgia, and the South Fulton Medical Center, and has been a member of

the Georgia State University College of Education Leadership Council.

Dr. Dolinger also has been

an adjunct professor at George Mason University, where he received his

master's degree in education, and on the Alumni Association Board of Directors

for Vanderbilt University, where he received his doctorate in education.

He retired in 1993 from the United States Army Reserves after 20 years

of service.

Prior to his arrival in Fulton

County, Dr. Dolinger worked for 26 years in Fairfax, Va., where he served

as a teacher and administrator.