By Shannon McCaffrey
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — Georgia’s school superintendent said Monday she is stepping down to take a job leading a national education nonprofit organization, setting the stage for a hard-fought race to take over the state’s top education post.
A tearful Kathy Cox told reporters Monday that she had planned to seek a third term and — despite some high-profile controversies — expected to win. But just as the campaign was gearing up, she was sought out to run a new group designed to help states boost student achievement.
“I really felt this was something I couldn’t turn away from,” said Cox, a Republican.