ATLANTA (AP) – A close ally of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is taking charge of Georgia’s technical colleges, while the previous commissioner moves to an agency that oversees teachers.
The Republican Kemp announced in tweets Monday that the state’s chief financial officer, Greg Dozier, will become commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia in January. Kemp’s office said Tuesday that the board of the Technical College System of Georgia voted Monday to hire Dozier.
The 22 colleges have a combined 135,000 students statewide, training students for careers, teaching initial classes to some students who go on to four-year degrees and helping adults catch up on education.
Kemp wrote that Dozier “is a dear friend, trusted ally and strong leader who understands state operations and offers a wealth of institutional knowledge as incoming commissioner.”
Dozier, previously commissioner of the state prison system and the state driver services department, has no professional background as an educator.
“To implement my vision and goals, Dozier will always put families and students first,” Kemp wrote. “Together, we’ll ensure our educational system remains top-notch and fulfills workforce needs.
Matt Arthur,commissioner since 2018, will become executive secretary of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The commission oversees preparation, certification and conduct of public school teachers. Kelly Henson, who held that post, retired in January, and the commission voted to hire Arthur last week.
Arthur, previously the deputy commissioner, was appointed by then-Gov. Nathan Deal. He earlier served as the governor’s director of education reform and as superintendent in Rabun County.
Dozier will become commissioner as the Kemp administration considers how to control spending on dual enrollment programs that teach college classes to high school students. The technical college system teaches most such courses, which disproportionately serve rural students. Kemp administration officials have expressed unrest with the increasing cost of the program, in part because both school systems and colleges get paid.