Register stepping down from BOE

“It’s been a hard decision, but my work is taking me all over the place. On Jan. 1 I will be doing legislative lobbying work and it is not legal to do it as a board member. I will stay until the end of December and then my seat will be vacant. I am so proud of this system,” Register said.

“Thank you for your service,” said Dr. Kermit Gilliard, superintendent of Grady County Schools.

“You know how I feel. I had the opportunity to work with Mrs. Register a term before and we have always worked well together. She will still be advocating for public education. I do know that she is a heavy advocate for rural Georgia and I have seen her in action and the results of her work. She has brought statewide recognition to Grady County. We may be losing her as a local board member, but we are gaining a great resource at the state and national level,” said Teresa Gee Hardy, vice chairwoman of the Grady County Board of Education.

Register has served two stints on the board of education. She was first appointed in 2001 to replace Tyler Maxwell, served the remainder of his term and then a full term for a total of six-and-a-half years. “I didn’t run again to spend time with my children who were beginning to graduate (from high school),” Register recalls.

In 2014, she was appointed to the board again, then defeated two opponents to keep the seat. She ran unopposed in 2016, and her term ends next year.

“I really encourage people to run locally, you make such an immediate impact on your local community. I love local service,” Register enthuses.

During her time on the board of education, the school system has implemented various projects that Register points to with pride. “The latest thing I’m really excited about is the internships we’re now getting through the College and Career Academy. I love that,” she says. “I love that we’re taking the innovative approach of having a system-wide police force . . .and, we’re doing a lot of data driven policy development. I’m also proud of the comprehensive sex ed. in all of our schools.”

In addition to her lobbying work, Register works as a public relations contractor and says she expects to be working with political candidates around the state in the coming year. She says her focus will remain rural Georgia, and she will continue to make Grady County her home.