AC repair inCox, GA

Kathy Cox held the highest job in education in the state, now she says she's doing the most important: driving a school bus.

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HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — After steering the Georgia Board of Education as state superintendent, one local teacher is getting behind the wheel of the big yellow bus to help kids get to class on time - especially her class.

Kathy Cox was elected to the top spot straight out of the classroom, serving as the Georgia State Superintendent from 2002 to 2010.

"I had never been a principal; I had never been in a county office," she said. "So I knew that I didn't know what I needed to know."

Now she's back in the classroom where it all began, teaching government to high school kids in Henry County. Even though the kids are full of ideas, Cox said her classroom is empty at the first bell.

"The kids were coming in 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes late because of the buses," she said.

Credit: wxia

Former Georgia State Superintendent now driving a school bus to get kids to class

RELATED: DeKalb school district gets creative to cover hundreds of vacancies on first day of school

She teaches government but this is a math problem: more students and fewer drivers are causing problems in school districts across the U.S. In some states, schools even have had to cancel classes.

"My whole life has been asking the question, if not me, then who?" Cox said. "And I can be part of the solution."

So over the summer, Cox earned her commercial driver's license (CDL), and though she's still working out those first-day-of-school jitters, she understands the importance of her job.

"It's tough, but I am carrying the most precious cargo we have," Cox said. "Students, and for parents, their children. So it has to be a rigorous process."

Credit: wxia

Former Georgia State Superintendent now driving a school bus to get kids to class

RELATED: Districts work to fill out staff before start of school year

And she's even got a little reminder of what she's done for the district every time she opens her bus driver training manual.

"My name is still on the bottom! Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools," she said.

Cox isn't the only teacher hopping in the driver's seat either; 12 other Henry County educators earned their CDL over summer break. All are taking steps to solve the problem.

"Right now, I think I am doing the two most important jobs in education," Cox said. "You can't wait around for someone else to do something. You have to step up."

Cox Automotive has opened its EV Battery Solutions (EVBS) service center in Conyers, Georgia, reflecting the rapid growth of the industry in Georgia, with EV facility investments from various automakers and battery manufacturers.

The company says it continues to grow its global EV battery service network, which measures more than 1 million square feet, to reflect its customer-first mindset.

“The geographic expansion of our EV battery service network reinforces our dedication to both our customers and the growth of the new and used electric vehicle market in the U.S.,” says Lea Malloy, assistant vice president of EV Battery Solutions, Cox Automotive, which is headquartered in Atlanta. “As the global leader of integrated battery caretaking services, we provide flexible capacity and logistics expertise that frees OEM resources to focus on new product development and customer engagement that is essential to further driving EV growth.”

Cox Automotive says it supports practices that enable the extension of EV battery first lives and end-of-life reuse and recovery treatments. This includes a variety of storage, logistics, diagnostics, repair and remanufacturing services being conducted at the company’s global EV battery service facilities in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Belleville, Michigan; Las Vegas; Conyers; Ede, Netherlands; and select Manheim operating locations. Manheim has more than 100 locations worldwide and provides a wholesale vehicle marketplace.

The company’s Conyers facility will be equipped with EV test equipment, lifting equipment and racks for battery storage, the company says. At full capacity, the facility can handle about 9,000 battery packs through various parts of the EV life cycle.

Conyers is the first EVBS facility to be on the East Coast, according to Cox Automotive, and provides logistical advantages to regional customers as EVBS looks to continue expanding to support its goals of maximizing the reuse and recycling of EV auto parts.

Battery packs will be received in the facility's approved Department of Transportation containers, according to the company. During the intake process, battery packs are inspected to ensure they are safe for processing. Any battery pack or container that is found to be defective immediately will be moved to the outside battery quarantine area. This includes battery packs or dunnage that show signs of physical damage, overheating or off-gassing and any battery packs or dunnage that have been pierced, dropped or crushed during material handling.

Ole Miss is expected to hire Alabama tight ends coach Joe Cox to serve in the same role for the program, per Matt Zenitz. Cox spent the past two seasons with the Crimson Tide.

Cox will replace John David Baker, who accepted the offer to become East Carolina’s offensive coordinator in December of last year. Cox was not retained by Kalen DeBoer at Alabama. He is the third assistant coach Ole Miss has added this offseason, along with Bryan Brown and George McDonald.

While at Alabama, Joe Cox mentored Cameron Latu, who the San Francisco 49ers selected with the No. 101 overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. In 2023, Cox’s tight ends unit was led by Amari Niblack, who tallied 20 receptions for 327 yards and four touchdowns.

Cox has also spent time coaching at Charlotte, South Carolina and Colorado State. Cox played college football at Georgia, where he was the starting quarterback in 2009. Cox completed 185-of-331 pass attempts for 2,584 yards and 24 touchdowns in the ’09 campaign, which, at the time, was the second-best single-season total in UGA history.

More on Ole Miss’ offseason progress

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is confident in where Ole Miss stands ahead of next season.

“Well, I’ve never been anywhere four years. First off, I feel safe,” Kiffin said. “We talked about it this whole press conference. We’re in a really good place. We’re starting something really special.

“I think today’s another message, which obviously you saw all these great players around the country the last month sign up to come join these guys. Today is another message as you look at the MVPs up here and the guys that came in here to do something special.”

New coaches aren’t the only additions Ole Miss has made in the offseason. The Rebels boast the No. 3 transfer class in On3’s Transfer Portal Team Rankings. The group is headlined by five-star defensive lineman Walter Nolen.

In a conversation with On3’s Andy Staples, OMSpirit’s Zach Berry pulled back the curtain on the Rebels’ monstrous incoming transfer class.

“The portal, it’s been Kiffin’s way of bridging that gap between the tier 1 SEC, the tier 1 national programs, to make not only Ole Miss relevant in a dark horse playoff team. To where now I think there is no dark horse anymore. They are a legit threat to the College Football Playoff,” Berry said.

Everyone loves a great success story, but what's most fascinating is the story behind that success.

Conductor Roderick Cox is living one of those great stories.

Raised by a single mom in the musical Mecca of Macon, he had lots of potential, but not a lot of resources.

Just like it takes more than one instrument to make an orchestra, it takes more than just one person to create a great conductor.

Roderick Cox's love of music started early at home and at church.

“Just being surrounded by a lot of music. My mom was in the choir at Bethany Seventh Day Adventist Church and I had to sit in the choir rehearsals, and I very much enjoyed the music coming from the choir loft every, every Saturday morning,” Cox said.

Cox started off on the snare drum in elementary school. He was a part of Central High School's marching band in the early 2000s and eventually moved to the French horn.

“I felt very fortunate to be a part of Macon Public School system when I felt there was a strong emphasis on Macon and music education,” said Cox.

Credit: RODERICK COX

Cox remembers when Zelma Redding with the Otis Redding Foundation agreed to buy him his first French horn for college. Karla Redding-Andrews, Vice President and Executive Director of the foundation and daughter of music legend Otis Redding explains what made Cox special.

“Roderick, what makes him so special is his determination, and he's a lot like my dad -- you can't put him in a box because he's African American, and my dad was that way, like, 'I'm not doing this for color, this is the passion that I have,' and I think that's what my mom saw in him.”

It was in college at Columbus State University in Georgia when Cox the French horn player decided to become Cox the conductor. Cox studied conducting at Northwestern University, graduating in 2011. There, he found more than a love of music -- Cox discovered its power to move the soul and the body.

His studies took him around the world, studying at Oxford University in England, Barcelona, Spain, and the Czech Republic, just to name a few, all with the help of the Otis Redding Foundation.

The basic notes to nurture a dream and everyone playing their part can cascade into a crescendo of success.

Cox said, “I still feel my goal is to make great music, the best music I can at the highest level of my potential, and wherever that takes me -- to a fantastic orchestra -- I have to do it and pursue it and do it 100 percent.”

Cox is currently conducting in Germany. He’s been there since 2018, but he still stays connected with the foundation and is giving back through his Roderick Cox Music Initiative.

“It’s not farfetched to dream big, but a dream has to be backed up through execution and planning, and any dream worth obtaining takes diligent work over time,” said Cox.

He says that you can't do it alone.

"Not just parents, but supporters and different angels come in your life to help you along your path," said Cox.

The Boys & Girls Club in Macon was also instrumental in Cox's development. Leaders there reached out to the Otis Redding Foundation on his behalf.

Karla Redding-Andrews says Cox will be honored with the Zelma and Otis Redding Award of Respect during the Macon Bicentennial Celebration this fall.

You can visit Cox's official website for more information about him.

If you are interested in learning more about and donating to the Roderick Cox Music Initiative, you can also visit their official site.

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) today named Cathy Cox president of Georgia College & State University, effective October 1, 2021.

“Georgia College & State University has long played a special role within USG as the state’s public liberal arts college, and it is gaining a new leader who inherently understands how important that mission is both for students and the state,” USG Acting Chancellor Teresa MacCartney said. “Cathy Cox has deep experience in liberal arts education, and a passion to help Georgia College succeed. I congratulate her on her new role.”

Cathy Cox became dean of Mercer University School of Law in 2017 after serving 10 years as president of Young Harris College.

“I am excited to welcome Cathy Cox into the USG family, and know Georgia College will only keep rising among the ranks of the nation’s best public liberal arts institutions,” Board of Regents Chairman Sachin Shailendra said. “On behalf of the Board of Regents, I look forward to working with her.”

As the 21st president of Young Harris, a private liberal arts college in the north Georgia mountains, Cox led its transition from a two-year college to a four-year institution and oversaw unprecedented growth. Prior to assuming the Young Harris presidency, Cox served two terms as Georgia’s secretary of state, and was the first woman in the state’s history to be elected to the post, first in 1998 and again in 2002. In the spring of 2007, she held the Carl E. Sanders Political Leadership Chair at the University of Georgia School of Law.

“Thank you to the Board and Acting Chancellor MacCartney for this tremendous opportunity,” Cox said. “I am excited to work with an already amazing faculty and staff as we enhance Georgia College as a destination for students seeking a preeminent liberal arts education. I can’t wait to get started.”

Storbeck Search provided consulting services during the president search process.

About Cathy Cox

A native of Bainbridge, Cox worked as a newspaper reporter for three years before entering law school, working for The Times in Gainesville and The Post-Searchlight in Bainbridge. She earned a degree in journalism, summa cum laude, from the University of Georgia and is a 2013 inductee to the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication’s Grady Fellowship. Cox also holds an associate’s degree in agriculture from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton.

Cox was a magna cum laude graduate of Mercer Law School, where she was editor-in-chief of the Mercer Law Review. She practiced law full-time for 10 years in Atlanta and Bainbridge following her graduation. She has remained an active member of the State Bar of Georgia.

Cox served two terms in the Georgia House of Representatives and two terms as Georgia’s secretary of state. In the spring of 2007, she held the Carl E. Sanders Political Leadership Chair at the University of Georgia School of Law. Later that year she became the 21st president of Young Harris College where she served for 10 years. She was named dean of Mercer University School of Law in 2017.

Among her many awards and accolades are the 2011 Traditions of Excellence Award for General Practice by the State Bar’s General Practice and Trial Section and the 2020 Outstanding Woman Lawyer by the Middle Georgia chapter of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers.

Cox is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and the recipient of Leadership Georgia’s prestigious J.W. Fanning Award for progressive leadership and service. She serves on a number of philanthropic and civic organizations and boards and is married to attorney Mark Dehler.

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