As the husband of school teacher and a graduate of Georgia's public schools, Jason Shepherd is committed to real education reform. With over 60% of the state budget dedicated for education (both K-12 and the University System of Georgia), every dollar must be better utilized to prepare the next generation of Georgia's leaders to compete in the global marketplace. This includes not only empowering our teachers in Cobb County with the opportunity to teach by eliminating much of the paperwork that is turning them into bureaucrats and taking away much needed instructional time, but also empowering parents to take an active part in their child's education. Jason will work to create and foster more educational opportunity in Cobb County that will allow parents to choose the education they think will best prepare their children. This includes creating an environment for more charter school creation and more community involvement to build up and assist public schools that may be struggling. Whether it's a public school, charter school, private school or home school, Jason will be an advocate to make sure it's the kitchen table, not a committee table Atlanta or Washington, where the most important decisions for our children's futures are made.