Dr. Michael Gwatney

Dr. Michael Gwatney joined PKKN in January 2024 as the Firm’s Education Policy Specialist, a non-attorney professional dedicated to serving local school systems and the Georgia School Boards Association with policy development.

Gwatney graduated from Fannin County High School, Blue Ridge, Georgia, in 1991 and went on to serve the Fannin County School System in a variety of roles for over 30 years, including: Substitute teacher, paraprofessional, teacher of elementary and middle grades, assistant principal, principal, Director of Technology & Media Services, and as the Superintendent for six years until his retirement in 2023. Gwatney has received various academic and professional awards, including: Brenau University’s “Outstanding Future Educator”; induction into The University of Georgia Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi; “Educator of the Year” from the Fannin County Retired Educators Association; the “Distinguished Alumni – Crystal Apple Award” from The University of Georgia College of Education; the “Johnnye V. Cox Award” from the Program in Educational Leadership & Policy at The University of Georgia; and the “Pioneer in Education Award” for Fannin County Schools from the Pioneer Regional Education Service Agency. He has earned an Associate in Arts from Truett-McConnell, a Bachelor of Science from Brenau, and three degrees – making him a “Triple Dawg” – from The University of Georgia: Master of Education, Specialist in Education, and the Doctor of Education. Go Dawgs!

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