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Meet the Superintendent

Dr. Mike Looney

Dr. Mike Looney is a bold, results-driven leader committed to providing every student with access to a high-quality education and a pathway to success. As the superintendent of Georgia’s fourth-largest school district, he is deeply passionate about academic excellence and preparing more than 87,000 students across 104 schools for life beyond graduation. He remains committed to the School Board’s mission to educate every student to be a responsible, productive citizen.

Since becoming superintendent in June 2019, Dr. Looney has led initiatives that strengthen academic achievement, career readiness, and leadership development for both students and educators. His strategic focus includes dropout prevention, literacy, CTAE expansion, STEAM programs, middle school reform, leadership development, and strong financial management, which all ensure the district remains academically and financially strong. Through careful fiscal management, he has upheld the district’s AAA credit rating, prioritizing investments in classrooms and student programs.

Within his first year as FCS superintendent, Dr. Looney garnered attention for his swift decision-making and visionary leadership as the first school leader in Georgia to manage a school-related COVID-19 case. Drawing on 28 years as an educator, including 15 years as a superintendent in Tennessee and Alabama, and his background as a retired U.S. Marine, father, and community leader, he acted quickly to maintain student learning while ensuring safety. Post-pandemic, he spearheaded the district's “Bridge to Success plan,” a three-year transformational initiative to help students recover from learning loss through targeted support. As a result, many students now perform better in reading and math than before the pandemic, and in 2023, Fulton County Schools achieved its highest ever graduation rate (90.7%).

Dr. Looney’s decisive leadership and strategic vision over the past six years led to his recognition as Georgia’s 2024 Superintendent of the Year, a distinction he also earned in 2015 as Tennessee Superintendent of the Year. He is a highly regarded national speaker on a range of educational and leadership topics, often drawing from his experiences as a second-career educator. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and working in the corporate world, he transitioned into education as a substitute teacher. While teaching, he earned an MBA from Jacksonville State University, where he also completed his bachelor's degree, before going on to earn a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and an Educational Specialist degree from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Looney represents Fulton County Schools on the Governor’s Advisory Board, the Board of Directors for the Development Authority of Fulton County, and the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. Outside of education, he is a successful business owner, professional skydiver, and trained Wing Walker. He is a devoted husband to Jennifer, a proud father of four adult children, and a grandfather of two.

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