Coweta County’s Central Educational Center (CEC) is going to be well-represented at the state level, following appointments of two of its leaders to Georgia boards and commissions.

CEC’s High School Program Director Andy Peryam was named by executive appointment last week to the state’s Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission by Governor Sonny Perdue.

The announcement of Peryam’s appointment to the state educational commission followed a May 4 announcement by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle that Central Educational Center CEO Mark Whitlock would join the Lt. Governor’s 25-member Advisory Board.

Peryam, who is retiring from CEC at the end of this school year, will serve as one of 14 members on the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC). The NPEC ensures that applicable colleges or schools authorized by the state of Georgia are educationally sound and financially stable, assure students that the school’s program of study meet minimum standards, and assures prospective employers that graduates have acquired appropriate job skills.

While NPEC is not an accrediting agency, it does authorize postsecondary institutions to operate under Georgia law, which is an important first step in accreditation. The commission also reviews and authorizes each college or school annually, provides consumer information and protection, resolves student complaints, manages institution closures and resulting student records, prepares required publications and grants exemptions as applicable, and develops new and revised standards, procedures, regulations and schedules in response to changing laws, needs and circumstances.

In addition to his duties at CEC, Peryam is a member of the Association for Career and Technical Educators, the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, vice president of the Trade and Industrial Educators of Georgia and serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Association of Career and Technical Educators.

Mark Whitlock was named as an educational advisor to Lt. Governor Casey Cagle’s Advisory Board. Members of the board provide the Lt. Governor with input and counsel when considering major legislation or situations affecting the issue areas in which they serve, said Cagle’s office.

Cagle appointed members to his Education, Agriculture, Economic Development, Healthcare and Public Safety Advisory Boards. Whitlock was named to the Education board.

In addition to serving as the CEO of the Central Educational Center, Whitlock has worked with the Bank of America building commercial banking relationships, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce, among several other community posts.

The Central Educational Center charter school is a joint venture among local business leaders, the Coweta County School System and West Central Technical College. CEC has been named a National Model School, and 450 groups have visited the Coweta school because of its unique educational model.

login to post comments