Congressman Johnny Isakson
Representing Georgia's 6th District
Vice Chair of the Web-based Education Commision

Web-based Education Commision

The Commission was established by Congress to develop policy recommendations geared toward maximizing the educational promise of the Internet for pre-K, elementary, middle, secondary, and postsecondary education learners. Starting in November 1999, the 16 members of the Commission-appointed by President Clinton, Education Secretary Richard Riley, and the Democratic & Republican leadership of Congress-met with hundreds of education, business, policy, and technology experts.

The report, the most comprehensive ever written on the impact of web-based learning on education, establishes a “policy roadmap” that will help education and policy officials at the local, state, and national levels better address the critical “digital age” challenges brought about by the Internet and other emerging technologies. The report has been enthusiastically embraced by the public and endorsed by education and policy leaders and organizations around the nation.

Biography

Johnny Isakson is a businessman and a public servant. He began his professional career in 1967 by opening the first Cobb County, Georgia, office of Northside Realty. By emphasizing a personal approach to client relationships, Johnny helped Northside become one of the fastest growing real estate companies in metro Atlanta. After taking over as company president in 1979, Johnny led Northside to continued success as a leader in Georgia real estate.

Today Northside Realty is the 37th largest residential real estate brokerage company in the nation and the largest independent residential real estate brokerage company based in Georgia. Northside had sales in excess of $1.9 billion in 1998 and is comprised of over 1100 employees and Realtors®. Due to his business leadership, Johnny has received many awards and recognition including being named to Georgia Trend`s "100 Most Influential Georgians" six times.

Johnny Isakson entered Georgia Republican politics in 1974 and was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1976. From 1983 to 1990 he served as the Republican leader in the state House. In 1989, Johnny was one of ten recipients of the "Best Legislator in America Award" given by the Republican National Committee and went on to become his party`s nominee for Governor in 1990. Johnny continued his public service in 1993 when he was elected to the Georgia State Senate. He served in the Georgia State Senate until 1996 when he sought the Republican nomination for the United States Senate.

During his tenure in the Georgia General Assembly, Isakson authored and passed legislation focusing on state growth, regional planning, budget reform, and fiscal accountability. In 1989 he led the fight to defeat a 33 percent increase in the state sales tax and in 17 years in the state legislature never voted for a tax increase. In 1994, in order to eliminate wasteful pork barrel spending, Johnny became the first legislator in memory to force a halt in Georgia`s budget process. He also authored the state`s privatization law, later serving as chairman of the State Privatization Commission.

An active leader in Georgia Republican politics for over 20 years, Johnny served as co-chairman of Bob Dole`s presidential campaigns in 1988 and 1996.

In December of 1996, Governor Zell Miller appointed Johnny Chairman of the Georgia Board of Education, allowing him to continue a lifetime of public service. Under his leadership, Georgia`s public school system experienced an increase in local control as well as the introduction of innovative programs like "Reading First," which promotes a balanced reading approach that includes explicit systematic phonics and quality children`s literature. The Board also passed a complete overhaul of the Quality Core Curriculum and for the first time included character education as a component of the curriculum.

Johnny currently serves as a member of the United States House of Representatives. He was elected on February 23, 1999, in a special election to replace outgoing member Newt Gingrich. In the special election Johnny defeated his six opponents garnering 65 percent of the vote. Johnny sits on the Education and the Workforce Committee, including its Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and its Subcommittee on Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Life-Long Learning. He also sits on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, including its Subcommittee on Aviation and its Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Emergency Management.

Before his election to the House of Representatives, in addition to Johnny`s business activities, he also was a Trustee of Kennesaw State University, a member of the Board of Directors both for the Metro Atlanta and Georgia Chambers of Commerce, President of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Founder of Leadership Cobb, member Board of Directors of Riverside Bank, member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Realtors®, President of the Realty Alliance, and member of the Advisory Board of the Federal National Mortgage Association. Currently, he is also Chairman of the Board of the Georgian Club and has been named to the Board of Reinhardt College.

Johnny and his wife, Dianne, have been married 31 years and have three children: John, Kevin, and Julie. The Isakson`s are active members of Mount Zion United Methodist Church where Johnny has taught sixth grade Sunday School since 1978.

 

Home | Register Now! | Program/Speakers | Program Sponsors | About Us | Webcast |
© 2001 Ready2Net @ California State University, Monterey Bay - All Rights Reserved

Questions or Comments: ready2net@csumb.edu

Ready2Net: csumb.edu/ready2net

Original Web Design: Peter S. Jung