CRAIG KENNEDY
 

          I was born and raised in Sardis, GA, where I attended Cousins Elementary, went to middle school at SGA High School, and graduated as a member of the first class to attend all four years at Burke County Comprehensive High School (class of ‘91).

          I played two years of tennis and basketball all four years for the Burke County Bears. My grandfather, father, and mother all owned businesses in Burke County, where I worked at a young age. These experiences helped me grow and shaped who I am today.  I learned what it means to be part of a community, how to treat people, how to help them, and how to show compassion for others.

 

          After high school, I attended North Georgia University and earned my bachelor's degree in History with a teacher certification.  I also married my wife, Karla, during this time in North Georgia.

          After receiving my degree, I took a job teaching at Youth Bridge in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I worked with young men who had troubled backgrounds and were court-ordered to attend the program at the rehabilitation and education center.

          While in Fayetteville, I attended the University of Arkansas and received my masters in Special Education.

          Karla and I also welcomed little Miles into the world while we were in Arkansas.

 

          My next journey took me to the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, where I taught for eight years in two different public schools. During all this moving around and experiencing new people and places, I always had my mind on getting back close to home, close to my family, and my home.

          I truly missed Burke County and always wanted to move back and help my community move forward. After the Covid pandemic, my family and I thought it was a good opportunity to move back and see what was possible here.

 

          I have been back teaching at Burke Public Schools for five years, coaching basketball and tennis at the high school while coaching any recreational sports that Miles was involved in at the time.

          Karla and I opened Home Grown Produce Stand, which was like a mini farmers' market with fresh fruits and vegetables, canned goods, live plants, and the best boiled peanuts in the area.

          My family has flourished here in Burke County, and it feels like the right time for me to run for County Commissioner in my district so that I can give back to the community that has given me so much in my life.