Scott Sweeney, an East Cobb resident who served two terms on the Cobb Board of Education and later the Georgia Board of Education, has died.
His death was announced Tuesday by the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia, to which Sweeney had been appointed in 2025.
The cause of death was not disclosed, but a release by the state charter schools commission said Sweeney passed away on Friday.
Sweeney and his wife Sandy, to whom he was married for 28 years, had two sons who graduated from Walton High School.
He served on the Cobb school board from 2011-18.
“Marty and I are deeply saddened by the passing of State Charter Schools Commissioner Scott Sweeney,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in the release.
“Throughout his service on the Cobb County Board of Education, the State Board of Education and most recently the Commission, his longstanding commitment to improving the quality of education in Georgia has made our state stronger and our students better prepared for opportunities beyond the classroom. We are keeping his wife, Sandy, and their two sons in our prayers.”
Sweeney was a Republican who represented Post 6 on the Cobb school board, which at the time included the Walton and Wheeler attendance zones.
He was defeated for re-election in 2018, then served on the Georgia Board of Education, including a stint as chairman.
“Scott Sweeney cared deeply about Georgia students and families, a commitment he made clear during his years of distinguished service on the State Board of Education,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said in the state charter school commission release.
“He was a thoughtful leader, a strong partner with both the Georgia Department of Education and the local districts he represented, and a man of kindness and integrity. He will be deeply missed, and I am lifting his wife and children up in prayer.”
In February 2025, Kemp appointed Sweeney to the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia.
“The State Charter Schools Commission mourns the loss of Commissioner Sweeney. He will be remembered as a champion of excellence in public education in all its forms, from traditional district schools to charter schools,” said SCSC Chair Cayanna Good, Ph.D.
“It was both a personal and professional honor for the Commission Board, staff, and charter school community to work alongside Commissioner Sweeney. His leadership, thoughtfulness, and collegiality will be deeply missed.”
Sweeney was a business advisor at InPrime Legal, an East Cobb firm providing outsourced legal services to small businesses.
In response to a request for comment from East Cobb News, InPrime said that “0ur team is in incredible pain as we grieve the loss of Scott. Right now, our focus is on supporting his family and honoring his memory.”
East Cobb News also has contacted the Cobb County School District for comment.
On Sunday, former Cobb GOP chairman posted on his Facebook page a photo of Sweeney being sworn in as a member of the charter school commission with Kemp and others.
Shepherd’s post said only “Happier times…joining Scott Sweeney as he is sworn in to the Charter School Commission, April 2025. RIP my friend.”
Sweeney was a native of California and was a graduate of UCLA.
He has been active in the Cobb County Republican Party, the Georgia School Boards Association and the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
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