The leader who oversees special education services for roughly 10,200 Fulton County students has earned one of Georgia's top honors for educational leadership.

Dr. MaryKay Berry, executive director of Fulton County Schools' Services for Exceptional Children department, received the Jim Puckett Outstanding Educator Award from the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders. The Fulton County Board of Education recognized Berry at its Wednesday, Aug. 12 meeting as part of its monthly acknowledgment of staff honored at the state or national level, according to Fulton County Schools.

The Puckett award is given annually to a GAEL member who exemplifies the leadership qualities of the organization's third executive director, Dr. Jim Puckett. Winners are recognized at the Summer GAEL Conference, and past recipients have come from school systems and universities across the state, according to GAEL's website.

Berry's department handles the work most Sandy Springs families encounter when a child qualifies for special education.

Her team is responsible for embedding special education supports within the district's Standards Mastery Framework, guiding school leaders on federal and state compliance, and providing professional development for special education staff. The department also oversees free services ranging from preschool special education classes to speech therapy, occupational therapy and audiological evaluations for students ages 3 through 21 who reside in the district.

That scope touches Sandy Springs directly. North Springs High School and Riverwood International Charter School both fall under the FCS umbrella, meaning Berry's team sets the framework for how those schools deliver individualized education programs and related services to students with disabilities.

Fulton County Schools is Georgia's fourth-largest district, with a projected enrollment of 85,000 students for 2026-27. The district's 2025-26 demographic data shows 12 percent of students receive special education services, translating to approximately 10,200 children and young adults districtwide.

Families seeking information about special education services can reach Berry's department at 470-254-0400.