Dr. Kirk Shook

Dr. Kirk Shook was appointed as Executive Director of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) by Governor Brian Kemp on July 16, 2026. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC) for 7.5 years as its agency head before coming to GVRA. His expertise has been utilized in various capacities, serving on regional and national committees for organizations such as the Georgia Department of Education, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), and the National Certified Public Manager Consortium.

Before his time serving as an agency head, Dr. Shook worked in K-12 education as a high school Social Studies teacher for twelve years. He was a finalist for Georgia Economics Teacher of the Year in 2016 for the Georgia Council on Economic Education, and in that same year, Governor Nathan Deal appointed him to serve on the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee.

As a first-generation college student, Dr. Shook believes that education and skills training leading to a career, not just a job, are the best paths for individuals to be able to rise from poverty and improve their station in life. Kirk is a Triple Dawg, earning three degrees from the University of Georgia—a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Master of Public Administration in Policy Analysis, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. Before that, he earned his Associate of Science in Education from Young Harris College. He also holds a certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of Georgia, an Executive Education Certificate in Public Leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and is a Certified Public Manager® through the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Leadership Institute.

Dr. Shook serves as Vice Chairman of the Oconee County Board of Elections, Club Administration Chair for the Rotary Club of Oconee County, and Treasurer of his homeowner’s association. He also serves on the Policy Committee of the Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation Study (MACORTS), the Board of Directors of Athens-Oconee Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs Alumni Board of Directors. He is a Class Coordinator for the Young Harris College Alumni Board and a member of the 1886 Society there.

Kirk is an active member of the Touchdown Club of Athens, and he volunteers with the United Way of Northeast Georgia. He also serves as a student mentor through the UGA Alumni Association and through the UGA Master of Public Administration Mentor Program.

Kirk and his wife, Miriam, have two beautiful daughters, Maddie and Allie. The four of them live in Bogart with their dogs, Lucy and Libby. Miriam is an Instructional Technology Specialist in Oconee County Schools. They are boosters of University of Georgia athletics, holding season tickets for football, men’s basketball, and gymnastics. They enjoy going to concerts, working in their church, being outdoors, playing with their puppies, and going on adventures with their children. They are active members of Oconee Fellowship (PCA) in Watkinsville.