I’m Josh Tolbert, a professional engineer, educator, small business owner, husband, and father of five. I’m running for State Senate to bring practical, level-headed leadership to our community — leadership that listens first, respects every voice, and works toward real solutions.
Our district faces real challenges, from the quality of our schools to the rising cost of living. Too often, government programs are slow or disconnected from what people actually need. I believe we can do better by strengthening the foundations that make our communities thrive — strong families, strong schools, strong local businesses, and strong neighborhoods that look out for one another.

Every child deserves access to a great education — no matter their zip code. Parents should have the ability to choose the learning environment that fits their child best, whether that’s public, charter, private, homeschool, or a hybrid model. When families have options, all schools get stronger through accountability, innovation, and trust.
Classroom time should be focused on core learning, not politics or ideology. Teachers should be free to teach and supported with the resources they need — not buried in administrative paperwork or cultural distractions.

As a former high school math and physics teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how great teachers change lives. But we’re not doing enough to support them. Since 2000, the number of school administrators has grown 94.7%, while the number of teachers has grown only 9.8% (NCES data). That means more dollars are going to offices instead of classrooms. If we want better outcomes, we need to pay teachers better and make sure more funding reaches students and classrooms directly.

We also need to broaden what “education success” means. As a former college professor, I’ve met too many students unsure why they were there — often taking on debt for degrees that don’t match their goals. Skilled trades, apprenticeships, and technical programs offer high-paying, rewarding careers without the burden of student debt.

With a national college dropout rate near 40% and $1.6 trillion in student debt, we owe it to our kids to be honest: education should be an investment — one that makes sense for their future. Georgia’s economy depends just as much on welders, electricians, plumbers, machinists, and technicians as it does on engineers and accountants. We should prepare every student to thrive, whether their future is built with their hands, their mind, or both.