Linda Schrenko
Linda Schrenko is a former superintendent of schools in the U.S. state of Georgia who was convicted on an embezzlement scheme and sentenced to 8 years in prison.
Biography
Schrenko was born on July 24, 1949, in Millen, Georgia. She received a bachelor's degree in education from Augusta College in 1972, after which she worked as a teacher and in other educational jobs until her election as superintendent.
As superintendent
In 1994, Schrenko, a Republican, defeated the Democratic incumbent to be elected as superintendent of schools, becoming the first woman elected to statewide office in Georgia, and was re-elected in 1998. She generated controversy by advocating the teaching of creationism in schools and was often in conflict with Governor Roy Barnes. She also started harsh teacher criticisms with creating the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test.
Campaign for governor
In 2002, Schrenko sought the Republican nomination for governor of Georgia against Bill Byrne and Sonny Perdue. Schrenko and Byrne were defeated by Perdue, who avoided a runoff by claiming a majority of the primary votes.
Legal problems
On November 10, 2004, Schrenko was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from her embezzlement of more than $600,000 in federal education funds. The indictment alleged that a substantial portion of the funds in question had been used to fund Schrenko's campaign for governor and facial plastic surgery.[1][2]
She pled guilty to fraud and money laundering, and was sentenced to 8 years in prison on July 12, 2006. She was also fined $414,000 in restitution, and will be required to serve 3 years probation and 100 hours of community service upon being released.[3]
Schrenko was released from federal prison on March 6, 2013.