Thinker: In The Name of Community
For more than a decade, Ben Straker has quietly helped shape the direction of Clayton County Public Schools. Today, as chairman of the Clayton County Board of Education, his leadership style is not defined by spotlight or spectacle. Instead, Straker describes his approach simply: lead from the back and focus on the mission.
That mission, he says, has always been clear.
“Enhancing our children,” Straker said during a recent conversation with We Are Clayton Magazine. “Anybody that sees anything different than that really needs to go somewhere else.”
Straker was first elected to the school board in 2015. His entry into public service, however, began long before a ballot was ever cast. Like many parents, his involvement started with his own children.
“I had two children at Morrow High School,” he explained. “I was up there every day because of my son’s behavior. Mary Dewberry—rest in peace—recruited me to the PTA. I became PTA president, and when my predecessor left the District 9 seat, I was asked to run.”
That decision launched what is now an 11-year tenure helping guide one of the largest school systems in metro Atlanta.
From Brooklyn to Clayton County
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Straker moved to Clayton County in 2010—just as the school district was emerging from one of the most difficult chapters in its history.
At the time, Clayton County had recently lost accreditation, an event that shook public confidence in the district and the broader community.
“When I got here, the reputation was bad,” Straker said plainly. “I remember telling people in Atlanta that I lived in Clayton County, and they would look at me like, ‘Are you safe?’ That used to insult me.”
But that moment also became a catalyst.
Many residents found their own ways to contribute to rebuilding the county’s reputation. For Gerrian, it meant launching a community magazine to tell Clayton County’s story from the inside. For Straker, it meant stepping into public leadership.
“Clayton County needed a reputation lift,” he said. “We needed vision, mission, and a sense that we were moving forward.”
More than a decade later, Straker believes the district has made significant progress.
“Now when I sit with leaders from other parts of metro Atlanta, they give Clayton County its props,” he said. “We’re halfway there.”
Building the Infrastructure for the Future
During Straker’s time on the board, the district has undergone substantial transformation. New schools have been built, aging facilities renovated, and major investments made in infrastructure designed to restore pride and confidence in the school system.
Former Superintendent Dr. Morcease Beasley and retired Superintendent Dr. Anthony Smith both prioritized construction and modernization efforts that reshaped the district’s physical landscape.
“One belief was that if we build beautiful buildings, children gain confidence—and confidence leads to excellence,” Straker said.
Among the most visible projects is the district’s new Convocation Center, an 8,000-seat arena that will host graduations, events, and community gatherings.
For years, Clayton County students graduated at the Georgia World Congress Center, an arrangement that came with tight scheduling constraints and an annual cost approaching $1 million.
“With our own facility, graduations won’t be rushed anymore,” Straker said. “And it belongs to our students.”
The center also represents something more ambitious: a social enterprise that can generate revenue while exposing students to real-world career pathways.
Straker frames those pathways around what he calls the “four E’s”:
enrollment, enlistment, entrepreneurship, and employment.
“Our job as a board is to help prepare students for whichever path they choose,” he said.
A Different Kind of Leadership
Straker became chairman of the board about a year and a half ago, a role that significantly changed the weight of his responsibilities.
“The first nine years, I didn’t have that on my shoulders,” he said. “Now I’m the person the public looks to when they need direction.”
His leadership style focuses heavily on collaboration. Clayton County’s school board consists of nine members, each representing different communities and perspectives.
One of Straker’s first changes as chair was adding a segment to board work sessions where every member shares updates about their work in the community.
“It’s not a one-person show,” he said. “It’s a nine-person show.”
That change, he believes, has strengthened transparency and allowed residents to see how board members are contributing individually and collectively.
The goal, Straker says, is simple: hear every voice, leave egos at the door, and keep the mission centered on students.
The Work Still Ahead
Despite the progress Clayton County has made, Straker says the district still faces pressing challenges—particularly in literacy and mathematics.
“I think we’ve made tremendous improvement,” he said. “But I’d like to see it move faster.”
Academic performance remains a top priority, especially in a world increasingly shaped by technology and artificial intelligence.
“If you can read, you can do almost anything,” Straker said. “Even with AI, you still have to know how to read to give the right prompts.”
At the same time, the board is evaluating policies to ensure technology is used safely while keeping Clayton County students competitive with peers around the world.
Business, Community, and Education
Outside of education, Straker is an entrepreneur who has spent more than 30 years in the insurance industry, operating agencies in both Georgia and New York.
That business background informs his view of economic development and education.
“I believe business can solve problems,” he said.
The Convocation Center, he believes, will spark development along the surrounding corridor and strengthen partnerships between schools, municipalities, and local businesses.
Straker works closely with leaders across the county—including Clayton County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Valencia Williamson and mayors throughout the region—to explore opportunities where public education and economic growth intersect.
“When the schools improve academically, property values rise,” he said. “It’s all connected.”
A Legacy Without a Name on the Building
Straker is currently running for re-election, with voters heading to the polls in May. Campaigning requires him to do something he admits feels uncomfortable: talking about his own accomplishments.
Yet when asked about the legacy he hopes to leave, Straker’s answer had little to do with buildings, titles, or public recognition.
“I don’t need a building named after me,” he said.
Instead, he imagines a future moment when a young person stands at a podium—perhaps a former student intern, perhaps an elected official or lawyer—and reflects on the path that brought them there.
“All I need,” Straker said, “is for that person to say, ‘Mr. Straker helped set the pathway for me.’”
For him, that single acknowledgment would mean the mission was accomplished.
And in Clayton County, where generations of students are preparing to take their place in the world, that kind of legacy might be the most powerful one of all.