Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Michael Dockery
DOCKERY: # The Front Porch Still Matters *
By Michael Dockery / * Inglés y español | Over the last several months, I’ve spent a lot of time driving the roads of South Georgia. I’ve stood in driveways, sat on front porches, talked in parking lots, visited small businesses, and listened to people from all walks of life share what matters most to them. And through all of those conversations, one thing has become very clear to me: People want to be heard. Not talked at. Not managed. Not treated like a number. Heard.
DOCKERY : A House 176 candidate – standing up! *
By Michael Dockery / * Inglés y español | It’s time for a change and it begins with listening There was a time when leadership felt a little more personal. Folks running for office didn’t just hold meetings—they showed up. They knocked on doors, sat at kitchen tables, and listened. Not to talk, not to argue, but to understand. Over the past several months, that’s exactly what I’ve tried to do.
Showing Up Still Matters
By Michael Dockery / * Inglés y español | In a community like ours, people don’t expect perfection from their elected officials—but they do expect presence. They expect someone who will show up, listen, and stay engaged with the people they represent. Not just during election season, but consistently—when it matters most and when no one is watching. Over the past several months, there have been countless conversations across our district.
This Week, the Decision Isn’t in Atlanta—It’s in Your Hands *
By Michael Dockery / * Inglés y español | Early voting begins next week, and over the past several months, I’ve spent my time in a way I believe still matters—knocking on doors, meeting people face-to-face, and listening. I’ve had conversations across this district with people from all walks of life. And while every conversation is different, one thing has stood out to me more than anything else: People don’t feel like they’re being heard. Not in big speeches. Not in polished posts.
“What a Tuesday Afternoon Taught Me About South Georgia” *
By Michael Dockery / * Inglés y español | On most Tuesdays, my day doesn’t end when the final bell rings. I leave school around 3:30, change clothes, and head out into neighborhoods across our district. I knock on doors until the sun starts to go down, then head home to be a husband and a dad. That’s been my routine for a while now. And I’ll tell you something I didn’t expect — the most important part of this campaign hasn’t been what I say at the door. It’s what I hear on the other side of it.
Analysis: Rethink needed on Indigenous housing
To read our articles you will need to either login or subscribe.
South Georgia Doesn’t Need More Politics — It Needs Leadership *
By Michael Dockery / * Inglés y español | In South Georgia, we don’t have the luxury of playing political games. We’re raising families, working long days, and trying to build something better for the next generation. But too often, the people sent to represent us get caught up in national arguments instead of focusing on what actually matters here at home. I’m a teacher and a coach.
South Georgia Farmers Need More Than Headlines
By Michael Dockery / * Inglés y español | Agriculture isn’t just an industry in South Georgia. It’s our foundation. Across Ware, Coffee, Atkinson, and Lanier counties, farming families have worked the same land for generations. Timber, cattle, poultry, row crops, and specialty crops like pecans and blueberries aren’t just commodities — they represent livelihoods, legacies, and communities built through hard work.
Leadership Is Showing Up Every Day *
By Michael Dockery / * Inglés y español | This time of year is one of the most demanding for any coach. Our baseball team is heading into the playoffs, which means practices, games, travel, and long hours working with young men who are learning not just how to play the game, but how to handle responsibility, discipline, and teamwork. Coaching teaches you something important about leadership: you can’t just talk about it. You have to show up. You show up when things are going well.
Leadership isn't a graphic
By Michael Dockery In today's political environment, it's easy to confuse messaging with leadership. We see polished graphics, bold claims, and professionally produced advertisements telling us what has been "delivered." Politics has become very good at marketing. But leadership is not a graphic. It's a commitment. Over the last year, I've spent countless evenings walking neighborhoods across our district.
We don't need more politics
By Michael Dockery Over the last year, I've had hundreds of conversations across our district. On porches. In driveways. At ballfields. At church. At small businesses. And I've noticed something. People aren't angry as much as they're tired. Tired of feeling like politics is noise. Tired of headlines that don't change their daily lives. Tired of watching decisions get made somewhere else while they deal with rising costs here at home. Most families I talk to aren't asking for dramatic change.
Op-Ed: We Don’t Need More Politics - We Need Direction *
By Michael Dockery / *Ingles 7 española Over the last year, I’ve had hundreds of conversations across our district. On porches. In driveways. At ballfields. At church. At small businesses. And I’ve noticed something. People aren’t angry as much as they’re tired. Tired of feeling like politics is noise. Tired of headlines that don’t change their daily lives. Tired of watching decisions get made somewhere else while they deal with rising costs here at home.
We Deserve Representation That Shows Up*
By Michael Dockery / *Ingles y española | I’m running for State House for one simple reason: I believe our communities deserve representation that actually shows up. Not just during election season. Not just at ribbon cuttings. But consistently — in classrooms, in neighborhoods, at community events, and at kitchen tables where real decisions are felt. As a teacher and coach, I don’t have the luxury of being distant. When a student is struggling, you show up. When a parent calls, you return it.
In South Georgia, public safety isn’t an abstract idea. It’s personal.
By Michael Dockery / *Ingles y española | It’s the deputy who knows your family. The firefighter who shows up at your neighbor’s house at 2 a.m. The EMT who drives the same roads your kids ride every day. Public safety works best when people know who to call — and when someone actually answers.
Public safety and responsiveness go hand in hand
By Michael Dockery In South Georgia, public safety isn't an abstract idea. It's personal. It's the deputy who knows your family. The firefighter who shows up at your neighbor's house at 2 a.m. The EMT who drives the same roads your kids ride every day. Public safety works best when people know who to call - and when someone actually answers.
Education Is About More Than Schools - It’s About Our Future*
By Michael Dockery / *La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles Candidate for Georgia House District 176 When people talk about education, the conversation often stops at test scores, standards, or funding formulas. Those things matter — but education is about far more than what happens inside a classroom. Education is about whether our young people believe they have a future here at home. As a middle school teacher in South Georgia, I see the promise in our kids every day.
Rural South Georgia Deserves More Than Promises*
By Michael Dockery / *La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles Candidate for Georgia House District 176 South Georgia doesn’t ask for special treatment — we ask for fairness. In our small towns and rural communities, people work hard, raise families, attend church, and look out for one another. But too often, when decisions are made in Atlanta, rural South Georgia feels like an afterthought. That has to change. Rural communities are not “behind.” They are foundational.
While Atlanta Is in Session, My Focus Is Still on Home*
By Michael Dockery / *La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles As the Georgia General Assembly convenes for a new legislative session, a lot of important decisions are being discussed under the Gold Dome. For most families here in South Georgia, though, life doesn’t pause to follow every bill number or committee meeting. Folks are busy working, raising families, and trying to keep up with rising costs at home.
While Atlanta is in session, my focus is still on home
By Michael Dockery As the Georgia General Assembly convenes for a new legislative session, a lot of important decisions are being discussed under the Gold Dome. For most families here in South Georgia, though, life doesn't pause to follow every bill number or committee meeting. Folks are busy working, raising families, and trying to keep up with rising costs at home.
Standing up for South Georgia agriculture
By Michael Dockery For generations, agriculture has been the backbone of South Georgia. It's more than an industry - it's our heritage, our livelihood, and the foundation of every small town in this region. From the fields of Coffee County to the pine lands of Ware and the pastures of Lanier, farming and forestry are what keep our local economy alive and our communities connected.
Timber, Recovery, and the Future We Build Together
By Michael Dockery South Georgia’s timber industry isn’t just an economic sector — it’s a way of life. It’s the sound of a chainsaw at daylight, the steady work that feeds families, the foundation of our rural economy, and the backbone of countless small businesses. When timber hurts, our communities hurt. After Hurricane Helene, our people did what South Georgia always does: we checked on our neighbors, cut our way out of fallen trees, and went right back to work.
Faith, family, and the future of South Georgia
By Michael Dockery When I think about what makes South Georgia special, it always comes back to three things - faith, family, and community. Those are the values that shaped me growing up here, and they're the same values that keep our communities strong today. Faith gives us direction when the road ahead isn't always clear. Family reminds us what we're fighting for.
An Update from Congressman Austin Scott
*La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles November 27, 2025 Dear Georgian, Every Thanksgiving families across the nation come together and give thanks for each other, for our country, and for another grateful year. I would ask that each of you join me in giving special thanks to our many servicemembers that are currently defending our country around the world and are therefore spending the holiday away from their families.
Looking out for you Year Round, By Representative James Burchett (176th District)*
*La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles While many refer to us as a part time legislature, the work of the Georgia General Assembly continues year round. Just a few days ago, I represented you as a member of our Committee on Insurance Rates at a hearing in Macon. While we took a first step in reining in costs with the passage of lawsuit reform legislation last session, our next step is to ensure that those savings reach you and Georgians around the state.
Honoring Service - and the Duty of Leadership in South Georgia *
By Michael Dockery / *La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles Candidate for Georgia State Representative, District 176 Each November 11, we pause to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of our nation’s armed forces. Veterans Day is rooted in gratitude — for the courage, sacrifice, and commitment that have defended our freedoms and shaped our history.
Standing Up for South Georgia Agriculture *
By Michael Dockery | *La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles SOUTH GEORGIA – For generations, agriculture has been the backbone of South Georgia. It’s more than an industry — it’s our heritage, our livelihood, and the foundation of every small town in this region. From the fields of Coffee County to the pine lands of Ware and the pastures of Lanier, farming and forestry are what keep our local economy alive and our communities connected.
It's time for change
By Michael Dockery For too long, South Georgia has been treated as an afterthought in Atlanta. When problems pile up - whether it's the rising cost of living, struggling schools, or even basic infrastructure like water and sewer systems - our communities are often left to wait until a crisis forces action. That's not the way leadership should work. Our families, our farmers, our small businesses, and our seniors deserve steady, consistent advocacy - not just attention when things are falling apart.
Analysis: Social housing a necessity, not a luxury
Recent news that the state government has purchased an East Perth apartment block for social and affordable housing has generated a deal of indignation.
Indigenous people’s mobility and its impact on remote infrastructural needs: an exploratory study
Description With Indigenous populations at risk of higher rates of infection and more serious disease than non-Indigenous populations, a policy of returning to remote communities (i.e. Return to Country) was encouraged during the COVID-19 pandemic. This policy led to high expectations for remote communities to meet the often diverse and complex needs of returnees, placing further strain on existing and underfunded remote community infrastructure and services.
Employment and disability in Australia: improving employment outcomes for people with disability
Description This report contains a comprehensive assessment of the trends, drivers and consequences of labour market disadvantage faced by people with disability in Australia, with a view to highlighting the potential for policy and actions to promote greater inclusion and support, reduce barriers to employment and address the discrimination and unconscious bias that still endures in Australian society.
Indigenous Employment Index
Project StatusCurrent (started June 2021) Project Summary The Minderoo Foundation’s Generation One initiative pursues a goal to achieve employment parity with and for Indigenous Australians within one generation. This means engaging and retaining 250,000 Indigenous people in employment in the next two decades.
Reality check in new age of insecure work
To read our articles you will need to either login or subscribe.
The early years: investing in our future
Description This latest report in the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre’s Focus on Western Australia series, the thirteenth in this series, looks to add to our understanding of the lives of young children in Australia, the environment within which they live and learn, and the services provided to families to enable their children to thrive. The importance of the early years in influencing outcomes in later life has been well considered.
Aussie students impacted by inequality of their family’s origins: study
ContactsMichael Dockery, Principal Research Fellow Joanne Peckitt, Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator Published22 May 2019 The gender stereotypes and cultural norms of a child’s family heritage impacts their academic performance in Australian schools, research led by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre shows.
We can use AFL to boost school attendance and improve mental health in Indigenous communities
Indigenous boys living in remote Australian communities have a 20% lower truancy rate if they play AFL. This is one of the findings from our latest study exploring the benefits of Indigenous people’s participation in Australian rules football (AFL). Our report, After the Siren: The community benefits of Indigenous participation in Australia Rules Football found Indigenous children who participate in AFL have better physical and mental health than those who don’t.
New research shows there is still a long way to go in providing equality in education
When we think of a “good society” – one that is fair and just – a defining characteristic is likely to be that all people have the opportunity to realise their potential, irrespective of the circumstances into which they are born. There is growing evidence that investment in universal early childhood education is a prerequisite to providing opportunity and achievement throughout the formative years. New research from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre report, Educate Australia Fair?
Women are satisfied with 'women's work' but not with the pay
Women who have jobs that are stereotypically considered “women’s work”, such as secretaries, childcare workers and nurses, are happy with the type of work they do but not with their pay, new research from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre shows. It draws on answers collected from between 2001 and 2013 in the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA) and the 2006 Census.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Michael
Contact Michael, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack