Katie Cornetto Receives Ann L. Majestic Distinguished Service Award

May 21, 2026

The NCBA Education Law Section’s Ann L. Majestic Distinguished Service Award recognizes an attorney’s outstanding leadership and longevity of service in the field of education law. This year’s recipient is Katie Cornetto of Poyner Spruill LLP.

Early in her legal career, Cornetto worked as a law clerk to the Honorable Wanda Bryant, who was serving on the Court of Appeals at the time. Around 2007-08, Harry Wilson, in-house counsel for the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), retired. DPI, along with the Education Section of the Attorney General’s Office, began contemplating who was needed to fill that position.

“As our friendship progressed, I saw Katie’s potential grow,” said longtime friend and of counsel at Poyner Spruill LLP Laura Crumpler. “She helped the position grow into what it needed to be. By this time, I had been practicing education law for about 20 years and was an active member of the national organization of state board attorneys from other states, so I knew what was needed to get that place moving ahead!”

Cornetto’s intelligence and caring heart became exactly what the State Board and the department needed. She dealt with clients in innovative ways and continuously evolved into even more of a leader. She hired others to join her staff, which was a feat that had not previously been achieved. Cornetto also built the legal office and led the department and the State Board at the same time.

In 2017, she decided she wanted a change, but that change had to remain in education. Cornetto moved to Schwartz & Shaw and expanded her knowledge and experience to include local boards and the unique, highly specific issues they face.

She used her vast experience at the state level to bring a fresh perspective. Cornetto understood teacher licensing, charter schools, school nutrition, bus transportation, the overall role of state agencies, rulemaking at the state level and school finance from both the state and local perspectives. In addition, she had contacts across the state and within multiple state agencies after spending nearly 10 years with the State Board.

In 2021, Poyner Spruill LLP became home to a brand-new Education Law Group, and Cornetto became the leader of that group. She is lead counsel for several major school boards in the state, having attracted many of the clients through her previous representation and overall reputation.

She has all the qualities of a great lawyer: intelligence, integrity, professionalism and honesty. But above and beyond those qualities, Katie cares. She cares for her clients professionally, but also in a personal way. She cares about the advice she gives them. She cares about ensuring they understand that advice. She cares about results. And she cares about ensuring the system itself continues to flourish.

Learn more about the efforts of the NCBA Education Law Section.