You might think that an elected state official whose predecessor is serving eight years for embezzling money for a face lift (among other things) might shy away from unnecessary public scrutiny. But you'd be wrong if that elected state official is Kathy Cox, Georgia's state superintendent of schools.

Cox risked making herself a national punch line by appearing on the game show "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?". In fact she demonstrated that she is perfectly capable of going toe to toe with elementary schoolers, and became the first-ever contestant to win the top prize of $1 million.

Cox said she went on the show to show kids that it's "cool to be smart." It's also pretty cool that Cox said she'll donate her winnings to state schools for the deaf and blind, ironically the very schools from which her incarcerated but unwrinkled predecessor stole.