After taking the helm of the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) last August, new State Superintendent Michael Sentance called for a new advisory group of educators, which will provide a direct avenue of communication with the state superintendent to discuss important issues regarding education.
On Thursday, the ALDSE announced the new group’s — the Superintendent’s Teacher Cabinet for Alabama educators — inaugural members. The selected teachers will serve on the cabinet for one-year terms, with the exception of the soon-to-be-announced 2017-18 Teacher of the Year, who will serve a two-year term.
According to the ALDSE, the teachers will meet with Sentance approximately twice each semester, and will also be invited to attend/speak at events pertinent to elevating the teaching profession.
There were several hundred applicants, reviewed by ALSDE staff and ultimately chosen by the state superintendent.
The inaugural State Superintendent’s Teacher Cabinet includes:
- Dana Jacobson (Co-Chair)
2016-17 Alabama State Teacher of the Year - To be named May 10 (Co-Chair)
2017-18 Alabama State Teacher of the Year - Roger Rose
Social Studies Teacher
Mary G. Montgomery High School, Mobile County Public School System - Christy Anders
6th grade Special Education Teacher
Muscle Shoals Middle School, Muscle Shoals City School System - Michael May
Science and Engineering Teacher
Athens High School - Erica Griffin
AP English Language and Composition Teacher
Hartselle High School, Hartselle City School System - Jennifer Fernandez
K-5th grade ESL Teacher
Austinville Elementary, Decatur City School System - Stephanie Hyatt
Reading Teacher and AP English Teacher 9-12th grades
Lee High School, Huntsville City Schools - Paige Hicks
History Teacher
Athens High School, Athens City School System - Aishia King
English/Language Arts Teacher
Mary G. Montgomery High School, Mobile County Public School System - Brandi Evans
4th grade Teacher
W.S. Harlan Elementary School, Covington County School System - Andrea Rascoe
6th grade Math Teacher
Saraland Middle School, Saraland City School District - Julie Ramsay
Reading/Reading Intervention, and English Language Arts Teacher
Rock Quarry Middle School, Tuscaloosa City School System - Jennifer Reaves
6th-8th grade Career and Technical Education Teacher
Echols Middle School, Tuscaloosa County School System - Darren Ramalho
Social Studies/English Teacher, Robert C. Hatch High School, Perry County Schools - Kristin Daniel
K-2nd grade Art Teacher, Auburn Early Education Center, Auburn Schools - Robert Louis Lyda
K-2nd grade Music Teacher, Cary Woods Elementary School, Auburn City Schools - Judy Hinton
Middle School Reading Teacher
Birmingham City Schools - Rodriquez Leonard
7th grade ELA Teacher
John Herbert Phillips International Baccalaureate Academy, Birmingham City Schools - Laura Howard
Calculus/Algebra II with Trigonometry/Algebra with Finance Teacher
Daleville High School, Daleville City Schools - Tammy Basaraba
8th grade Science
Etowah Middle School, Attalla City Schools
Should any Alabama teacher be named a 2017 Milken Educator Award winner, they will automatically be added to the advisory group.