MONTGOMERY – Local school board members from northwest Alabama were among the honorees at the Alabama Association of School Boards’ awards luncheon held Dec. 6 at The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa.
In all, 35 local school board members in AASB District 8 – included in 295 school board members statewide – were recognized for advancing in the School Board Member Academy, AASB’s training program for school board members. The education leaders were honored for their commitment to ongoing professional development to deepen their understanding of education issues and strengthen their boardmanship and leadership skills.
AASB has nine geographic districts. District 8 includes the school boards of Athens, Colbert County, Cullman (City), Cullman County, Decatur, Florence, Franklin County, Haleyville, Hartselle, Lauderdale County, Lawrence County, Limestone County, Morgan County, Muscle Shoals, Russellville, Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Winston County.
“AASB celebrates these dedicated members for their commitment to strengthening their leadership through AASB’s School Board Member Academy,” said AASB Executive Director Sally Smith. “Their dedication to professional growth and excellence sets a powerful example of service and passion for advancing public education.”
The awards were presented as part of AASB’s Annual Convention, which opened Dec. 5 with Delegate Assembly, the association’s annual business meeting. Sam Glenn, known as “The Attitude Guy,” kicked off the event with his engaging and humorous insights on the power of attitude and its impact on leadership. The event, which drew more than 400 education leaders, also featured powerful keynotes from inspiring change advocate, Ginny Burton, and celebrated educator, coach, author and motivational speaker, Willie Spears.
Below are the District 8 board members who achieved new levels during the School Board Member Academy’s 2023-2024 training year, which began July 1, 2023, and ended June 30, 2024.
Level I (Requires 25 training hours)
- Karen Clems, Athens
- Carol Murphree, Franklin County
- Brian Vickery, Haleyville
- Antonia Green-Fuqua, Limestone County
- Radford Hester, Russellville
- Howard Hillman, Russellville
- Byron Leigh, Sheffield
Level II (Requires 50 training hours)
- Kerry Neighbors, Cullman County
- Delandrion Woods, Lawrence County
- Cory King, Muscle Shoals
- Kim Clonts, Russellville
- Christy Casiday, Sheffield
Level I & II (Reached both levels in the same year)
- Neal Guy, Tuscaloosa County
Level III (Requires 75 training hours)
- Heath Allbright, Cullman County
- Bj Tully, Lauderdale County
- Gretta Kilgore, Limestone County
- Stephanie Smith, Tuscumbia
Level II & III (Reached both levels in the same year)
- Steve Stayton, Colbert County
Level IV (Requires 100 training hours and all eight core cores in the Academy)
- David Yarber, Colbert County
- Douglas Bachuss, Decatur
- Lynn Sparks, Florence
- Rachel Winston, Florence
- Donna Jones, Haleyville
- Belinda Maples, Limestone County
Master (Requires Level IV plus 15 hours, including one additional core course)
- Marilyn Davis, Muscle Shoals, first time
- Larry Hill, Lauderdale County, second time
- Mark Finley, Winston County, second time
- Lamar Frith, Winston County, third time
- John Holley, Morgan County, fourth time
- Thomas Wissert, Florence, fifth time
- Michele King, Decatur, seventh time
- Anthony Hilliard, Limestone County, seventh time
- Daniel Patterson, Lauderdale County, eighth time
- Mike Tarpley, Morgan County, eleventh time
Master Honor Roll (Requires completion of all four levels plus five consecutive years of earning Master recognition at any point during the member’s tenure on the board, as well as participation in one advocacy day and completion of AASB’s poverty simulation training)
- Clayton Wood, Muscle Shoals
About the AASB School Board Member Academy
Founded in 1986, AASB’s School Board Member Academy includes four achievement levels based on the number of credit hours board members earn through conferences, workshops and other training events. There are eight core courses: Roles & Responsibilities, Leadership for Policy & Planning, Leadership for Financial Accountability, Leadership for Positive Climate & Culture; Leadership for Academic Achievement, Leadership for Developing a Highly Effective Staff; Effective Boards & Relationships and Leadership for Community Engagement. Board members who complete the core courses and the Academy’s four levels can continue their training to earn the Master School Board Member distinction and ultimately an opportunity to attain Master Honor Roll recognition.
AASB’s Academy year runs July 1 to June 30. The Academy helps board members comply with the School Board Governance Improvement Act of 2012, which requires new board members take orientation and all board members earn at least six hours of annual training. Two of those six hours must be earned from training completed as a whole school board (with at least the majority of the school board in attendance).
Media Release/Tamia Heard/AASB
