Like most military families, we moved around frequently when I was growing up, but North Alabama was always “home”. My family settled in Madison, AL in the early 1980s.

After Richard and I married, we made our home in Madison, too. I raised my family there, volunteered at schools, theaters and churches, served on the school board for ten years, and represented my district on the city council. These aren’t just lines on a resume to me. They’re the places where I learned what matters to people in North Alabama.

So when I tell you I’m running for the Alabama State Board of Education in District 8, it’s because I’ve seen firsthand what works in our schools and what doesn’t. I’ve sat through budget meetings where we had to stretch every dollar. I’ve listened to teachers talk about the supplies they buy with their own money.

I’ve watched parents struggle to navigate a system that sometimes feels like it wasn’t built for them. I’ve seen students with more limited educational options than kids just a few miles down the road.

I think there are things that we can, and we must, do better.

Here’s what I’m fighting for.

Getting resources to classrooms
Every student in our state deserves the highest quality education, regardless of their school district. But right now, your zip code determines too much about the quality of education your child receives, and I don’t think most people would defend that if you put it to them plainly.

We need to ensure every student has access to the resources they need to compete, not just locally or even statewide, but globally. That means technology, updated textbooks, safe buildings, career technical education and programs that prepare students for whatever they choose to do next. Whether that’s college, trade school, the military or the workforce – we can’t keep letting funding formulas shortchange rural communities or leave districts to patch together local solutions with duct tape and hope.

Standing with teachers
Teachers know what’s happening in classrooms better than anyone in Montgomery or Washington. They see which policies help students learn and which ones just create more paperwork. They truly understand what kids need because they’re with them every single day.

I’m committed to making sure educators have a real voice in the decisions that affect their work. Not token input, but real collaboration. When we make policy at the state level, it should be informed by the people who actually do the work. It’s just common sense to begin developing solutions close to the issues, not from a distance.

We need policies and legislation that support and respect our teachers. They shouldn’t have to spend their own money on school supplies or work second jobs to make ends meet. They should also be able to conduct classes free of behavioral issues, which denies all of the students in the classroom valuable instructional time. If we want to attract and keep great educators in Alabama, we have to treat them like the professionals they are and support them, as they do their jobs.

Working with parents
I believe parental involvement is essential. Not just helpful – essential. When parents are engaged, whether that’s volunteering in schools, showing up at school events, checking homework, or communicating with teachers, students do better. Research shows that students with involved parents have higher grades, better test scores, improved attendance, and more positive attitudes toward school. Perhaps more importantly, they’re more likely to graduate and pursue higher education.

Parents know their children best and should have a say in their education. I will always stand with parents and work to ensure they have meaningful input into what happens in their child’s school. A true partnership between home and school is the key that makes everything else work.

Building collaboration
Education isn’t a partisan issue, even if people sometimes try to make it one. Our students deserve real educational opportunities, not just buzz words or personal agendas. We all want the same thing – for Alabama students to succeed and thrive.

I believe in working collaboratively with federal and state agencies, local school boards, and our state legislators. We need to respect state and local control while making sure resources are used effectively. That means building relationships, encouraging open communication, and finding common ground even when we disagree on tactics.

If we can get lawmakers, the state board, the state superintendent, and local leaders all rowing in the same direction, we can accomplish real change for our schools. But that takes patience and a willingness to listen to people who see things differently than you do.

Protecting our libraries
I’ll keep advocating for our libraries, both school and public, because they matter. They’re places where kids can discover new ideas, explore different perspectives, and develop a love of reading. Libraries are important community places that foster literacy and support lifelong learning.

I also understand that parents want to protect their children from materials they deem inappropriate. Both things can be true at once. We need to create safe spaces for learning that respect First Amendment rights while giving parents a voice in what their children access.

I’ll advocate for policies that protect library funding and autonomy while ensuring parents have meaningful input. This isn’t an either/or situation. We can find solutions that work for everyone if we’re willing to have honest conversations.

Why this matters
I’m running because I’ve spent enough time in local government and education to know that most problems don’t get solved with grand gestures or sweeping reforms. They get solved by people who consistently show up, do the unglamorous work, and care enough to see things all the way through.

North Alabama deserves an experienced voice on the State Board of Education who understands our communities, who has a proven track record of working across different perspectives, and who will fight to make sure every student gets the education they deserve.

I’ve been doing this work for a long time, and I plan to keep doing it. I hope you’ll join me.

*Connie Spears is a candidate for Alabama State Board of Education, District 8, representing Madison, Limestone, Jackson, and DeKalb counties. She recently served on the Madison City Council and previously served for ten years on the Madison City Board of Education. More information at connie-spears.com.