Education advocate and former Madison school board member Connie Spears officially kicked off her campaign for the Alabama State Board of Education, District 8, this week, telling supporters she feels called to return to education-focused public service at a broader, statewide level.
Spears, who previously served two terms on the City of Madison Board of Education and later on the Madison City Council, said her decision to run was driven by a desire to serve students beyond a single school system.
“I just felt called to serve our kids again and to step out into this bigger arena and serve even more kids than just our kids in the city,” Spears said during her remarks.
The Republican candidate reflected on her early entry into education leadership, recalling her initial appointment to the Madison school board and the unexpected path that followed.
“I applied, I got appointed, and then I went on to serve a second term,” Spears said. “Later, I ran for City Council and had the pleasure of serving, but it didn’t quite feel like where I was supposed to be forever. That season ended, and this is where I feel called now.”
Spears said her campaign will focus on building on recent statewide education initiatives, including Alabama’s Literacy and Numeracy Acts, while continuing to push for progress across all school systems.
“We’ve made huge strides, but we don’t need to stop here,” she said. “We need everybody in our state to excel, and we can do that.”
She said her motivation is rooted in ensuring long-term opportunities for future generations, pointing to children and families across District 8, which includes Limestone, Madison, DeKalb and Jackson counties, as the driving force behind her candidacy.
Many local and state leaders were in attendance at the event, including former District 8 State Board of Education member Mary Scott Hunter, who represented the district from 2011 to 2019.
“There is no one I would rather see in this seat,” Hunter told the crowd.
The Alabama State Board of Education oversees K–12 public education across the state and is composed of eight elected members and the governor, who serves as president.
District 8 is currently represented by Wayne Reynolds, who announced last year that he will not seek re-election when his term ends.
Spears previously retired from the Madison Board of Education in 2019 after a decade of service, during which she served on multiple committees and acted as the board’s legislative liaison. She also served two terms on the Alabama Association of School Boards Board of Directors and chaired its Advocacy Committee.
Her campaign kickoff marked the next step in what Spears described as a renewed commitment to shaping education policy at the state level.
“We are sitting on the precipice of making huge differences for students across the entire state,” Spears said. “And I can’t wait to be a part of that.”
For more information about the campaign, visit Connie-Spears.com.
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