Big News for Early Childhood Ed in Alabama!

Get ready for a change at the top! Governor Kay Ivey just announced that Ami Brooks will be stepping into the role of Secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. This is major!

A Farewell and a Warm Welcome

The current Secretary, Jan Hume, is heading to Auburn University (War Eagle!) as a Professor of Practice in Public Administration. Hume has been a powerhouse at the Department for almost 14 years, and Governor Ivey gave her mad props for her dedication to giving Alabama kids a strong start.

Ivey's Take

Ivey gushed about both Hume and Brooks, saying they're the reason Alabama's been a leader in early childhood education for ages. She's pumped about Brooks taking the lead and building on their success.

Brooks' Background

Like Ivey herself, Brooks started her career in the classroom, teaching young students about state history for almost 20 years! She was even a finalist for Alabama Teacher of the Year back in 2017. Talk about impressive!

Brooks' Reaction

Brooks is super excited about her new gig, saying it's an "incredible honor." She's all about giving every child a strong start and working with dedicated people.

What's Next?

Brooks is currently the director for the P-3 Partnership at the Department and has been a key player in Ivey's Strong Start, Strong Finish education initiative. Hume will stick around through the summer to help with the transition, and Brooks officially takes over on June 16, 2025. Exciting times!