Connecting pre-k champions in Alabama

In 2011, the Alabama School Readiness Alliance formed the Pre-K Task Force to grow connections among existing pre-k champions and identify short- and long-term strategies to increase public investments in high-quality, voluntary pre-k in Alabama. In 2012, the Pre-K Task Force released a set of policy recommendations for the expansion of the state's First Class pre-k program.  

Click Here to read the Pre-K Task Force Recommendations

Click Here to see news coverage of the Pre-K Task Force Recommendations

Click Here to read "Alabama must expand First Class pre-k," the Birmingham News op-ed from Task Force Co-Chairs Mike Luce and Bob Powers.

Pre-K Task Force Members


Pre-K Task Force Co-Chairs
Mike Luce, President and COO, Harbert Management, Inc.
Bob Powers, President, The Eufaula Agency
   

ASRA Pre-K Task Force Members
Carolyn Akers, Executive Director, Mobile Area Education Foundation
Jeremy L. Arthur, President, Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama
Florence Bellamy, Immediate Past President, Alabama Association of School Boards
Billy Canary, President and CEO, Business Council of Alabama
Jeff Coleman, President and CEO, Coleman World Group
Charles Collat, Sr., Chairman Emeritus, Mayer Electric Supply
Gayle Cunningham, Executive Director, Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity
David Donaldson, Vice President, Governmental & Community Relations, Vulcan Materials Company
Gillian Goodrich, Trustee, Mike and Gillian Goodrich Charitable Foundation
The Honorable Seth Hammett, Former Speaker of the Alabama House
Jim Hansen, Regional President Northern Alabama, The PNC Financial Services Group
Brian Hardin, Assistant Director, Governmental & Agricultural Programs, Alabama Farmers Federation
James Harrison, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Harco Drug, Retired
Sally Howell, Executive Director, Alabama Association of School Boards
Liz Huntley, Associate, Lightfoot Franklin & White, LLC
Johnny Johns, President and CEO, Protective Life
Tom Joiner, Geologist, Tom Joiner & Associates, Retired
Shelley Jones, Community Volunteer and Retired Elementary School Principal
Drew Langloh, President, United Way of Central Alabama
Barbara Larson, Executive Director, Leadership Alabama
The Honorable Frank “Trippy” McGuire, District Judge, Covington County
Sue McInnish, Executive Director, Alabama Civil Justice Foundation
Kate Nielsen, President, Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Caroline Novak, President, A+ Education Partnership
Major General Butch Pair, US Army, Retired
Jim Page, President and CEO, Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce
Gail Piggott, Executive Director, Alabama Partnership for Children
Barry Sadler, Retired Superintendent, Eufaula City Schools
Kristina Scott, Executive Director, Alabama Poverty Project
Ann Sikes, Executive Director, Montgomery Education Foundation
Jera Stribling, Executive Director, Joseph S. Bruno Charitable Foundation
Linda Tilly, Executive Director, VOICES for Alabama's Children
Lissa Tucker, Director of Governmental Relations, Alabama Association of School Boards
Casey Wardynski, Superintendent, Huntsville City Schools
Leila Watson, Attorney, Cory, Watson, Crowder & DeGaris
James C. Wiley, MD, FAAP, Immediate Past President, Alabama
Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics & Founder of FOCUS Clinic, Mobile



"The Alabama School Readiness Alliance… has put together a task force of business leaders, children's advocates, educators and philanthropists pushing to expand First Class…. We have a first-class pre-k program, one of the best in the country. Let's give it first-class funding.” - Birmingham News editorial, 4/15/2012