Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education Alabama State Board of Education Dr. Robert J. Bentley ran for Governor to grow the economy and create jobs without increasing taxes or spending. He Governor Robert Bentley believes there needs to be more transparency and accountability in Alabama's government. He is a pro-life, pro- Board President marriage, and pro-second amendment conservative who believes in smaller and more limited government. Current Term: 2011-2019 Robert is an active member of First Baptist Church (FBC) Tuscaloosa where he serves as a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher. At FBC Tuscaloosa he has been the Chairman of the Board of Deacons four times and a member of the Youth for Christ Advisory Board, as well as the Family Counseling Advisory Board. Dr. Bentley has also served on the State Advisory Board for Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Currently, he serves on the Board of Trustees for Judson College in Marion, Alabama and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Medical Education Consortium which he helped found. After graduating from Shelby County High School, Robert put himself through college at the University of Alabama. While at UA, he majored in Chemistry and Biology and graduated with his Bachelor of Science in just three years. From an early age, Robert Bentley knew he wanted to become a doctor. After graduating from UA, he began his studies at The University of Alabama School of Medicine. During his first year of medical school, he met Martha Dianne Jones of Montgomery. They were married on July 24, 1965. He graduated with his M. D. in 1968 and began his one year internship at Caraway Methodist Hospital in Birmingham. In 1969, during the Vietnam conflict, Bentley joined the United States Air Force where he was commissioned as a captain, and served as a general medical officer. He was stationed at Pope Air Force Base at Fort Bragg where he became hospital commander near the end of his tenure. While in the service as a general medical officer he treated many military dependents, active duty service members, and wounded soldiers. He is a life member of Vietnam Veterans of American and a member of the American Legion. Following his military service, Bentley began his three year residency at the University of Alabama in Dermatology. However he has never forgotten his military background, and while serving in the Alabama House of Representatives, he has sponsored legislation to improve educational benefits for disabled veterans. Jeffery Newman Mr. Newman has over 32 years of experience in education. He retired as Superintendent of Education of Vice President the Lamar County School System. Prior to becoming superintendent, he served as an administrator of federal programs, a career technical principal and director, a high school assistant principal, and an Email: agribusiness teacher. His wife, Brenda, is a retired elementary teacher/reading coach and is National [email protected] Board Certified in early childhood. He has two daughters who are both Alabama teachers. Phone: 205-712-0011 High School Graduate, Millport High School, Lamar County, Alabama District 7 Education, Bevill State Community College Current Term: 2013-2017 Bachelor of Science in Education, Agribusiness Education, Auburn University Master of Education, Agribusiness and Extension Education, Mississippi State University Master of Education, Administration and Supervision, The University of West Alabama Educational Specialist, Curriculum/Instruction Evaluation and Administration, NOVA Southeastern University School Superintendents of Alabama Member Alabama Farmers Federation Member Alabama Education Association Member Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools Member Alabama Association of School Boards Member National Rifle Association Lifetime Member Millport Industrial Development Board President Propst Memorial Methodist Church Member Yvette Richardson, Ed.D. Experience: President Pro Tem Former Associate Dean, Virginia College Currently Educational Consultant, Public Education Teacher, Assistant School Principal, School Email: Principal, Director of Curriculum, Assistant Superintendent, Interim Superintendent, Superintendent - all [email protected] within the Fairfield City School System (29 years) Phone: 205-923-7262 Superintendent, Russell County School System Adjunct Professor (Miles College, Samford University, Troy University) District 4 Current Term: 2011-2015 Education: Doctor of Education - The University of Alabama Education Specialist Degree - Samford University Master of Science Degree - Samford University Bachelor of Science Degree - Miles College Betty Peters Background 1965 graduate of Dothan High School Email: 1983 graduate of Troy State University-Dothan, magna cum laude, with [email protected] BS in Accounting Phone: 334-794-8024 Secretary-Payroll Clerk, Auburn University Secretary, Public Affairs Office, US Taiwan Defense Command, Taipei, Taiwan Secretary, Budget Office, USAAVNBD, Ft. Rucker District 2 Administrative Aide, Social Security Administration, Dothan Current Term: 2011-2015 Accountant, Peters Municipal Associates, Dothan Former substitute and volunteer teacher in public and private schools Church treasurer, former Vacation Bible School co-director and Sunday School teacher Participant in interdenominational Bible studies Student newspaper staff, TSU and TSU-Dothan President, Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society, TSU-Dothan Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities National Dean's List 2002 recipient of Olive Spann Award, Eagle Forum of Alabama Organizations Citizens for a Sound Economy American Family Association Alabama Republican Assembly Eagle Forum Christian Coalition Wiregrass Art League Houston County Republican Party Executive Board Wiregrass Humane Society, Pet Therapy Volunteer Advisory Board, American Family Radio, WAQG in Dothan Former leader with Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America Landmark Park Stephanie Bell Mrs. Bell was first elected to the Alabama State Board of Education in 1994 and has been re-elected to five consecutive terms. Mrs. Bell earned a bachelor's degree in English from Auburn University. She Email: attended Montgomery public schools from first through 12th grades, graduating from Jefferson Davis [email protected] High School in 1975. During her service on the board, she has been a part of every major initiative, Phone: 334-272-2777 including the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) and the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI). She also worked to expose corruption in the two-year college system. District 3 Current Term: 2013-2017 Mrs. Bell serves on the Steering Committee for the Education Commission of the States and was a Previous Terms: 1995-2013 member of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) Governmental Affairs Committee for four terms. She served on the NASBE special panel that released a report entitled: "Reading at Risk: The State Response to the Crisis in Adolescent Literacy," and another NASBE panel that reviewed the most effective Middle School reforms. Mrs. Bell served as Executive Director of the Statewide Committee on Reforming Education, a grassroots education improvement organization, and has been a member of the Education Leaders Council, a nation network of state board of education members and school superintendents. She participated in the National Governors’ Association Alabama Travel Team to develop education policy and was a charter member of RENEW’s National Council of women advisors to Congress. As a reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser and Alabama Journal, Mrs. Bell covered all facets of government, including education, the courts and the Legislature. She was presented a CASE II Media Award by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education in Louisville, KY, for a series of articles she wrote on waste and duplication in Alabama's two-year college system. She was recognized by the Alabama Press Association in the Best News Story category and was a Hector Award nominee for meritorious reporting. Mrs. Bell also taught English to Chinese adults while living in Taichung, Taiwan. Mr. Thompson is a fifth generation native and resident of Baldwin County and for many years has Al Thompson managed his family's five specialty clothing stores located in Gulf Shores, Spanish Fort, Fairhope, Bay District 1 Minette and Atmore. He is also the owner of Thompson Properties in Bay Minette. AL. Occupation: Owner, Mr. Thompson's public service has included his long service as a member of the Baldwin County Judicial Thompson Properties Commission and the Bay Minette Planning Commission. In addition, he served four terms on the Baldwin County Board of Equalization. The Thompson family has always taken an interest in and supported public education. Mr. Thompson's parents and siblings arc all products of the Alabama public school system. The Thompson family was instrumental in the establishment of Faulkner State Community College in Baldwin County and also donated the land for the North Baldwin Center for Technology. Ella B. Bell •B.S., Tuskegee University, 1969 District 5 •Master's degree in Educational Supervision, Alabama State University, 1974 •Doctoral work in educational leadership (completed everything except dissertation), University of Email: Alabama, 1974-1977 [email protected] •Tuskegee University Alumni Association Phone: 334-834-2811 •Montgomery Area United Way Board •SISTAS Inc. (support group for women surviving breast cancer) Current Term: