Barbara Cooper
Emails show weeklong gap between removal of Pre-K manual, departure of Pre-K director
When Gov. Kay Ivey forced the resignation of Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education Secretary Barbara Cooper last April, she cited the department’s use of a teacher manual that encouraged teachers to be understanding of preschoolers’ experiences. But emails and documents obtained through a public records request by the Alabama Reflector showed Cooper directed the […]
Alabama expands pre-kindergarten program to ‘high need’ areas
Alabama’s pre-kindergarten program will add 69 new classrooms in 30 counties, according to a news release from Gov. Kay Ivey’s office Tuesday. The expansion will add seats for more than 1,200 students. “Ensuring our youngest learners have a strong start to their educational journeys is one of my top priorities for my second term,” Ivey […]
Alabama Pre-K thrived outside of politics. Then Kay Ivey dragged it in
Living in Alabama means seeing our state rank high on lists we’d rather not be on. Infant mortality. Heart attacks. Homicides. And we’re used to seeing the state rank low on lists people value. Per-student spending. Educational attainment. Standardized testing. So it’s natural to celebrate those rare moments we end up on top of something […]
Gov. Kay Ivey says ouster of Pre-K secretary was about ‘basics’
Gov. Kay Ivey said Thursday that her ouster of Barbara Cooper as Secretary of the Department of Early Childhood Education was a desire to focus on “basics.” In her first remarks since ousting Cooper last week over a book for teachers, the governor said she objected to the book’s encouragement of teachers being mindful of […]
Gov. Kay Ivey’s dismissal of Early Childhood Education secretary brings criticism
Educators and members of the Legislature Monday sharply criticized Barbara Cooper’s forced resignation as Secretary of the Department of Early Childhood Education. Gov. Kay Ivey forced Cooper out on Friday, claiming that the program was using a book with “woke” concepts. An Alabama Reflector review of the book found that it encouraged teachers to be […]
Ivey forces Early Childhood Education Secretary to resign over teacher training book
Gov. Kay Ivey Friday forced Secretary of Early Childhood Education Barbara Cooper to resign over a book designed to train teachers to be aware of the different backgrounds and challenges of their students. In a Friday afternoon news release, Gina Maiola, communications director for the governor’s office, said Ivey had accepted Cooper’s resignation after learning […]