2012 AEA Member Guide - Alabama Education Association

Funding Public Education
Susan E.
Kennedy
Manager of
Education
Funding
and Revenue
The Important Role of Retired Members
AERA is the retired division of AEA and the staff stands ready to assist you with
specific retiree issues. Call on AERA Executive Secretary Janice Charlesworth, Assistant
to the Executive Secretary Keron Forte, Director of Membership/Bookkeeper Vicki
Rohan or Administrative Assistant Veronica Dewees at 1.800.537.6867 to answer your
questions about getting involved in your local AERA organization.
Area coordinators can assist AEA members who are preparing for retirement and
are also available to present programs on retirement for local associations. Listed
below are the AERA area coordinators with the counties and universities they serve:
Janice Charlesworth
AERA Executive Secretary
Marian Wood Area 1
205.274.2201 home
205.625.1797 cell
woodmb@otelco.net
Counties: Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne,
Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin,
Jackson, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence,
Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan,
Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Walker & Winston.
Universities: Alabama A&M, Athens State,
Jacksonville State, University of Alabama/
Birmingham & Huntsville, University of
Montevallo & University of North Alabama.
The AEA Funding and Revenue Department works to promote tax structures that
are fair, broad-based and stable for our public schools. Funding and revenue are the
lifeblood of our public schools, and maintaining adequate funding is sometimes the
difference between great public schools and schools that fall short. Fair and stable
taxes create and maintain our neighborhood schools. The department evaluates
tax laws and policy to prevent the loss of education dollars, and to close corporate
loopholes so that valuable education dollars are collected and delivered to our schools.
Every economic development project and tax subsidy for business should be
evaluated for its impact on public schools, and when a business gets a tax subsidy -
there should be strong accountability measures to make sure that the promises made
by business to bring jobs and economic development are kept. Where appropriate,
the department advocates for additional funding for schools in an effort to fund all
our schools adequately and equitably. In many instances, our state funding for public
schools is far from adequate or equitable.
AEA believes that all students have a basic right to a great public school. Making
funding for schools adequate and equitable is the necessary first step to making that
vision a reality.
Alma Wyatt Jones Area 2
205.345.5514
awj5514@aol.com
Counties: Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Bullock,
Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Clay, Coosa, Elmore,
Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Lee, Lowndes,
Macon, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Randolph,
Russell, Sumter, Tallapoosa, & Tuscaloosa.
Universities: Auburn University, University of
Alabama/Tuscaloosa, University of West Alabama.
Otis Brunson Area 3
251-602-0545
dado347464@bellsouth.net
Counties: Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Coffee,
Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas,
Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Marengo,
Mobile, Monroe, Pike, Washington, and Wilcox.
Universities: Troy University & University of
South Alabama.
AERA Foundation
Alabama Education Retirees Association has a
foundation that awards nine scholarships each year to
active AEA members. This year, nine $1,800 scholarship
were awarded. Scholarship applications are available
in late November and can be found at the AEA or AERA
website. Applications should be postmarked by January
18, 2013.
The goal of the Elementary/Secondary Education
Scholarship Program is to provide one-time scholarships
for educators who are currently employed in a state
public school system (K-12). Scholarship recipients will
receive training in areas of counseling, mathematics,
science, computer education, library media, special
education, English as a second language, or other
specialized areas where a proven need exists. These
scholarships are open to certified and noncertified
personnel.
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