In its first Capital Pulse newsletter of the 2026 session, the Alabama Education Association (AEA) scoffed at Gov. Kay Ivey's proposal for a 2% teacher pay raise, saying, "While appreciated and much needed, Governor Ivey's proposed 2% pay raise is not enough."
"We need a more substantial raise to allow educators to keep up with the rising costs of everyday items. Without one, we cannot maintain our current workforce, nor can we attract young people into our profession," the "Action Alert" from the group said.
State Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover) spoke directly to the unintended consequences of the AEA's remarks and detailed other issues with the organization during an appearance on Rightside Radio.
"I think one of the challenges is that we have been vilifying the teaching profession by saying they're overworked and underpaid," she explained. "It's a profession that should be honored. It's a fabulous profession."
"Honestly, if you start looking at the pay and the benefits that a teacher receives, it's really good. But teachers don't know that because the AEA has spent so much time telling them that they're underpaid," DuBose said.
"If you look at a college graduate, and say you compare a teacher to a nurse or an accountant or a social worker or any of these other fields, they are right there in the middle, and they're only working nine months out of the year. They get a defined benefit plan that they don't even have to pay taxes on. And they get insurance practically for free. And there's so many benefits," DuBose further explained.
When the hosts turned the conversation to AEA contributions and how they may impact legislators, DuBose didn't hold back.
"Can you take AEA money and not do the bidding of the AEA?" one of the hosts asked DuBose.
"You know, you probably could. I never would. I have no desire to have a penny from the AEA," DuBose answered.
"But let me tell you that Amy Marlowe, who is the president of Alabama AEA, is the bane of my existence. She speaks out of both sides of her mouth. She's a hypocrite. She's called me out by name without even bothering to ever speak or introduce herself to me. I've never seen her in Montgomery."
DuBose went on to expose and dismantle the AEA's lies about school choice, specifically the CHOOSE Act.
"So, you know, Amy Marlowe, I cannot wait to respond to your op-ed where you called me out in February of 2025, because February of 2026, we're going to see the real results of our school choice numbers."
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