Questions remain about a letter State Education Superintendent Eric Mackey wrote appointing an educator from an LGBTQ-promoting charter school to the state textbook committee, apparently without going through the legal appointing authorities.
1819 News reported on Wednesday that Emily Eddings-Sandley, an employee of the controversial, pro-LGBTQ+ charter school Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA), was appointed to the official state textbook committee last month.
According to state law, only two bodies are responsible for approving committee members: the State Board of Education (BOE) and the Alabama Senate. The former appoints 14 members after receiving recommendations from the superintendent, while the latter approves another 9 recommended by the governor.
Eddings-Sandley was not approved by the State BOE in the June 11 resolution appointing its 14 members to the committee, and the Alabama Senate likewise did not approve her nomination during the 2026 legislative session. However, Mackey sent her a letter informing her that she had been appointed to the State Textbook Committee.
1819 News also inquired of Gov. Kay Ivey's office to verify whether the governor had put Eddings-Sandley's name forward for nomination. A Spokesperson from Ivey's office stated that Ivey had not put her name forward for nomination and would not have been put forward for Senate confirmation.
A spokesperson from Mackey's office at the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) told 1819 News that he is currently on vacation and was the only person who could detail how Eddings-Sandley received her appointment.
The only official document that states Eddings-Sandley has a spot on the State Textbook Committee is a letter signed by Mackey to her, informing her of her appointment and inviting her to the first meeting of the committee, where members are supposed to take their oath of office.
"You have been appointed to the 2026-2027 Alabama State Textbook Committee," the letter reads. "This committee will evaluate and recommend the books for adoption in the area of Digital Literacy and Computer Science. Material to be reviewed encompasses Grades K-12."
"We are looking forward to seeing you at the organizational meeting and working with you as you evaluate textbooks for Alabama's school children," the letter concludes.
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