Members of the Alabama Charter School Commission have elected State Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) as their new chairwoman, effective at the commission's August meeting.
Collins was appointed to the commission by House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) in May.
On Monday, in a surprise move with a late-added agenda item, the current chairwoman, Shelia Austin, announced that, while she intends to remain on the commission, she needed to step down from her leadership position for health reasons.
"First, let me start off by thanking you. You have been fabulous. When I say that, I mean it. It's not just words," Austin began before detailing her decades of experience in education.
"I can't talk long because I'm going to start crying. I just want to thank you all, but I do have to step away for some health issues," Austin explained later, adding that she's doing so on doctors' orders.
After some discussion about tabling the issue so members could vote in person, the commissioners agreed to proceed as the chairwoman intended and elect officers during this meeting, which would prevent a gap in leadership.
"I'd like to nominate Terri Collins, the individual that's responsible for the charter school laws passed in Alabama," commissioner Charles Knight said. "She's an ultimately qualified leader. She knows charter schools inside and out. She wrote the law. I think she'd be a very fitting chairman."
Collins, who later told 1819 News in an interview that it was a surprise, accepted the nomination.
"I just would like to point out: I've only been to one board meeting. Is that a problem for anyone?" Collins asked her fellow board members, noting that she had just been added to the commission two months ago.
"No, it shouldn't be at all, ma'am. You've served in the legislature for a long time. You wrote the law, and I think you can guide us very, very professionally," Knight said.
No one else expressed concern.
"I think the advantage of Representative Collins, she has the governor's ear, she has the Speaker's ear. She has the legislature that all know her. The state knows her, and I think it's a very positive thing for a commission to take this step," Knight explained.
There were no other nominations.
The commission unanimously expressed its support for Collins by a show of hands or voice vote. Commissioner Terri Lathan was unable to attend the meeting, but told 1819 News in a call that she supported the nomination.
Austin was lauded by her colleagues for her years of service not just on the commission but in education.
In a phone interview with 1819 News, Collins explained that she attended the meeting via Zoom because she was traveling and in Decatur at the time.
"When I was nominated to be chair, I was very surprised, but I have been with the commission long enough to know that all the commissioners are very involved. They participate and come to the meeting prepared, and I really appreciate that. A lot of the difference between me being in the chair and just a commissioner is leaving the meetings. I've been chair of education policy since 2015," Collins said.
Collins said that she's meeting with groups interested in bringing new schools to Alabama.
"I've been hoping to have some of those with records willing to come to Alabama and make a difference for our students," she explained.
1819 News asked Collins if, looking back on her time carrying the state's charter school legislation, she ever imagined that she would become the chairwoman.
"No, I never even thought about something like that. I will say the state was so late in the game with other states that we were able to learn from their mistakes, and we were able to put in our charter school policy things that keep us very strong. And I'm very pleased with that."
“Terri has been tremendous as a legislator and led the charge on numerous initiatives that have transformed Alabama’s education system from a failure to America’s most improved. She has clearly brought that same level of leadership to the Alabama Charter School Commission during her short tenure, and I believe her being selected as chair speaks to that. Terri will do great things in this new role, and Alabama will be stronger because of her willingness to serve," Ledbetter told 1819 News in a written statement.
Cynthia McCarty was voted as vice chair. McCarty is also a Ledbetter appointee. Ryan Kendall, who the former president pro tempore appointed, was elected treasurer.
Officers are elected to fill a one-year term beginning in August.
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