Biography

Dr. Barbara J. Cooper was appointed Secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education by Governor Kay Ivey on July 1, 2020. She has served the Department of Early Childhood Education since 2018, directing the nationally recognized high-quality Alabama First Class Pre-K program. She previously served as the department’s Director of the Office of School Readiness and is the Birth to Grade 12 Advisor for the Alabama Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation. Dr. Cooper’s administrative career is extensive, as she previously served as Deputy State Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer of the Alabama State Department of Education, Chief Administrative Officer for the Montgomery Public Schools Intervention, Deputy Superintendent of Huntsville City Schools, Chief Equity and Engagement Officer of Aurora Public Schools (Colorado) and a Principal with Denver Public Schools. She has teaching experiences ranging from early childhood education through post-secondary. Dr. Cooper and husband Walter Sr. has 2 adult children, Walter Jr. and Timera (Alex) and a grandson Cooper.

For the candidate's personal statement, click here: https://youtu.be/wPuy3xRGGQA