The Alabama State Board of Education unanimously elected Marie Manning as vice president and Kelly Mooney as president pro tem during its July 8 meeting and approved two resolutions recognizing educator preparation programs, one at Oakwood University and another described in the meeting as “at my own college.”

The board’s actions came during a short July session that included a staff report noting an upcoming statewide educator conference and an introduction of a newly named executive director at a partner organization.

The votes: Board members approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the June 12 meeting before proceeding to nominations and confirmations. Marie Manning was nominated and confirmed as vice president for the 2025–26 term; Kelly Mooney was nominated and confirmed as president pro tem for the same term. The board then adopted two resolutions to approve educator-preparation programs — one specifically naming Oakwood University and another described by a speaker as “my own college.” All recorded votes on those items were unanimous.

During his report, Dr. Mackey told the board, “there's no legal information required this month, but with your permission, I'll go into my report,” and then gave a brief update. He highlighted an upcoming “mega conference” in Mobile expected to draw about 3,600 educators and noted that speaker John Maxwell is the headline for the event. The meeting also included a brief introduction of Doctor Farrell Seymour as “the new executive director of class,” and the board’s next regular meeting was announced for Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. in the Gordon Persons Building Auditorium Museum.

The meeting contained no public comment; Miss Thornton reported that no speakers had signed up.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve agenda (07/08/2025 meeting): Passed (unanimous). Motion/second: not specified. Recorded present at roll call and voting in favor: Doctor Chestnut; Governor Ivy; Mrs. Marie Manning; Mrs. Moody; Doctor Reynolds; Richardson; Mrs. West; Missus Siegel.
- Motion to approve minutes (06/12/2025): Passed (unanimous). Motion/second: not specified.
- Election: Marie Manning, vice president, Alabama State Board of Education (2025–26 term): Confirmed (unanimous). Mover/second: nomination and confirmation procedure recorded; specific mover/second not specified.
- Election: Kelly Mooney, president pro tem, Alabama State Board of Education (2025–26 term): Confirmed (unanimous). Mover/second: nomination and confirmation procedure recorded; specific mover/second not specified.
- Resolution to approve educator-preparation programs at “my own college” (college not specified in the record): Adopted (unanimous). Motion/second: not specified.
- Resolution to approve educator-preparation programs at Oakwood University: Adopted (unanimous). Motion/second: not specified.
- Motion to adjourn: Passed (unanimous).

Discussion, context and clarifications
Board business on July 8 was brief and largely procedural. Roll call established a quorum before routine approvals and officer elections. The two resolutions approving educator-preparation programs were presented and adopted without recorded debate in the transcript. The resolution that the speaker described as approving programs “at my own college” did not identify the institution by name in the meeting transcript; that detail is not specified in the record.

Dr. Mackey’s monthly report emphasized the timing of meetings and highlighted the upcoming statewide educator conference in Mobile, which he said the board expects will attract about 3,600 educators and feature John Maxwell as a headline speaker. Doctor Farrell Seymour was introduced to the board as “the new executive director of class” in his first meeting in that capacity; the transcript does not expand on the remit or full name of the organization called “class.”

The meeting contained no public comment and no unfinished business. The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. at the Gordon Persons Building Auditorium Museum.

Ending
All recorded actions at the July 8 session passed unanimously. No public speakers were recorded. The board will reconvene Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. for its next regular meeting.