On the Line: Education

Birmingham-- Standardized testing... "highly-qualified" teachers... school overcrowding... teacher pay. WBHM's quarterly listener call-in program. "On the Line" recently tackled The State of Education in Alabama. In-studio guests included Principal Michael Wilson of Birmingham's Glen Iris school, Ronald Jackson of Citizens for Better Schools, and Jeff McDaniels of the Alabama Education Association.

We'll also hear from Birmingham Schools Superintendent Dr. Stan Mims and Chilton County Schools Superintendent Mildred Ellison.

Michael Wilson has been with Birmingham City Schools since 1991. He earned his Bachelors Degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas. He earned his Masters and EdS in special education from The University of Alabama, Birmingham, an EdS in Educational Administration from the University of Montevallo, and his PhD from the University of Alabama. Michael has served as a special education teacher, assistant principal and now principal at Glen Iris School in Birmingham. During his first year as principal at Birmingham's Whatley K-8 School, Whatley was one of 6 schools across the state to move from Alert II status to Academic Clear. Dr. Wilson serves on several advisory committees such as Partners in Education, Family Involvement, and Community Education South. He is the new president of the Administrators Division of the Alabama Education Association.

Ronald Jackson is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. He was educated in Birmingham City Schools, Lane Elementary and Ullman High Schools. He is a graduate of Miles College and the University Of Alabama School of Law. Ronald is a life long activist; at fourteen he participated in the 1963 "Children Marches" in Birmingham to desegregate the City of Birmingham. Today, he remains one of Birmingham's foremost devotees of civil rights. Ronald has practiced law, served in the Alabama legislature and currently serves as an administrative assistant to the Mayor of Birmingham and is the founder and executive director of Citizens for Better Schools, a Birmingham based school improvement organization who's mission is "Structuring Schools for Success � Making the Vision Work for All Students, regardless of where they may live and attend school".

Jeff McDaniels works as the UniServe Director of the Alabama Education Association. After graduating with a Bachelors degree from Alabama State University, a Masters degree from Auburn University in Montgomery, and a Juris Doctorate from the Birmingham School of Law, McDaniels coordinates and assists in the implementation of the programs and activities of the local, state, and national associations within Birmingham City Schools and Jefferson State Community College. Mr. McDaniels is affiliated with Alabama Education Association and the National Education Association, the Alabama State University Alumni Association, the Family Community School Partnership, and the United Negro College Fund. He has volunteered Boys & Girls Club, served as an At-Risk Student mentor, volunteered for the Voter Registration Campaign, the United Way Campaign, Youth Sports and Parent Support groups, and Read Across America.

-- August 28, 2006