Welcome to AdminiCon 2026!
Another year is upon us, and it is that time again, to collect our professional gear and head to a centralized location, and that is Orange Beach, Alabama for our annual conference. As I welcome you, I trust your school year thus far has been as rewarding as you had planned and expected. From your board members, I extend a welcome with unified sentiments that we are glad you are here with us.
The opening of this conference is in reflection of last year’s conference. You made record history in the attendance of the Administrator Division Conferences with over 100 members in attendance at AdminiCon 2025. That made a great impact on our planning for this year’s agenda. As there are many changes each year in public education, we take your needs into great consideration. Again, as we planned meaningful sessions for your learning, relaxing, collaboration, and professional engagement, it was all about you. To say it simply, we hope you enjoy this location.
In my tenure as your AEA Administrator President, I have attempted to lead our division with intuition, diligence, and intelligence, coupled with respect for our chosen profession, education. Together, the board members and I have sponsored resolutions on behalf of all educators, not excluding anyone. Equity across all positions is our goal, and fair pay is part of that. Together, we will continue to lead the charge for better salaries, job security, and support for educators’ rights. In tandem with all of this, I will personally continue to heed your calls and advocate for my fellow education administrators.
With this, you are here to enjoy “Continuing the Visionary Leadership Experience,” where you are charting the course. You are making the footsteps real and impacting public education as it deserves to be recognized. I thank you again for your attendance. Please look for me, and I will look for you, to take a picture, laugh, and enjoy our professional experience at the beach. Again, enjoy the conference, and thank you on behalf of the Administrator Board.
Educationally yours,
Melvin A. Lowe
Melvin Alonza Lowe, III, Ed. D. AEA Administrator President
2025-2026 AEA ADMINISTRATOR BOARD
PRESIDENT: DR. MELVIN ALONZA LOWE, III
VICE PRESIDENT: STEPHEN INGRAM
SECRETARY: DR. WILLIE SHELBY
DISTRICT 1: VACANT
DISTRICT 2: PAMELA ALLEN-INGRAM
DISTRICT 3: KE’ UNDRA DUDLEY
DISTRICT 4: VACANT
DISTRICT 5: DR. PRINCESS JONES
DISTRICT 6: DR. DASHANNIKIA HOLSTON
DISTRICT 7: DR. ALICE HARRIS-JACKSON
DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE: ANGELA T. MCKNIGHT
ADMINICON
Agenda-At-A-Glance
| Friday, February 6, 2026
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Grand Reef Foyer
Reef
Welcome
Dr. Melvin A. Lowe, III, President AEA Administrator Division
Special Greetings
Dr. Bridgette Masey-Johnson (Video) Alabama Education Association, President
Dr. Tonya Chestnut, Member
Alabama State Board of Education, District 5
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Melvin A. Lowe, III, President AEA Administrator Division
What Goes Unspoken, Yet is Desperately Needed: Grand Reef
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace | Leadership Standard: Relational Presenter: Krystal Hardy Allen, Founder & CEO, K. Allen Consulting
In the day-to-day life of schools and districts, so much of what shapes culture, collaboration, and leadership outcomes goes unspoken, such as the interpersonal dynamics of the workplace, mental health needs of staff (not only youth and families), internal institutional conflict, and more. This powerful session explores emotional intelligence (EQ) not just as a soft skill, but as a critical lever for sustainable school and organizational (e.g. district) transformation. Participants will examine how self-awareness, social awareness, and relational insight are essential tools for driving powerful change, building trust, reducing burnout, and cultivating psychologically safe environments where both adults and students can thrive. This session invites school and district leaders to move beyond the technical and into the human-centered practices that sustain real change.
• What Do I Do Today and How Do I Plan for Tomorrow? Grand Reef
• Implementing Curriculum and Following the Law Night Reef
• Pouring Into the Pourers: Stress Management and Wellness for Educators Grand Reef
• How to Find Qualified Staff for School Settings Night Reef
• Leadership Traits That Create A Learning Culture
• Foundations of Data Literacy for School Leaders
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS
• Everyone Needs a Support System: The Importance of
Networking and Building Effective Learning Communities
• A Fair Balance: Data vs. Social Culture
• What Drives Instruction?
APLDS CLOCK HOUR REQUIREMENTS:
Administrator Conference participants may earn up to nine (9) APLDS clock hours.
Participants must register in PowerSchool PL no later than March 2026, using title number 550727.
For more information about receiving APLDS clock hour credit for the conference, please contact Dr. Pamela Fossett at pamela.fossett@alaedu.org.
NOTE: APLDS clock hour credit will be award in April 2026.
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS
3:10 p.m. | Grand Reef
FRIDAY • FEBRUARY 6, 2026
What Do I Do Today and How Do I Plan for Tomorrow? | Leadership Standard: Managerial & Operational
Presenter: Timothy Johnson, Technology in Motion Specialist, Alabama State Department of Education
Facilitator: Julia Nixon, AEA UniServ Director, District 27
Finding time to evaluate lesson plans, process purchase orders, return phone calls, and monitor student behavior is a practice not easily mastered in public education. This session will give you effective tips on time management and how to prioritize and set effective program projections. Leaders will be engaged with strategies for quality management of a learning organization by planning for success and implementing best and proven practices.
3:10 p.m. | Night Reef
Implementing Curriculum and Following the Law | Leadership Standard: Instructional
Presenter: Dr. Cincrystall Poythress, Special Education/505 Director, Macon County Public Schools
Facilitator: Jason James, AEA UniServ Director, District 27
Providing adherence to comply with federal and state laws, especially special education law, is a common factor in public education. This session will present current and updated trends and mandated requirements in special education, to also include updates to 504, eligibility, assessments, and extended support services for students protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
4:35 p.m. | Night Reef
How to Find Qualified Staff for School Settings | Leadership Standard: Managerial & Operational
Presenters: Kimberly Mitchell, Education Specialist, Educator Recruitment and Retention, Alabama State Department of Education
Mona Cain, Education Specialist, Educator Recruitment and Retention, Alabama State Department of Education
Facilitator: Eric Beck, AEA UniServ Director, District 27
Staffing challenges in educational settings is a major issue today in Alabama public schools. Even with multiple traditional certification routes and numerous alternative certification pathways, it is difficult to find staff, especially in special education and often career and technical education. In this session, leaders will interactively engage in discussions around managing staffing complexities and navigating their district’s academic needs, funding, policy, and compliance with state certification requirements. Leaders will also discuss the importance of having very clear and current job descriptions in order to staff departments and schools.
4:35 p.m. | Grand Reef
Pouring into the Pourers: Stress Management and Wellness for Educators | Leadership Standard: Relational
Presenter: LaMonica Harris, AEA UniServ Director, District 12
Facilitator: Matt Howard, AEA UniServ Director, District 32
This session will remind instructional leaders to support their own well-being and foster healthy environments for staff and students. Leaders will engage in self-care and stress management techniques. They will also learn ways to recognize signs of distress and integrate mental health into the school’s culture as well as their own personal lives.
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS
9:15 a.m. | Night Reef
SATURDAY
Leadership Traits That Create A Learning Culture | Leadership Standard: Innovative
Presenter: Jacqueline Nicholas, Curriculum and Instruction Specialist, Birmingham City Schools
Facilitator: Mercy Pilkington, AEA UniServ Director, District 15
This session will explore innovative ways to plan and organize an effective leadership culture. Leaders will discuss the impact of “I” and “we,” two words that can make or break the organization. Leaders will also share practical methods they can use to collaborate and develop their leadership goals in any school, an ability that is paramount to the success of every organization.
9:15 a.m. | Grand Reef
Foundations of Data Literacy for School Leaders | Leadership Standard: Instructional
Presenters: Dr. Veronique Brown and Stephanie Triplett, QuantHub
Facilitator: Richard Mathis, AEA UniServ Director, District 2
This practical hands-on session will introduce school leaders to the state-approved QuantHub platform. This tool is used to assist school leaders with building essential data competencies through three core focus areas: data literacy and analysis, data-driven decision making, and communication and collaboration. QuantHub experts will guide leaders through logging onto the platform and practicing working on required data skills.
Welcome Dr. Alice Harris-Jackson
AEA Administrator Board, District 7
Special Greetings
Jackie Ziegler, Member
Alabama State Board of Education, District 1
Recognition of AEA Staff and Angela McKnight
Administrator Board Members
AEA Administrator Board, Director-at-Large
Blessing of the Food Thomas “T.C.” Coley, Jr.
AEA Southern Manager of UniServ Organizing
Brunch is Served
Awards Presentation(s)
Dr. Willie Shelby
AEA Administrator Board, Secretary
Dr. Melvin A. Lowe, III
AEA Administrator Board, President
Dr. Princess Jones
AEA Administrator Board, District 5
Angela McKnight
AEA Administrator Board, Director-at-Large
Award Presented to:
Dr. Mark Sullivan, Birmingham City Schools
Outstanding Superintendent of the Year
Kristen Dial-Williams, Selma City Schools
Outstanding Central Office Administrator of the Year
Keila Browder, Bullock County Schools
Outstanding Principal of the Year
Dr. Mashika Tempero Culliver, Selma City Schools
Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year
Closing Remarks
Dr. Melvin A. Lowe, III
AEA Administrator Board, President
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS
12:05 p.m. | Night Reef
SATURDAY • FEBRUARY 7, 2026
Everyone Needs a Support System: The Importance of Networking and Building Effective Learning Communities | Leadership Standard: Innovative
Presenters: Casey Davis, Superintendent, Tallapoosa County Schools
Dr. Penny Johnson, Deputy Superintendent, Tallapoosa County Schools
Facilitator: Eric Beck, AEA UniServ Director, District 27
Leadership trends are influenced by relationships. Relationships are invaluable tools needed in leadership practice and development. In this session, participants will engage in conversations surrounding their better, best, and most profound outcomes they have nurtured based on their relationships with staff, parents, students, community, and other administrators.
12:05 p.m. | Grand Reef
A Fair Balance: Data vs. Social Culture | Leadership Standard: Relational
Presenters: Matt Howard, AEA UniServ Director, District 32
Facilitator: Richard Mathis, AEA UniServ Director, District 2
Crafting a school/community culture that collaboratively unifies educational accountability and the more popular community and social trends (e.g., academics and athletics) is very important for school leaders. This session will provide administrators with leadership strategies to cultivate equitable academic communities that rival the engagement and support commonly associated with athletic culture.
FEATURED SESSION
1:25 p.m. | Grand Reef
What Drives Instruction? | Leadership Standard: Instructional
Presenter: Dr. Princess Jones, Principal, Birmingham City Schools
Facilitator: Julia Nixon, AEA UniServ Director, District 27
SATURDAY • FEBRUARY 7, 2026
Developing and maintaining instructional goals and applications in PreK-12 settings is a demanding requirement for administrators. Curriculum development is a daily requirement; how principals navigate their roles is based on their understanding of their district’s accountability data. This session will provide value in leaders’ selections of instructional resources, strategies used within daily implementation, professional learning opportunities, and how best to make decisions that are influenced by multiple data sources.
VENUE FLOOR PLANS
Conference Notes
Conference Notes
