Meet your candidates: District 7 board of education

Along with Birmingham’s upcoming mayoral race and election for city council, Birmingham City Schools is also holding elections for new Board of Education members. This year, there are 32 candidates in the running for a total of nine seats.

Of the current nine board members, four are seeking re-election: District 4 representative Daagye Hendricks, District 6 representative Cheri Gardner, District 7 representative Wardine Alexander and District 9 representative Sandra Brown. District 5 representative Randall Woodfin is not seeking re-election but instead running for the mayor’s seat.

District 7 includes Oxmoor Valley Elementary School, West End Academy, Arrington Middle School, Jones Valley Middle School and Wenonah High School. Elections are on Aug. 22.

Patricia Spigner McAdory 

Patricia Spigner McAdory was born and raised in the Powderly community in Birmingham, attending her education at Powderly Elementary School, Jones Valley and Wenonah High Schools, all of which are in District 7. All three of her now grown children attended Birmingham City Schools, as well. Currently, she resides in the Oxmoor Valley Community.

She earned a degree in elementary education from Miles College and later a masters in education and certificate as library media specialist from Alabama State University. McAdory used her education to serve in the Birmingham City School system as a teacher for 16 years and then as a library media specialist for the following 16 years.

As a member of the Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church, McAdory is a member of the church’s Dream Team as well as a member of the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society. She is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, has served as the historian for the Omicron Omega Chapter, is a member of The Ladies Auxiliary of the Salvation Army and was a board member of the Oxmoor Ridge Home Owners Association.

“Patricia firmly believes that success is meant for every student and that we ensure this success by involved all facets of the community,” a submitted biography read.

Find McAdory at facebook.com/patricia.mcadory.

Wardine Alexander 

Wardine Alexander is running for re-election for the Birmingham Board of Education District 7 representative after being on the board since March 2013. Since her appointment to the board, she has served two consecutive terms as board president. Involvement in Birmingham City Schools runs in her family, too.

Alexander’s father was a teacher and coach at Wenonah High School and her mother was a secretary at Tuggle Elementary School, and during her youth Alexander attended Wenonah Elementary, A.G. Gaston Junior High and graduated from Wenonah High School.

After attending the University of Alabama and UAB to earn degree in medical technology and certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, she worked in laboratory medicine.

“While on-boarding new employees during her career in clinical laboratory medicine, Alexander saw the need to prepare (and qualify) high school graduates for college or careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),” a release said. During her tenure on the board, Alexander worked to support policies and curriculum to increase the numbers of girls in the STEM pathway while preparing students for society.

Alexander cites financial stability, a decrease in the number of “failing schools” and expanded dual learning programs and career academies as successes in her tenure as a BOE representative. The board has also reached AdvancED accreditation for all schools and voters approved the property tax increase to provide more band and fine arts programs and five Pre-K classes to accept all students for the upcoming school year.

“Through my leadership on the Birmingham Board of Education, I believe together we can create a successful education system for all students in District 7 to succeed in life,” a release said.

For more information regarding Alexander and her campaign, email her at alxnchrg@aol.com or call 243-1327.

Walter Wilson

Walter Wilson, who is running to represent District 7 on the Board of Education, brings experience from previous elected positions.

Currently, he is serving his second term as State Constable for Legislative District 57 and is on the executive board of the Laborer’s International Union of North America Local 559. He has also been elected to the executive committee of the Jefferson County Democratic Party.

Within the Birmingham school system, Wilson was a substitute teacher and assistant football coach at Wenonah High School for 14 years, where he is now the parent-community coordinator. He is also a booster for Wenonah High School’s football team, basketball team and band program.

“I think my past as a mentor, coach and founder of youth programs [Wenonah Youth Dragons, Roosevelt Spartans] will help me as a member of the school board because I can pinpoint the areas where students are in need of support and guidance,” he said.

Wilson chose to run for the board because he wanted to make a difference in the students’ lives and he believes District 7’s leadership has a vested interest in the community and will represent the students, teachers and parents to secure quality education.

He said his campaign “is motivated by [his] love for students and [his] desire to see them succeed in and outside of the classroom.”

If elected, Wilson would like to improve curriculum; continue to hire and train qualified teachers, especially in the subjects of reading, math and science; ensure adequate funding and support for extracurricular activities; and make parental involvement a priority.

To learn more about Wilson’s campaign, find “Big Walt Wilson for Board of Education” on Facebook.

Editor’s note: This is an ongoing article that will be updated as more information becomes available.