DHS teacher on Inaugural Superintendent's Cabinet

Laura Howard will represent Daleville High School for two years as a member of the Inaugural State Superintendent's Teacher Cabinet.

According to a press release from the Alabama State Department of Education, the cabinet was created "to provide a direct avenue of communication with the state superintendent to discuss important issues regarding education."

Howard has taught math at DHS for two years. During her career, she has been a secondary school teacher for 22 years and has taught for four years on the college level.

Currently, Howard is not sure what role she will play in the cabinet exactly, but she is ready to be active with the group and is honored to serve in this role.

"I am hopeful that I will be able to provide information that will lead the decision makers in our education system to have a better understanding of the needs of today’s students," she said. "While I feel that much of what we do in the public schools is beneficial to the students, I also feel like there are a number of things, required by the state, that work against the students.

Howard said she expects to provide information related to her field of experience, math.

"Since my area of expertise is in mathematics, I expect to focus on changes that need to be made in the curriculum and instruction in my teaching field," she said. "However, I hope that I will be able to share input on general education topics as well."

Howard learned of the opportunity to be a part of the Superintendent's Cabinet from an email from school administration.

"For several years, I have been searching for an opportunity to serve on a board of decision makers or to have a forum to express my ideas about changes that I feel should be made within our state’s education system," she said. "When I read the email, I immediately applied and requested a recommendation from my principal."

Howard said she hopes the cabinet does improve the education system and how it works for the students.

"I hope that this cabinet will improve the way our state serves our students," she said. "In recent years, there has been a great deal of criticism of public education. With experienced, concerned teachers sharing their input and perhaps reshaping the mission of the public schools, we may be able to change not only the perception of public education but also its effectiveness."