Current Officers (May 1, 2023-April 30, 2024)
Elected Officers/Executive Council
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AnnaGrace Baldwin Executive Director |
AnnaGrace Baldwin was born and raised in the Birmingham area. She graduated from Birmingham-Southern College (1995), where she majored in history and math, minored in music, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. As a lifelong learner, she holds two Master’s degrees: Math Secondary Education (1996) and Community/Agency Counseling (2001), both from the University of Montevallo. In 2007, she earned an Ed.S. degree in School Counseling (University of Alabama at Birmingham) and became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
AnnaGrace began her professional career as a middle school math teacher. She served as a counselor in an adolescent residential facility in Shelby County before returning back to the school setting. She has been a school counselor at Homewood Middle School since 2007. She has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and enjoys every opportunity to present to graduate students.
AnnaGrace has been a member of the Governing Board of the Alabama School Counselor Association since 2014 and has served in a variety of appointed and elected roles, including: President (2018-19), Professional Development Committee Assistant Chair, Communications Committee Assistant Chair (website), Vice-President Middle/Junior High School, Professional Recognition Chair, and the Bylaws and Handbook Review Committee Chair. She has also served as the ALCA Chapter IV Secretary. AnnaGrace has presented at the local, state, and national level and is an active member of several professional organizations, including: the Alabama School Counselor Association, the American School Counselor Association, and the Alabama Counseling Association. During her time at Homewood Middle School, the School Counseling Program has earned the RAVE (Recognition of Accountability and Verification of Excellence) Bronze (2016), Silver (2017), and Gold (2018) Awards. The program was also designated as an Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction in 2019 and earned RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) designation from the American School Counselor Association in 2020. AnnaGrace was very honored to have been named the 2019 Alabama Secondary Counselor of the Year and the 2021 Alabama School Counselor of the Year.
AnnaGrace lives in Shelby County with her husband, Patrick, son, Landon, and their fur-babies, Dakota and Stella.
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Patrice Davis President Budget and Finance Committee Assistant Chair Bylaws Committee Professional Development Committee |
Patrice Davis is a lifelong Mobile resident with 30 years’ experience in the Baldwin County Public School System. After graduating from the University of South Alabama in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Language Arts, she furthered her studies at the University of South Alabama where she graduated in 1995 with a Master of Education degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Language Arts. In 1996, she received certification in school counseling from the University of South Alabama; and in 1999, she received certification in administration/supervision from Alabama State University. In 1998, she graduated from the University of South Alabama with her Educational Specialist degree as an Instructional Specialist in Secondary Language Arts. In addition to these educational achievements, Patrice is a 2007 graduate of the University of Alabama Superintendents’ Academy.
During her thirty-year career in the Baldwin County Public School System, Patrice has served as an English teacher at Fairhope High School; a counselor at Bay Minette Middle School; and an assistant principal and principal at Bay Minette Middle School. She currently serves as the Prevention and Support Services Coordinator, whereby she supervises the school counselors, school social workers, transition liaison coach, homebound teachers, on campus suspension aides, school resource counselor for Section 504 Services, and the Mental Health Services Coordinator. In addition, she serves as the Section 504 Compliance Coordinator and the Homebound Services Coordinator for the district, as well as the administrator for the At Risk Budget.
Since 2019, Patrice has served on the Alabama School Counselor Association Governing Board in a variety of roles and on multiple committees including: Professional Development Committee, ALCA Program Selection Chair, Bylaws and Policies/Procedures Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, and Counselor Supervisor Vice President. She currently serves as President.
Patrice lends her time to several civic and community organizations in Baldwin County. She is a Past Chairman for the Board of Directors for the United Way of Baldwin County, and she is also a past President of the Board of Directors for the Snook Youth Club of Foley. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Baldwin County’s Child Advocacy Center, and she is also a member of the Baldwin County Underage Drinking Task Force. In addition, she serves on the Baldwin County Community Alliance, of which she is one of the charter members.
In her spare time, Patrice enjoys reading, shopping, and traveling.
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Laura Hodges President-Elect ALCA Program Selection Chair Budget and Finance Committee Professional Development Committee |
Dr. Laura I. Hodges currently teaches as a counselor education adjunct for the University of Alabama.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French, a Master of Arts degree in Counseling, both
from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counselor Education and Supervision from Sam Houston State University, located in Huntsville, Texas. She has a combined 17 years of service in the public-school setting as a teacher and school counselor. Laura is an Alabama Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Texas Licensed Professional Counselor–Supervisor (LPC-S), a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), as well as a certified school counselor in both Alabama and Texas. Her experience includes serving as a school counselor at all grade levels and in all sizes of school districts, from rural to urban settings in Texas and Alabama, along with graduate teaching in higher education. Her scholarly interests include child abuse and neglect, mandated reporting, bullying prevention, school counselor impairment, and the school counselor/principal dynamic.
Laura began her graduate academic work in pursuit of becoming a counselor – specifically a school
counselor – to be an advocate for children and an agent of change in schools. It was during her service
as a school counselor that she decided to pursue her doctorate in order to teach the next generation of
school counselors. After six years of teaching in higher education, Laura returned to her roots as a
campus-based school counselor to support students and families in a post-COVID world.
Laura has served in a variety of capacities both locally and statewide. She has served as the Secretary,
President-Elect, President, and Past-President for Chapter VII of the Alabama Counseling Association
(ALCA). She was honored by ALCA as the winner of both the Individual Publication Award (2020) and the
Jean H. Cecil Outstanding Counselor Educator Award (2021). Additionally, in years of service to ALCA,
Laura has chaired and co-chaired the Annual Awards Breakfast that occurs as the kick-off event for the
ALCA conference. She currently serves as the Continuing Education Coordinator for ALCA. In her
continued service to the Governing Board of the Alabama School Counselor Association, Laura currently
serves as President-Elect.
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Diana Virgil President Elect-Elect VP High School Budget and Finance Committee Professional Development Committee |
Diana Virgil is an ASCA-Certified School Counselor, National Board-Certified Counselor, National Certified School Counselor, and certified school counselor in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Diana holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology with a minor in Biology (13), a Master of Education in School Counseling (15), and an Education Specialist in Counseling (15), all from Mississippi College. Diana is currently the high school counselor for Daleville High School in Daleville, AL. She is also a doctoral candidate at the University of the Cumberlands in the Doctor of Philosophy Program of Counselor Education and Supervision. Her dissertation focuses on social media and the lived experiences of middle school counselors reacting to cyberbullying. Diana has experience working with students in PreK-12th grade, adults in a school setting, and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.
Diana is entering her 8th year as an educator/school counselor. In addition to school counseling, she has served as the Region Liaison in the Georgia School Counselor Association, served on various committees for GSCA, focus groups for ASCA, groups/committees for the Mississippi School Counseling Association, a mentor, published in the Beacon, featured in I am ASCA, and much more. Recently, Diana was awarded by the Alabama School Counseling Association as the 2022 Secondary School Counselor of the Year. Diana also has experience teaching courses at the graduate level in Introduction to Play Therapy, Child and Adolescent Counseling, Counseling Internship II, Process and Techniques of Counseling, and Human Sexuality in Counseling. She thoroughly enjoys providing group counseling to individuals that experience stress, anxiety, anger, grief, and more.
Diana resides in Dothan, Alabama, with her husband, David, and daughter, Brooklyn.
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Daniel Birdsong Immediate Past President ALCA Liaison Elections Committee Chair Budget and Finance Committee Professional Development Committee |
Dr. Daniel Birdsong is an Assistant Professor of Counseling and the School Counseling Major Coordinator in the Graduate Counseling Program at the University of Montevallo (UM). Additionally, he works part-time at Warrior Wellness Group as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Alabaster and provides counseling licensure clinical supervision in Shelby County and the Birmingham-metro areas. Previously, he served as a school counselor at Creek View Elementary School (CVES) in Alabaster City Schools. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Alabama (#3827), a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in Alabama (#SC03301) an Approved Clinical Supervisor (#3844), a National Certified Counselor and a National Certified School Counselor (#717568), and a Registered Play Therapist (#T5827). Daniel earned a Bachelor of Music degree in choral music education and a Master of Education degree in school counseling from the UM. He earned an Educational Specialist degree from Jacksonville State University in school counseling, a Doctor of Education degree in educational
leadership from Samford University, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in counselor education and supervision from the University of Holy Cross. His research interests include implementation and support for comprehensive school counseling programs and school counselor professional advocacy.
Daniel is passionate about training future school counselors to support all students’ social/emotional, academic, and career development through comprehensive school counseling programs. Demonstrating program implementation and alignment with the American School Counselor Association National (ASCA) Model and Alabama Counseling Plan as a school counselor, CVES received the Bronze Recognition of
Accountability, Verification, and Excellence (RAVE) Award for the 2016-2017 school year in November 2017; the Silver RAVE Award for the 2017-2018 school year in November 2018; and the Gold RAVE Award for the 2018-2019 school year in November 2019. CVES received the Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction for the 2019-2020 school year in October 2020 and the Recognized ASCA Model Program Award in July 2021. In addition to program awards, Daniel received the Asa Sparks New School Counselor of the Year Award in November 2017, the University of Montevallo Graduate Counseling Program Outstanding Alumni Award in February 2018, the Alabaster City Schools Counselor of the Year Award in March 2018, and the Alabama Counseling Association Emerging Leader Award in November 2018. He will receive the ALCA Outstanding Member Award for his involvement in ALSCA in November 2023.
Daniel has served on the Alabama School Counselor Association Governing Board since 2016 in a variety of roles and on multiple committees including: Professional Recognition Committee Chair, Awards Luncheon Chair, Professional Development Committee, Bylaws and Policies/Procedures Committee, and the Elections Committee. He currently serves as the Immediate Past President.
Daniel lives in Alabaster with his wife, Phebe, seven-year-old daughter, Ruth, and three-year-old son, Griff.
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Jamie Haley Secretary Professional Development Committee |
Jamie Haley is a school counselor at Minor Middle School in Jefferson County Schools. She earned her B.A. in English and her M.Ed. in School Counseling from The College of William and Mary. Prior to moving to Alabama, she spent 13 years as a middle school counselor in Virginia and served as secretary of the Prince William Regional Counselors Association, a chapter of the Virginia Counselors Association, during a period of membership revitalization. In 2020, she and her counseling team at Katherine Johnson Middle School, formerly known as Lanier Middle, earned the Re-RAMP award from the American School Counselor Association. She is a National Certified Counselor and has served as a conference presenter and a newsletter contributor, mainly focusing on her passion for school-family-community partnerships.
Jamie lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her partner Brannon. In her spare time she enjoys dancing, traveling, and loving on her two dogs.
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Winnie Davis Treasurer Budget and Finance Committee Chair Professional Development Committee |
Winnie Davis, M.A., LPC, RPT, NCC, NBCT, is a middle school counselor in the Hoover City School system. A graduate of The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Winnie obtained her B.S. in Psychology (1996) and her M.A. in Agency Counseling (2000). Before becoming a school counselor, Winnie spent 6 years counseling children/adolescents who experienced physical and/or sexual abuse, and 3 years as an intervention/behavioral counselor helping foster families.
A school counselor since 2006, at both the elementary and middle school levels, Winnie is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Registered Play Therapist (RPT), National Certified Counselor (NCC) and National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in School Counseling. Giving back to the counseling profession, Winnie has served on the Governing Board for the Alabama School Counselor Association since 2014 as Membership Assistant Chair, ALCA Awards Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. Winnie also volunteers as a mentor to others looking to further their counseling career.
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Sylvia Austin-Hollins Historian Communications Committee Assistant Chair (Social Media) Professional Development Committee |
Dr. Sylvia A. Hollins, Ph.D., ALC, , received her Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision (2023) and her Masters in School Counseling (2012) from the University of Alabama and served as a school counselor for 5 years in Tuscaloosa City Schools, during which she was awarded the Asa Sparks New Counselor of the Year Award from the Alabama School Counselor Association. She then served in the University of Alabama’s Autism Clinic, the college counseling center, and private practice for the next several years. Her passion surrounds educational and homeownership equity, advocacy, and intentionality in creating opportunities for students and communities, historically marginalized and under-resourced, to succeed.
Sylvia has enjoyed teaching and assistant teaching in counselor education in courses such as Introduction to Counseling and School Counseling Practicum at the University of Alabama. Her concentration of research, teaching, and publication include anti-racist school counseling practices and the role of school counselor preparation programs. She hopes to have a lifelong career in training and equipping counselors to be champions, leaders, advocates, and activists for all students and the communities in which they live. Sylvia is a published author, the ASCA Site-Based Trainer on Trauma Informed Practices for School counselors and on Culturally Sustaining Practices for school counselors, the former DEI Chair for the Alabama School Counselor Association and serves on ASCA’s national DEI Committee.
Sylvia loves spending her free time having fun in the sun, writing, traveling, and creating memorable adventures for her four children—3 boys and a girl.
Governing Board Members
Casey Lancaster
VP Middle/Junior High School
Professional Development Committee
Stephanie Allen
VP Counselor Supervisor
Professional Development Committee
Amy Upton
VP Counselor Educator
Government and Interpersonal Relations Committee Assistant Chair
Professional Development Committee
Nancy Fox
Parliamentarian
Bylaws Committee Chair
Professional Development Committee
Rebecca Johnson
Communications Committee Chair (Advocacy and Newsletter)
Professional Development Committee
Sheryl Smith
Communications Committee Assistant Chair (National School Counseling Week, Poster and Essay Contest)
Professional Development Committee
Malti Tuttle
Government and Interprofessional Relations Committee Chair
Professional Development Committee
Darlene Stradford
Membership Committee Chair
Professional Development Committee
Malinda Gray
Membership Committee Assistant Chair
Professional Development Committee
Shelly Johnson
Professional Development Committee Chair
Laura Reina
Professional Development Committee Assistant Chair
Robbie Durr
Professional Development Committee Assistant Chair
Ben Graham
Professional Recognition Committee Chair (ALSCA Awards)
Professional Development Committee
Shelly Mitchell
Professional Recognition Committee Assistant Chair
Professional Development Committee
Autumn Rowe
Professional Recognition Committee (Awards Luncheon)
Professional Development Committee
Monica Mack
Professional Recognition Committee (ALCA Awards)
Professional Development Committee
Mallory Redmond
Research Committee Chair
Professional Development Committee
Monica Motley
ALCA Journal Manuscript Reviewer
Professional Development Committee
Cindy Davis
Alabama School Counseling Program of Distinction Liaison
Sean Stevens
Alabama State Department of Education Liaison
Kristy McLain
Hospitality Committee Chair
Professional Development Committee
Kendra Johnson
Hospitality Committee Assistant Chair
Professional Development Committee
Terica Lewis-Hicks
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Special Committee Chair
Professional Development Committee
Additional Professional Development Committee Members
Kim Bailey
Sydney Bireley
Alfreda Brown
Tina Evans
Chardae Franklin
Debbie Grant
Kathleen Keelin
Cathy Lankford
Erika Leonard
Renita Matthews
Ann Smith
Patti Tanner
Nominations & Election Procedure
“Officers shall be elected annually by ballot at the ALCA Annual Conference. The results shall be announced in the next issue of the “The Alabama School Counselor.” Officers (with the exception of Treasurer) shall serve one year, May 1 – April 30. (Bylaws Article III.1.c)”
“The Nominations and Elections Committee will solicit nominations in the summer issues of “The Alabama School Counselor”, members to be considered for office. The committee shall then submit a slate of nominees for election as stated in Article III. The Immediate Past-President shall serve as the chairperson of the committee.” (Bylaws Article V.2.f.)
The following timeline is recommended for election procedures:
- Call for nominations
- August 31st — Nomination Deadline
- September 15th – Deadline for Nomination Packets to be submitted
- Presentation of Candidates
- October 15th – Candidates presented electronically
- Candidates presented at the ALCA Annual Conference (ALSCA Awards Luncheon and/or Division Meeting)
- Election
- ALCA Annual Conference – Voting Begins
- December 20th – Voting Closes
- Announcement of new ALSCA Officers
- January 10th
Officers to be elected each year:
- President-Elect-Elect
- Secretary
- Historian
Officer to be elected every other year:
- Treasurer
The Immediate Past President shall, with the approval of the President and Governing Board, appoint a committee of no fewer than three persons representing diverse geographical areas of the state. From nominations submitted the committee will select two (if possible) candidates for each office prior to annual conference.
Candidates’ resumes and statements should be submitted to the newsletter editor for publication in the newsletter distributed prior to the election. Election Guidelines should be published and made available to candidates.
Ballots are to be made available to all members. An appropriate due date for ballots shall be specified in the ballot instruction. The committee should strictly adhere to the date announced for final vote counting.
Each candidate for ALSCA office must submit a complete resume and provide the following material in the order presented. All materials must be submitted in final form and according to instructions.
- Nominee Name:
- Candidate for office of:
- Nominated by:
- Nominee’s Address:
- Nominee’s Phone Number:
ALCA Chapter:
- Current Position and Location
- Nominee’s American School Counselor Association member number
- Resume (200 words) Education:
- Professional/Leadership Experience:
- Association Leadership: Memberships: Awards/Certification/Publications CANDIDATE’S STATEMENT (150 words)
Election Guidelines
Electioneering and campaigning should be kept at a minimum and in accord with the following guideline:
- The Association, and its affiliate, shall not engage in the practice of budgeting and/or appropriating organizational funds for support of any candidate for any ALCA or ALSCA office.
- The Association and its candidates shall not engage in the practice of accepting campaign funds and /or other campaign support from commercial firms, corporations and/or foundations.
- Written candidacy information shall be limited to the election issue of the ALCA “Quarterly”, “The Alabama School Counselor”, and/or the ALSCA ballot. A candidate or their representative (e.g. brochures, letters, etc.) may not disseminate formal written information. Oral information about candidates will be confined to personal communication among members, not involving campaign speakers, telephone trees, and other formal campaign activities.
Violation of these policies will subject the candidate to possible invalidation of eligibility as a candidate; authority to withdraw a candidate rests with the Nomination and Elections Committee with ratification by the Governing Board.
Any member/candidate charged with violating the written Nominations and Elections policies approved by the Governing Board shall be given notice of the precise nature of the charge, shall be given the opportunity to confront witnesses, and shall have the right to appeal and have a hearing before the Governing Board whose decision shall be final. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall consider any charges made on the signature of five members in good standing and shall have the power to determine whether the charges shall be dropped, whether the charges are true and if found to be true, shall have the power to disqualify the member/candidate and cancel his/her eligibility as a candidate in the election, subject however to the right of any such member to appeal to the Governing Board from any final decision of the Nominations and Elections Committee.
Honor Roll of Past Presidents
1970-1971 – Mary McKinnon
1971-1972 – Herman Griffin
1972-1973 – William Jenkins
1973-1974 – Jimmy Jones
1974-1975 – Rae Sykes
1975-1976 – Minnie Jackson
1976-1977 – Dean Byrd
1977-1978 – Thelma Robinson
1978-1979 – Mike Burgan
1979-1980 – Jerry Daly
1980-1981 – Harriette Huckaby
1981-1982 – Barbara Mayer
1982-1983 – Thelma Robinson
1983-1984 – Eddie Ruth Dean
1984-1985 – Frances Manning
1985-1986 – Judy Childress
1986-1987 – Jean Davis
1987-1988 – Gloris Peterson
1988-1989 – Margaret “Meg” Smith
1989-1990 – Anita Sherman
1990-1991 – Gay Rutherford
1991-1992 – Jane Smith
1992-1993 – Sandy Magnuson
1993-1994 – Wynelle Sewell
1994-1995 – Diane McWain
1995-1996 – Nicki Graham
1996-1997 – Glenda Reynolds
1997-1998 – Nancy Cole
1998-1999 – Carol Turner
1999-2000 – Lynn Cooper
2000-2001 – Annette Bohannan
2001-2002 – Angie Stansell
2002-2003 – Stephanie Rogers Howard
2003-2004 – Carol Turner
2004-2005 – Angie Stansell
2005-2006 – Jerri Lynn Morrow
2006-2007 – Marty Hulsey
2007-2008 – Katharine Nichols
2008-2009 – Nancy Fox
2009-2010 – Nancy Wolfe
2010-2011 – Donna Clark
2011-2012 – Jennifer Riddle
2012-2013 – LaWanda Edwards
2013-2014 – Monica Mack
2014-2015 – Shelly Johnson
2015-2016 – Debbie Grant
2016-2017 – Emily Rich
2017-2018 – Maegan Vick
2018-2019 – AnnaGrace Baldwin
2019-2020 – LaWanda Edwards
2020-2021 – Casey Lancaster
2021-2022 – Amy Upton
2022-2023 – Daniel Birdsong