Are you ready to take your leadership to the next level? HEA is now accepting nominations for the 2025–2026 HEA Regular Election and NEA State Delegate Election. This is your chance to play an active role in shaping the direction of our association—and even represent Huntsville educators at the NEA Representative Assembly in Denver, Colorado, in July 2026! The HEA Board of Directors has approved the official rules and procedures for this election cycle. The nomination form is available here and may be submitted via email, regular mail, or at the HEA office. The deadline to submit nomination forms is Friday, January 9, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.
Elections
HEA Elections: Your Opportunity to Lead and Represent!
2025 – 2026 AEA INTERNAL ELECTIONS
As we enter AEA’s election season, let your voice be heard and help shape the future of the Association by casting your vote in this year’s election cycle. In the December/January edition of the Alabama School Journal, you will find the 2025-2026 AEA Candidate Guide highlighting members running to represent you locally and statewide.
AEA Regular Election materials and ballots will be mailed to each individual member’s address on file with AEA on January 5, 2026. Individual packets include instructions, a ballot, a secret ballot envelope, and a postage-paid return envelope.
Your regular election ballot must be completed and received by the vendor, Yes Elections, by February 20, 2026. To vote, complete the paper ballot, insert it into the postage-paid envelope, and place it in your mailbox for return. You can also vote electronically using the link in the email Yes Elections will send on January 5, 2026.
All election information and candidate information can be found on the AEA website. If you have any questions, please contact Courtney Pettway at courtney.pettway@alaedu.org
For more information, visit the AEA website at myaea.org.
CONGRATULATIONS to our elected HEA OFFICERS & Representatives!!!
2025 HEA Election Results
We are thrilled to announce the winners of the HEA election! 🗳️
Please join us in congratulating the newly elected leaders who will guide our association forward:
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (UNOPPOSED): President – Bonnie Garrett, Vice President – Kecia Lambert, Secretary – Yolanda Bledsoe, and Treasurer – Dr. Cathy McNeal. Their terms are set to expire in May 2027.
NEA LOCAL DELEGATES: Bonnie Garrett, Kecia Lambert, Yolanda Bledsoe, Tiffany Shoulders, Dr. David Belton, Doetiletia Sims, Elyse Scott, Stephania Wilson, Susan Mitchell, Sharon Fletcher, Henry Avanrenren. These elected delegates attended the NEA Representative Assembly in Portland, Oregon, July 2 – 6, 2025 as HEA representatives.
AEA LOCAL DELEGATES (UNOPPOSED): Bonnie Garrett, Kecia Lambert, Yolanda Bledsoe, Dr. Cathy McNeal, Dr. David Belton, Lesia Downing-Saunders, Jessica Hipp, Sharon Fletcher, Elyse Scott, Angela Asfaha, Tiffany Shoulders, Stephania Wilson, Phyllis Morrissette, Michelle Cunningham, Sabrina Green, Jennifer Prince, Doetiletia Sims, Le’Ventria Parks, Paula Malone, Susan Mitchell, Sirlinda Lattimore, Henry Avanrenren, and Larrisha Irvin. These delegates will attend the AEA Delegate Assembly in Birmingham, AL December 4- 5, 2025.
HEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Doetiletia Sims, Stephania Wilson, Elyse Scott, Paula Malone, Susan Mitchell, Michelle Cunningham, Sirlinda Lattimore, Le’Ventria Parks, Lesia Downing-Saunders, Larrisha Irvin, and Monique Jackson. Their terms are set to expire in May 2027.
The following HEA members were elected to state level positions:
AEA Board District 5 Director: Michelle Cunningham
ACT Board District 5 Director (Unopposed): Yolanda Bledsoe
AEA ESP Board President (Unopposed): Kecia Lambert
NEA State Delegates: Bonnie Garrett, Dr. David Belton, Michelle Cunningham, Susan Mitchell, Yolanda Bledsoe, Jennifer Prince, Dr. Cathy McNeal, Kecia Lambert, and Patricia Cook. These elected delegates attended the NEA Representative Assembly in Portland, Oregon, July 2 – 6, 2025 as AEA representatives.
About AEA Board Elections:
Each year, the AEA Policies and Procedures Commission submits the election rules along with the current timeline and open positions to the AEA Board for approval. You can find links to all election information and nomination forms on the AEA website when available.
AEA has seven districts. Each board district has three directors who sit on the AEA Board. The district directors serve a staggered three-year term, so each year, a director for each district is elected. AEA holds elections every year for all open positions on the AEA Board. Also included in these elections are the NEA state delegate positions for each district. These delegates are elected to represent the state at the NEA Representative Assembly. AEA Division elections for ESP, Postsecondary, and Administrator are held concurrently with the AEA regular elections.
About HEA:
The Huntsville Education Association (HEA) is an affiliate of the Alabama Education Association (AEA ) and the National Education Association (NEA).
AEA is the largest democratically organized professional association in Alabama and almost every HEA and AEA leadership position is elected by the membership. Your vote elects the education professionals who set the agenda for our association and in many cases for our local schools. The more you get involved and the more you vote, the stronger your professional association will become.