Auburn Ed Talks
Auburn Ed Talks is the official podcast of Auburn University’s College of Education. On this podcast, we spotlight the people, ideas and innovations shaping the future of education.
Auburn Ed Talks
Words of Wisdom for Alabama’s Future Education Leaders
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For this episode of Auburn Ed Talks, we’re featuring three influential voices in Alabama education for a conversation about leadership, purpose and what it truly takes to thrive as an educator in our state. This episode was a special one as it was recorded as part of the 2026 Auburn University Education Summit, spotlighting the following Summit attendees and podcast guests: Alabama State Board of Education member Tracie West, College of Education alumnus and ENGAGE Council member Courtney Bass and Education Specialist Kimberly Mitchell with the Alabama State Department of Education.
Welcome back to Auburn ED Talks, the official podcast of Auburn University's College of Education, recorded in the Frances and William Kochan Media Production Room at our new College of Education building. This podcast spotlights the people, ideas, and innovation shaping the future of education and beyond. Today's episode is a special one. We're bringing together three influential voices in Alabama education for a conversation about leadership, purpose, and what it truly takes to thrive as an educator in our state. Joining us are Alabama State Board of Education member Tracie West, College of Education alumnus and ENGAGE Council member Courtney Bass and education specialist Kimberly Mitchell with the Alabama State Department of Education. And guiding today's panel is one of our outstanding student ambassadors. So let's get to talking.
Student Ambassador:Hey, everyone. I'm Kiersten Wilson, a student ambassador here in Auburn's College of Education. And I'm thrilled and honored to be back to host today's conversation. We have an incredible panel with us: leaders who have shared classrooms, schools and statewide initiatives. Thank you all for being here. Thank you. Thank you. Excited to join the conversation. Awesome. So before we dive into our topic today, let's first get to know each of you and just a little bit about your education roles in the state of Alabama. We'll start with you, Mrs. West.
Mrs. Tracie West:Well, thank you so much for having me today. This is such an honor to be here. So I am a state school board member elected to serve district two. Auburn University sits right in the middle of district two, actually. And my role is a policy maker from the state level. So the way the state of Alabama works is the legislature passes education, law and budget, and then the state Board of Education, along with the superintendent and Department of Education, pass policies that adhere to the law.
Student Ambassador:Okay. Alright and then our next guest.
Mr. Courtney Bass:My name is Courtney Bass. I'm an assistant principal at Liberty Park Middle School in Vestavia Hills City school system. As an assistant principal of middle school, you never know what you're doing. Each day it changes. But honestly, it is my job to to be the voice of the people. And the people are the students, the parents, and most importantly, the teachers.
Student Ambassador:That's awesome. I love that perspective. I'm in the middle school classrooms now this semester, so I'm getting a feel of the middle school students.
Mr. Courtney Bass:It’s the best place!
Student Ambassador:It is. I love it so far.
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:Hi, I'm Kim Mitchell and I'm so delighted to be here with you all today. I currently serve with the Alabama State Department of Education in the role of recruitment and mentoring. I'm the lead liaison for the Alabama Teacher Mentor Program and people. That is my passion. I love developing people, encouraging people, motivating people just to help them to reach their goals and whatever that may be on their teaching journey.
Student Ambassador:That's awesome. I can tell you're very positive.
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:Thank you.
Student Ambassador:Well, now let's shift into today's topic: words of wisdom for future education leaders. Many of our listeners are students like myself, and we're preparing to enter classrooms, schools and leadership roles across Alabama. So I'd love to start with the question, what does it take to be a successful educator in Alabama today?
Mr. Courtney Bass:I would say to be a successful educator today is to truly understand your why. Why did you select the profession? You know, we're in challenging times of educators where we are seeing uptick of student behaviors like we've never seen before.
Mrs. Tracie West:Yes.
Mr. Courtney Bass:We see where we are pushing our students to, to achieve high standards we've never pushed them to before, as relates to learning new curriculum and standards in outside of just the Common Core education, but even career technical education and preparing them for the world outside of our four walls. And you truly need to be passionate and to understand your why. Because there will be days where you will question your why. And if you don't understand that you are there for students and for children, beyond your classroom, beyond their years in K-12, you will not be a successful educator. And it sounds it could sound harsh, but it's the truth. We have to be passionate about educating the whole child and in having and working and allowing students to be successful in all avenues and realizing that it looks different for each individual student.
Mrs. Tracie West:Yes.
Student Ambassador:I agree, I think that it really makes a difference when a teacher goes into teaching wanting to teach that's what sets teachers apart is the desire to teach students.
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:I completely agree with that. The passion piece is so important. But with that passion, in order for us to take care of the students like we need to, we cannot forget about ourselves. Self-care is so important, and for you to have longevity in this career, you have to make sure you're paying attention not only to your mental health, your physical health, but just taking the time to understand and realizing, going back to your why, you're doing this and developing yourself professionally. It doesn't necessarily mean that you want to move into a different realm of education. You may want to continue teaching in the classroom, and that's wonderful. But pay attention to yourself so that you're growing right along with your students.
Student Ambassador:I love that. I love that.
Mrs. Tracie West:I think staying abreast of major changes that are happening, that are going to affect the classroom is really, really important. I heard, a leader today, remarked that she wasn't aware of a certain policy that had recently been passed, and it's definitely could make a positive impact in her school.
Student Ambassador:Oh, yeah. For sure.
Mrs. Tracie West:And so I think, you know, we are asking so much of teachers and and building leaders today, but we do need, really pay attention to the positive things that are happening in our state. The State Board of Education has passed enormous, new policy since 2019 that has truly affected, I would say, every school district in the state. And we are seeing achievement at historically high levels for Alabama. That only gets done with the teachers in the classroom doing the work. That's not, a state board of education doing the work. We're setting the table for the work to be done. And so I couldn't be more proud of our teachers and our future teachers that are looking, to going into the profession. And, and I'm just hopeful that, our universities will do a good job of sharing information about what is changing. It is rapid change.
Student Ambassador:Oh, yeah. I think we will touch on that today. So that'll be awesome for you to bring up. Each of you have very unique roles within the education system, and based on your experience, what advice would you give to students who hope to become education leaders one day?
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:You know, leadership isn’t a title. Leadership is influence and impact. So you can start exactly where you are and lead. You start by leading that classroom and have being that lead learner and having those students continue to grow, not just with the instruction, but as the whole child, as Mr. Bass stated. And because we want to develop each one of them as productive citizens of their communities. So we have to make sure we're modeling that for them. And actually addressing the whole child needs.
Mrs. Tracie West:I started as a mother volunteering in my oldest daughter's classroom in Auburn City schools and a first year teacher, first year teacher, invited me to come in the classroom and read with my daughter and some other students and that's where my passion began. I was watching young children struggling to learn how to read, and I thought, well, I can volunteer an hour a week, and that hour a week became PTA treasurer, and then PTA treasurer became local board member and then local board member became state board member. I'm a business person. I'm not an educator. So I'm really a nontraditional person in this role, but I believe anyone can serve. If you have dedication and care for education, there are a number of ways that students can grow and serve outside the classroom, as well as inside the classroom.
Student Ambassador:I love that perspective.
Mr. Courtney Bass:Going back to what Mrs. Mitchell said about you being a leader in the classroom first. And if you aspire to to become a building level administrator, that that doesn't have to be your end all, be all, or even your first stop. You know, you're going to lead your students first. And from there, if you want to help lead your colleagues, whether that be, a reading coach, literacy coach, a math coach, instructional leader. We have all of these roles that isn't necessarily a building level administrator. A lot of people will shy away and say, I will never be an assistant principal. I don't want that job. But those aren't we aren't the only leaders in the school. And if we are the only leaders of the school, that's a major problem. Every person in the school building is a leader. From our custodial staff, our CMP staff, to our classroom teachers, our parent educators, to myself as an assistant principal and our principal, we're all leaders. And we're going to and you have to build that capacity at each level if you want to be a successful leader. And so I think it's important that you lead first in the classroom.
Student Ambassador:Yeah. Each person has a way they can make an impact even no matter their position.
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:And that's the key. Each person has that ability to have that influence and impact. And we must remember something that Mrs. West said, and it's so important: Leadership is about serving others, not about others serving you as a leader, but you being that servant leader. That's forefront.
Student Ambassador:Yeah. That's perfect.
Mr. Courtney Bass:And I think as evident in each one of us in our roles where I think and I don't want to speak for you all so you can tell me if we disagree. I think that we are in our roles because we, we enjoy serving people and helping people.
Mrs. Tracie West:Y es.
Mr. Courtney Bass:And that return on our investment what that looks like.
Mrs. Tracie West:Yes.
Mr. Courtney Bass:You know, seeing a teacher who's struggling in something, overcome that and her students are learning or there's a lesson that we tweaked or, you know, there's a student he or she was able to build a relationship with. That brings me so much joy.
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:Absolutely.
Mr. Courtney Bass:Helping teachers or build those relationships, get to know those students. And once you do that, the teaching, the learning is easy.
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:Absolutely.
Student Ambassador:Well, thank you for those. Those were awesome answers. I think Mrs. West, you brought this up earlier, but education is always evolving and changing in some way. So whether it be new standards, new technologies, new expectations, what qualities will tomorrow's leaders need most?
Mrs. Tracie West:Well, I think it's very, very important that we be able to think clearly, and have real wisdom and discernment around what we're bringing into the classroom, how we're leading our children. So we've had three really major pieces of legislation. You've got the Literacy Act, the Numeracy Act... But I would say to you that, last year we passed a significant piece of legislation and some people may disagree with it, but I led the charge for the last three years to remove cellphones out of classrooms because the research was telling me that young people's minds, literally their brains are changing the way that they think and process. And has become a disruption in the classroom. Alabama was one of the states that led the nation in making this change. And I'm hearing from districts all over the state, not just district two. Teachers are happy, coaches are happy, bus drivers are happy. Kids are engaged in the lunchroom again. They're laughing. Discipline issues are down in some districts by 70%. Just by removing cell phones from the classroom. And the policy is set by the locals. We made a state level policy, and then we insisted that each district have their own policy and address the abuse of cell phones in the classroom. They're not in and of themselves bad. They're a tool. But we've allowed them to to take away from teaching and learning. And I'm such a geek about stuff. You know, when I get numbers and I see, what a huge impact this has made in such a short period of time. I think it's only going to get better.
Mr. Courtney Bass:I want to thank you. Thank you for bringing legislation up to our legislators and passing it, seeing it day to day, you know, in the middle school setting, we, never really had cell phones anyway. However, we never really had a leg to stand on. To be able to say this isn't of school policy, this isn't a school district policy. This is a law, and you're going to follow it. And to see students who in previous years did not engage with each other walking down the hallway, they did not engage with each other sitting in the gym prior to school. And to see them doing that lets me know that this was a decision that I'm sure was difficult, but it was the right one because it's what's best for children.
Student Ambassador:I didn't even think about that perspective. Like engagement student to student. I just was like, oh, it's a distraction. That makes sense taking it out. But that is a really big deal in middle school especially, is having that engagement with your peers.
Mrs. Tracie West:That's where you learn to be a friend. That's where you learn to talk and socialize. So many things happen between sixth and eighth grade. And so the state board just really decided that we were going to take it off the table. And help our districts. We say sometimes in the world of policy, we'll give them some cover. And it was cover to do what needed to be done completely.
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:To that point, as well as leaders, we have to learn to listen.
Mrs. Tracie West:Yes.
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:And when we listen, we listen and we feel we have empathy, not only just to give explicit direction to our teachers, but we have to have that understanding piece, too. We aren't that removed from the classroom, and if we ever get to that point, we need to go back, because you have to understand, at the center of everything is that child and every single child in these classrooms matter. And we have to listen not only to our students, but to our teachers, our parents, our communities. All stakeholders deserve a voice, and as a leader, we have to listen to provide that clear communication and get those initiatives out here and done so that we can get back to what really matters, which is educating our children of Alabama.
Student Ambassador:That's perfect. Based on obstacles or setbacks you've seen or gone through, what's one challenge you believe future leaders must be ready to face, and how can they prepare for it?
Mr. Courtney Bass:One of the more challenging things for leaders to prepare for, all of education should prepare for it. It's constantly evolving, how best practices are are changing. You know, what was best ten years ago isn't what's best for children now, with new standards comes changing curriculum. That's new. And that will constantly change. In education, we say things often repeat, you know, something, will phase out something, something new. So I say all that to say, you cannot be a leader and an effective leader if you aren't willing to be a lifelong learner, you have to be willing to say, I don't know this, or I don't know as much about this as I need to. So I'm going to read a book, I'm going to attend professional development, and I'm going to work on putting this practice into use because things are constantly changing. Children are changing. You know, what's expected of us is changing, whether that be new standards, new laws, etc. so you have to be willing to put in the work to learn.
Student Ambassador:I agree, as educators, I think it's so important not to have a fixed mindset like I already know everything and going in the classroom with all this college education experience, but it is just constantly growing, constantly learning from people above you or even younger than you.
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:Completely agree. Another area where I think is challenging because of of my work: retention, retaining teachers, recruiting teachers. As you probably have noticed here, the educator preparation courses, there are not as many students as they once had. So going back to the very basics of understanding people, building and cultivating those positive relationships where people are able to thrive and grow, having that positive workforce, that workplace climate, anything that helps to assist that teacher to have those better days so that they can help and assist that child be the best version of themselves that they can possibly be. So we'll have to be able to learn the different, trends that we have going on now, because in just about every industry, there's a shortage. And learning the different retention strategies and trying to hang on to people who really know how to connect with our students, that's going to be critical, very essential in what we need to do in building our teacher workforce here in the state of Alabama.
Mr. Courtney Bass:I think about when I was a student in like K-12 education, I would hear people say, there aren't any teaching jobs, there aren't any teaching jobs. I graduated and I've worked somewhere else before began before I was hired. And to think that that's not 20 years ago, and now we're in a teaching shortage. And so I think that that will constantly be a challenge right now. Our state is doing a great job at creating this profession as a profession. And it's not a profession you fall back on, we are the preparers of tomorrow, and we have to go in with that mindset that we are profession. It is our goal to prepare our students for the future. Right now that is a challenge. But I want to get to the point where maybe there aren't there aren't any jobs.
Mrs. Tracie West:Yeah.
Mr. Courtney Bass:Because there's so many teachers and so many people who who love this profession and want to be in this profession because I love it every single day.
Mrs. Tracie West:Education has not traditionally done a good job of talking about itself as a workforce. But we're talking about thousands and thousands of people that are touching the lives of our children every single day. It is a workforce. Every industry is impacted by it because every child has to go through teachers before they get to, their destination, be it, a builder, an engineer, a doctor, a lawyer, business owner like myself. So we impact in education every single household in our state, and I want the future teachers to remember that, traditionally, we've not been valued. But I can tell you the state Department of Education and this Board of Education values the young people that are going into the future profession of teaching.
Student Ambassador:Absolutely.
Mrs. Tracie West:And I think they've got to be very flexible. I think they've got to be willing to understand artificial intelligence and how they can use it properly so they can guide their students. I think that we are going to see so many things that we can't even dream of in the next 20 years, jobs that our kids will be holding. So it's very exciting time. And I'm just really, really honored to be serving during this time.
Student Ambassador:Oh, yeah. That’s Amazing. And I do feel like your journey to becoming where you're at is so unique and so inspiring, because you don't always know what profession you're going into. So just hearing that, it's it's really eye opening.
Mr. Courtney Bass:And I think it's great to have people like Mrs. Tracie in these roles, because she can resonate with someone who is an educator and can speak to why this is a profession, and it is important, and it's not another educator. So her her voice has power beyond an educator. And so thankful for those of you who who pivot, and realize that education is important and educators are important and the policies and, legislator that you pass is important. And you guys do wonderful work for us. So thank you.
Mrs. Tracie West:It's not always perfect. No law is perfect. No policy is perfect. But I can promise you that, that our educators are first and foremost in our minds, along with our students and families.
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:I agree.
Student Ambassador:I often found myself in need of motivation to continue to pursue education. I feel like sometimes it's discouraged when I bring it up to other people, so I'm curious to know what you love most about being in the field of education. Can each of you share a moment in your career when you realize you are truly making a difference?
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:Well, I was a high school English teacher. That’s what I started out. 12th grade, five years, 12th grade. English. Absolutely wonderful time. Love that. So I almost immediately would have students who graduated. They would reach back out. Hey, I really appreciate helping me. I took my binder, taught English. So they had a binder. And I told them, whatever you do, take this binder to school with you. And I got so many saying, hey, you've helped me. You're doing this. And doing so. That came quickly to me. But it wasn't until I had fellow teachers talking to me, saying, Kim, I really appreciate what you're doing. I really think you need to go into administration. I really think you need to do this. I want to work for you. I see your vision. I can do this. We can do this together. That's when I realized, okay, it's not about you. You have an impact that's bigger than just the kids that are sitting here in this room. It's going beyond those classroom walls. Okay, so when I realized that my thinking changed, I had to think, okay, how can I do this on a bigger scale? This wonderful opportunity opened up and here I am mentoring new teachers. Just it has worked out just wonderfully. But that happens when you put people first and you don't lose that passion. So I was able to to get a handle on that. And really it's my driving force is my why now, you know. And that just keeps me going each and every day.
Student Ambassador:And it sounds like so many people put you first and saw your potential. And that really seems like it made a difference.
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:Absolutely.
Mr. Courtney Bass:There have been many moments where I felt like I made a difference, whether that especially while teaching, I think those, those came, however, as an administrator, I'm big on relationships and building those relationships and, I'm a firm believer of you must connect before you redirect. And as an assistant principal, a lot of my day is spent with discipline. And so sometimes you could be seen as the disciplinarian or the person you don't want to go see, I actually told my students you'd rather me come to you than Bring you to me. However, I was in my second or third year as an assistant principal, and I heard “Uncle Bass!”, and I went what... “What’s up, Unc!” I was like, wait, 1. Am I old enough to be an uncle, like I thought I was like still the big brother level. However, that that that term let me know that my students respected me enough to to be their administrator, but also let me know that I was making a difference in their life where they could call me and trust me, they trusted me enough to call me uncle. And that let me know that I was making a difference. And yes, we are going to have those tough conversations if we have to have them. But also I'm going to be your biggest supporter, your biggest advocate and I'm in your corner and that's what I want. That's what I still want all my students to know. But that moment, walking down the hallway and hear someone say, Uncle Bass, I was like, I'm making a difference. I am truly making a difference because they trust me enough to do my job. And and I love that.
Student Ambassador:That's amazing. That's an amazing quality to have for sure. I wish, you know, in my high school, I would have had that connection with my principal as well.
Mrs. Tracie West:Probably the first budget that I ever helped pass at the local level was when I, and watching those dollars impact the local classroom the next year. Sounds super boring. It really, really does. But when you, put a line item in the budget for several million dollars for some technology, and then you walk into a computer lab and you see students just having the time of their lives with something new that they've never experienced before. For me, it's just like over the moon. I just absolutely love it. I remember the first year we put television equipment and equipment sort of like this for kids to produce their own, sports broadcast. I could have stayed all day and listened. I mean, it just really. So for me, I connect the dollars to to the student in my mind. And that's where I see myself the greatest satisfaction. This next year's budget is going to have about $30 million in it, for readers, 4th through 8th grade who are really struggling. You know, you think about where they, those fourth graders were during Covid and then what they have gone through and getting started in school. And then our eighth graders where they were, and what they went through. And so our middle grades really need attention right now in reading, and I cannot wait to see how they are impacted by next year's budget.
Student Ambassador:That's beautiful. I love that, and technology I've seen first hand can make such a difference in the classrooms. Alright, well, this has been truly insightful and such an inspiring conversation. Hearing your perspectives really shows how many people and roles shape the future of education in Alabama. Before we close, if you could offer one sentence of wisdom to every future educator in Alabama, what would it be?
Mrs. Kimberly Mitchell:Teaching is a journey, not a destination. Okay, okay, you have the ability every day that you step into that classroom to impact and influence someone's life, including your own.
Student Ambassador:I like that, I like that.
Mr. Courtney Bass:Well, that's hard to come after that.
Student Ambassador:Yeah, I know, I need to write these down.
Mr. Courtney Bass:I would say in this profession, you make a lot of decisions. In the classroom, as a leader, as an administrator. But always remember that with each decision you make, make sure is the right decision and what's best for children. And if you do that, not everyone will always agree, but it gives you a leg to stand on and people can respect it. If you can say this is what's best for children.
Mrs. Tracie West:I say it like this always keep the main thing, the main thing.
Student Ambassador:Okay, I like it.
Mrs. Tracie West:And that's our students.
Student Ambassador:Well thank you all so much again. And thank you for sharing your wisdom and your passion for Alabama students. And thank you to everyone listening to Auburn ED Talks. Be sure to subscribe for more conversations that elevates, empowers, and celebrates the world of education.
Speaker:War Eagle!