Alabama NBCT Board of Directors

Dr. Janie Jones is the Principal at Headland Middle School. Dr. Jones has a Doctorate in Instructional Leadership and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership with focus in technology from University of Alabama. She also holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Secondary Education Language Arts. She is a National Board Certified teacher and currently serves as Vice President. Janie obtained certification in 2010 and has completed the renewal process. She believes in creating an upbeat and rigorous environment for her students and understanding the motivations for her practices. For this reason, Dr. Jones is passionate about the National Board Certification process and a medium for supporting teachers to achieve their greatest level of effectiveness through metacognition.

Dr. Jones has presented professional development for Montgomery County, Autauga County, AETC, 29th Annual Ethnographic & Qualitative Research Conference, and Mid-South Educational Research Association Annual Conference.

Dr. Jones’s passion thrives through providing resources and technology access for both classroom and community by gaining funding from the International Paper Foundation, Prattville Service League, Alabama Power Grants, the Autauga County Retired Teachers and Education Foundations, and Bright Ideas: Central Alabama Electric Cooperative.

Sara Askew has been teaching in Shelby County for 18 years. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama, masters degree from Samford University, and became Nationally Board certified in 2018. Sara serves the ALNBCT Network as 2nd Vice President and looks forward to continuing to grow and support the amazing teachers of Alabama. Mrs. Askew shows her love of lifelong learning in all aspects of education by participating in and leading local and state professional development. She also teaches an after school STEM enrichment class helping students stay abreast of the newest trends in technology. Sara is married to her college sweetheart and lives in Meadowbrook with their two children.

Shannon Goodwin is the Alabama NBCT Network Treasurer. Shannon works in Secondary Instruction in Shelby County Schools as a Program Area Specialist. She was previously a district instructional coach and math teacher at Chelsea High School, Childersburg High School, Mitchell County Middle School in Camilla, Georgia.

Shannon graduated from Troy University in 2002 with a B.S. in Comprehensive Math Education and graduated from the University of Montevallo in 2011 with a M.Ed. in Math Education. Most recently, she has earned administrative certification and an Ed.S. in Instructional Leadership from the University of West Alabama. Shannon became a National Board Certified Teacher in Adolescence and Young Adult Mathematics in 2017. She has also presented at the Alabama Educational Technology Conference, the Shelby County Schools NBCT conference, ACTM, and the Shelby County Schools High School Summit.

Shannon lives in Chelsea with her husband Scott, two daughters Aubrey and Avery, and her supportive mother Linda. Her hobbies include reading, playing trivia, and going to Disney!

Julie Ramsay earned her National Board Certification as a Middle Childhood Generalist in 2007 and renewed in 2016. She has served on the board of directors for the Alabama NBCT Network in a variety of roles since 2009. In 2011, she began advocating for accomplished teachers with state and national policymakers. With the support of the network, Julie founded the annual Alabama Hill Day, where NBCTs and candidates spend a day in Montgomery speaking with lawmakers and policy writers to educate them about the power of accomplished teaching in positively impacting student learning. In 2017, Julie filled the role of Policy and Partnership Liasion for the network. She serves as a PLF for candidates and renewal candidates through various avenues.

A graduate of the University of Montevallo and Walden University, Julie is also the author of “Can We Skip Lunch and Keep Writing?”: Collaborating in Class & Online, Grades 3-8 (Stenhouse, 2011) and a writing contributor to several different education organizations. She loves teaching her sixth-graders ELA at Northridge Middle School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where she also supports preservice teachers, coaches early career teachers, and grows accomplished teaching practices. For the last eighteen years, she has traveled the country to speak, present, and facilitate workshops in literacy, digital literacy, applying technology to support authentic learning, assessment practices, student-driven learning, accomplished teaching, and teacher leadership.

When not in the classroom, Julie enjoys reading, journaling, hiking, paddling, and exploring new places with her husband, Gene.

Michele Thomason is the Membership Secretary for the AL NBCT Network. She began teaching in 2007. She has experience teaching kindergarten through third grade as well as special education. Michele currently serves as the assistant principal at West Smiths Station Elementary School in Lee County School District. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Troy University, Master’s Degree in Collaborative Special Education from Auburn University, Education Specialist Degree in Collaborative Special Education from Columbus State University, and currently pursuing an Education Doctoral Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Columbus State University. She became Nationally Board certified as an Early Childhood Generalist in 2019. Since certifying as a Nationally Board-certified teacher, Michele has taken an active role in helping other teachers achieve their greatest level of effectiveness. 

 Tracey Jones is Secretary for the AL NBCT Network.  She has a B.S. from Athens State University in Mathematics and History and a M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from Faulkner University.  She is a middle school Math and computer science teacher at Parkside School in Cullman County. She also is the math team sponsor. She is a National Board-Certified Teacher with 25 years of experience of teaching students from various social and cultural backgrounds. She was selected as a secondary school mathematics state finalist for the 2021 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).  She is a leader and influencer in promoting a change in the culture and climate of our schools. She is an enthusiastic lifelong learner with a passion to share her classroom successes with others. She presented at national and regional conferences. She believes all students can learn and is committed to giving students the tools to succeed. She creates fun, engaging lessons that allow students to become critical thinkers. She has created a safe, cozy inviting atmosphere within her classroom that enables students and parents to feel comfortable with sharing their ideas and concerns. She promotes and reinforces student independence and self-esteem. She teaches students that through failure we rise to a greater level of success. She is committed to all students and our educational system.