Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
At Tuesday’s Autauga County Board of Education meeting, Board Chairman Dr. Tracye Strichik resigned from the board, as she has been named the Executive Director for VOICES for Alabama’s Children. With her new position, she cannot hold an elected position.
Stritchik said the decision is bittersweet, but she will still be around to continue helping in any way possible.
Board members voted to name Jamie Jackson, Vice Chairman, to serve as the new Chairman. Kyle Glover was elected to serve as the new Vice Chairman.
Board members now face the challenge of finding a replacement on the board. Applications for the board seat will be taken July 17-23.
Statement from Autauga County Board of Education
The Autauga County Board of Education announces the resignation of District 1 Board Member and ACBOE Board Chairman Dr. Tracye Strichik, effective immediately, following her acceptance of the Executive Director position with VOICES for Alabama’s Children, an educational advocacy coalition.
Dr. Strichik, who has served on the Board since November 2022, shared the announcement during the July 15 board meeting. While this new opportunity requires Strichik to step away from the elected office, she will continue to be a strong advocate for education, guiding the statewide nonpartisan organization to ensure the well-being of Alabama’s children through research, public awareness, and advocacy.
“This has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Dr. Strichik. “Autauga County is home for me, so it has been my honor to work alongside such committed and passionate educators, administrators, and fellow board members. While I’m excited for this next chapter in my career, I will miss being part of what I believe is the best school system around, having the opportunity to shape the future of our community through educational initiatives.”
During her tenure, Strichik, along with her fellow board members, has been instrumental in passing student-first program and policy updates, stabilizing the district’s finances, providing stakeholder transparency, and guiding the district through a Superintendent transition, which led to the hiring of Autauga County native Lyman Woodfin in July 2023.
“On behalf of Autauga County Schools, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Tracye for her dedicated service and leadership on the school board,” noted Superintendent Lyman Woodfin. “As an educational giant in our community, her thoughtful decision-making, strong advocacy for students, and unwavering support for our teachers have made a lasting impact on me and all employees in our district.”
The Board named Jamie Jackson, former Vice Chairman, to serve as the new Chairman, and will begin the process of filling the vacant seat, guided by the Alabama Association of School Boards. Details about the timeline and application process for interested candidates can be found on the district’s website, ACBOE.net in the coming days.
