Marie Manning

Marie Manning, retired Superintendent of Education for St. Clair County and part-time enrollment specialist for Jefferson State Community College in Pell City, announces her candidacy for Place #3 on the St. Clair County Board of Education.

An education career that has spanned more than 35 years includes 21 years of teaching in Talladega, St. Clair, and Pell City School Systems.  As a Library Media Specialist, she was recognized as a leader in automating the first media center in this area.  She was nominated for the Library Media Specialist of the year twice during her career and was recognized by the State Association in 1998.

After one year as Assistant Principal at Ashville High School, she was transferred to Ashville Middle School as principal.  During her tenure at Ashville Middle School, the administration and faculty led the school to the highest level of test results in the County.

In 1998, Marie Manning was elected Superintendent of Schools, working with the board of education, central office staff and principals/teachers of the schools to bring academic and fiscal accountability to the school system.  New high schools were constructed for Moody High School and Springville High School.  Additions were built at Ragland High School, Ashville Middle School, and Odenville Middle School.

A level of cooperation and collaboration was developed that resulted in other improvements in each school community to help offset the effects of proration.

Leadership St. Clair County, a collaborative effort of the EDC, St. Clair Commission, and Jefferson State Community College has also been one the community efforts Manning has helped lead, providing opportunities for leaders in one community to network with leaders in other communities as as a means of strengthening the leadership of the county.

Marie Manning wants to bring this kind of cooperation and collaboration to the Board of Education as a member representing Place #3, Ragland District.  In order to qualify to run in place #3, one must live in the Ragland School Zone but the vote is a county-wide vote.  “I believe my experience as Superintendent gives me a level of knowledge that will benefit our school system.  Even though I am retired, I continue to be involved in educational endeavors.  I have worked for the State Department of Education, Calhoun County Schools, Montgomery Public Schools and St. Clair County Schools. Currently, I work with Jefferson State Community College to assist the junior and seniors of the county with Dual Enrollment, to conduct tours and provide information about the college, to provide information  to civic and community organizations, to assist students with scholarship information or any other need.”

“I am grateful to the people of St. Clair County who have given so much to me.  Serving this county is a very small way I can give back to St. Clair County.  My life has been devoted to serving others through the schools where I have taught, the civic organizations of which I have been a member and my Church.  I have taught Sunday School for more than 25 years”.  Manning is currently attending Pell City First Baptist Church where she is a member of the Bethany Sunday School Class.

“Perhaps one the most rewarding experiences I have had is the opportunity to lead the St. Clair County Educational Foundation as its president during the first four years of our inception.  During that time, we placed more than $200,000.00 in the classrooms in our system.”

Manning serves on the St. Clair County Republican Executive Committee and the ALGOP Executive Committee.

Marie has been married to Paul Manning for more than 29 years.  They have one daughter, Leann Coker Walker, a second grade teacher at Odenville Elementary School.  Their grandson is Cade Walker, who attends Odenville Elementary School and is in the second grade.