By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Thursday, January 21, Jackie Zeigler formally announced her candidacy for State Board of Education District 1, in the Republican Primary scheduled for March 1. The South Alabama district includes Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Conecuh, Butler, Crenshaw and Covington counties.
Mrs. Zeigler says she will push a “back-to-basics” philosophy. She said, “We need teaching to the individual needs of the student, not teaching to the test. We need less paperwork, less busy work, and more classroom instruction.” Mrs. Zeigler said that the schools need “a common sense approach” and she wants to work toward that goal as a member of the State School Board.
Zeigler is a 37-year veteran of the Mobile County School system. Mrs. Zeigler is currently retired after 14 years as the principal at award-winning Mary B. Austin Elementary School in Mobile. Her school won the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence.
Zeigler said, “We had less money but got better results. We did that by encouraging parental involvement, discipline, and old-fashioned hands-on teaching.”
Zeigler said that with 37 years of experience as a teacher and principal she has more experience working with schools than all other candidates combined.
Mrs. Zeigler describes herself as: Christian, Constitutional, Conservative, Church worker, and “Common-sensical.”
During her career, Mrs. Zeigler worked as the principal of Mary B. Austin Elementary School; teacher and acting Principal at Dauphin Island’s “Little Red School House” when the Dauphin Island Bridge was out due to Hurricane Frederick; the Title One coordinator at Maryvale Elementary in the Birdville area of Dauphin Island Parkway; Assistant principal of O’Rourke Elementary in west Mobile; and served for four years as adjunct professor of education at Springhill College.
Mrs. Zeigler has a BS and MA in elementary education with an Administration/Supervision certificate from the University of South Alabama.
Mrs. Zeigler is married to Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler. They have two children.
The incumbent, Matthew Brown, was appointed by Governor Robert Bentley last year. Adam Bourne and Carl Myrick are also seeking the position.
If no candidate receives over 50 percent of the vote the runoff would be on April 12.
