UA College of Education Announces 2012 Educator Hall of Fame Inductees

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Four outstanding educators were recently inducted into the The University of Alabama College of Education Educator Hall of Fame.

The late Dr. Harold Bishop, Dr. Paul Hubbert, Jeanice Kirkland, and Dr. Jayne Meyer were inducted as inaugural members of the Hall of Fame.

The University of Alabama College of Education Board of Advisors established the Educator Hall of Fame to honor the accomplishments of distinguished leaders and dedicated supporters in the field of education.

“It is clear that the professional accomplishments of each of these four people is incredible and, on their own merits, have earned them the distinction of being the first people in each category of membership to be inducted into the Educator Hall of Fame,” said Dr. Jim McLean, dean of the UA College of Education. “Each of them has been an outstanding supporter of the College and The University of Alabama. Future inductees will have big shoes to fill.”

Biographies

Dr. Harold Bishop, late professor of educational administration in the department of educational leadership, policy and technology studies, was one of the first African-American faculty members at The University of Alabama. He was affiliated with the College of Education from 1974 to his death in 2005. Bishop also provided guidance to nearly 100 school systems across the state of Alabama in his lifetime. He served as co-principal Investigator of the Alabama Superintendents’ Academy, an organization that provides leadership training to aspiring school superintendents in Alabama. Bishop also served as the director of Tuscaloosa City Schools Leadership Program, implemented to prepare current and future teachers to be leaders in the evolving field of education. In 2005, the alumni association of the College of Education awarded Bishop and his family the 2005-2006 Academic Excellence Award, as well as a donation to the Harold L. Bishop Scholarship Fund. Friends, students and colleagues of Bishop said his long-time commitment and love for teaching, research and service was unquestioned and will always be remembered.

Dr. Paul Hubbert, former executive secretary-treasurer of the Alabama Education Association, is one of the most prominent advocators for educational excellence and teacher benefits in the state of Alabama. Hubbert served as the executive secretary-treasurer of the Alabama Education Association from 1969 until his recent retirement in 2011. In 1969, he took on the challenge of merging the white teachers’ union with the black teachers’ union, which was under the direction of Joe Reed. Together, Hubbert and Reed transformed the organization from a professional club into a substantial political powerhouse. Their efforts with the Alabama Education Association had an inimitable influence on Alabama politics for more than 40 years. Hubbert built a strong network of political contacts throughout his 42-year term and has an exceptional knowledge of the Alabama Legislature. Before entering the political realm, however, Hubbert served as the superintendent of Troy school systems and held several educational positions in Tuscaloosa. Hubbert’s unique passion for the betterment of education is long lasting, and his legacy continues to inspire.

Jeanice Kirkland earned her degree in elementary education from The University of Alabama in 1964 and received her Master’s in Education from Troy University in 1975. In 1991, Kirkland was the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Education Award given by the College of Education. Among many other significant leadership positions and honors, Kirkland was named one of the 31 most outstanding women at The University of Alabama as part of a centennial celebration of women being admitted to the University. She retired in 2009 after a long career in teaching with Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Andalusia public schools. Kirkland served as the national president of the University of Alabama Alumni Association, where she became only the second woman in history to be chosen as president. Her efforts brought one of the largest increases in scholarship funding for students in University history. Kirkland is also active in many other local and university service organizations. Kirkland possesses an endearing and inspirational desire to provide guidance and encouragement, whenever possible, to those in need.

Dr. Jayne Meyer earned her doctoral degree from The University of Alabama in 1970. She has taught at both high school and college levels in Illinois, Alabama and Oregon. Meyer worked at the Tuscaloosa County Schools central office for seven years, first in physical education and later in federal programs. She then moved on to work for the Alabama Department of Education. There, under contract through Montgomery County Schools, Meyer worked on the First-Year Teacher Pilot Program based at UAB. In 1975, she took a job with the Federal Programs Section of the State Department of Education. After five years, she transferred from Federal Programs to Teacher Education where she served as a Teacher Education Advisor. Meyer still holds this position, although her title has changed to director of the Office of Teaching and Leading. She has had the opportunity to work with six different State Department Superintendents while affiliated with the State Department of Education. She has also served on the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and has recently been asked to help guide its transition to the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Meyer has given some thought to retirement, but she says it does not seem as appealing as continuing to work in the exciting field of education.