—the AEA’s mission is “to promote educational excellence. The Alabama Education Association shall serve as the advocate for its members and shall lead in the advancement of equitable and quality public education for a diverse population.”

 

 

 

According to Thomas T.C. Coley, the Southern Regional Manager, “The AEA is not a trade union because state law prohibits public employees from being represented by a union in the traditional sense. This is why the AEA cannot call for strikes or engage in collective bargaining. Instead, it is officially recognized as a professional organization funded exclusively by the fees of its 90,000 members.” This statement was made during an interview at the association's headquarters in Montgomery, the state capital.

 

 

 

 

After completing a ten-month journey in America in 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville made the following observation in his work "Democracy in America" (1835): “In no country in the world has the principle of association been used or applied to a greater multitude of objects than in America. Besides the permanent associations established by law, under the names of townships, cities, and counties, a vast number of others are formed and maintained by private individuals” (p. 95, Penguin Books, 1956).

After the Civil War, one of the mandates of Reconstruction for the former Confederate states was to draft a new constitution acceptable to Congress before rejoining the Union. Alabama drafted a new state constitution in 1868, which included a provision in the education section stating, "And proper provision shall be made for the education of the children of white and colored persons in separate schools." This mandate led to the establishment of a system of education known as "separate but equal."

Consequently, two professional associations emerged to represent teachers within this divided school system: the Alabama Education Association, which represented teachers in white schools, and the Alabama State Teachers Association, which represented teachers in non-white schools. In 1969, the Alabama Education Association and the Alabama State Teachers Association merged, retaining the name Alabama Education Association (AEA).

The Alabama Education Association (AEA) is not a trade union, although some writers and political opponents have referred to it in that manner. In the conservative South of the United States, the term "trade union" is often associated with communism. According to Thomas T.C. Coley, the Southern Regional Manager, “The AEA is not a trade union because state law prohibits public employees from being represented by a union in the traditional sense. This is why the AEA cannot call for strikes or engage in collective bargaining. Instead, it is officially recognized as a professional organization funded exclusively by the fees of its 90,000 members.” This statement was made during an interview at the association's headquarters in Montgomery, the state capital.

In 2023, Thomas Vocino noted in the *Encyclopedia of Alabama* that the AEA is “probably one of the leading state education associations in the nation in terms of representing teachers without union representation, which is the case for many states outside the South.”

Despite not being classified as a trade union, the AEA operates in a similar manner. It represents public school employees in the state, including teachers, bus drivers, retirees, principals, and superintendents. As an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA)—the nation's largest professional employee organization—the AEA’s mission is “to promote educational excellence. The Alabama Education Association shall serve as the advocate for its members and shall lead in the advancement of equitable and quality public education for a diverse population.”

Politics is closely related to education. The Alabama State Capitol is located just three blocks from the AEA headquarters, yet it feels distant. “Politics is another world with its own codes,” smiled Coley. “We do not engage in politics because it can be divisive. Alabama is a conservative state. Most of our members are likely Republicans, but the association must respect the minority. Therefore, we did not endorse a candidate at the national level, but we did make endorsements at the state level on local issues,” Coley added. “The state issues around 1,200 legal texts each year, with about 200 pertaining to education. We review all these documents, as some may be related to education.”

Legal protection and lobbying are the focus of three in-house attorneys and six referral attorneys located in various cities across the state. While AEA does not officially engage in politics, it does take stances on education policy. Paul Hubbert, the AEA chief, has stated he will fight to keep charter schools out of Alabama, as reported by the Press-Register in 2009. Charter schools are private institutions that receive partial funding from and are regulated by public authorities. There has been, and continues to be, a contentious debate surrounding the ideological principles and pedagogical issues tied to academic performance.

The recent presidential election results may herald a new era in the field of education. The debate centers around whether education is an essential investment or an unnecessary cost for the federal government. This issue has been a focal point during the campaign. Project 2025, developed by a Republican think tank, is clear on its stance: “Federal education policy should be limited, and ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated. Every parent should have the option to direct their child’s share of education funding through an education savings account (ESA), predominantly funded by state and local taxpayers. This would empower parents to choose educational options that meet their child's unique needs. States are eager to take the lead in K–12 education. For decades, they have operated independently of the federal government, pioneering constructive reforms and school choice programs.” (p. 319)  2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf

Although former and future President Donald Trump has not publicly endorsed this platform, it is likely that Congress will pass a legal transfer of responsibilities (and associated costs) to the states during this term. The extent of this shift remains uncertain, but it is clear that the Alabama Education Association (AEA) will soon have to review many more documents issued by the Alabama State Capitol.