The Board of Directors with Alabama Association of School Boards has named Connie Cox Spears as new director for District 9. RECORD PHOTOS/JEN DETULLEO, JFD PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN

MADISON – The Board of Directors with Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) has appointed Connie Cox Spears as the new director for District 9.

Spears serves on Madison Board of Education.

With AASB, she will finish the term of David Vess with Madison County Schools Board who resigned due to personal reasons. In December, Spears can run for the seat during director elections.

“I am honored and thrilled to be representing the school boards of District 9,” Spears said. Spears will represent boards of education for Albertville, Arab, Blount County, Boaz, Guntersville, Huntsville, Jackson County, Madison County, Madison, Marshall County, Oneonta and Scottsboro.

Since 1949, AASB has represented Alabama’s public, local school boards. Their mission is to develop excellent board leaders through quality training, advocacy and services. (alabamaschoolboards.org/about/our-board)

The 14-member board implements a legislative program and policies adopted at its delegate assembly. They prepare and submit an annual budget and expenditures, along with deriving its stance on legislative issues, among other duties.

The association’s quarterly meetings are held in March and December in Birmingham, June at Orange Beach and October at Montgomery. For more information, visit alabamaschoolboards.org/about/our-board.

With her service for Madison Board of Education, Spears has testified to a joint legislative committee in support of Common Core and Alabama College and Career Ready Standards (ACCRS).

At Auburn University, Spears earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. For two years, she has achieved the master’s level with AASB Academy and co-chairs AASB’s Advocacy program. Spears is a member of Madison Hospital Women’s Council and charter member of Asbury United Methodist Church.

Her husband Richard works as a chief engineer at DRS Technologies. Their son Ross, 24, recently married Harley Heaps-Spears of Hartselle. Her parents are Waymon and Debra Heaps.

“Ross and Harley closed on a house (in early April). I’m so thrilled it’s within our city and school district,” Connie Spears said. Ross works as a software developer at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Currently, Harley is writing a novel.

Richard and Connie’s son Riley, 19, is a senior at James Clemens High School. This summer, Riley will enroll at Calhoun Community College.