Governor Ivey appoints Ami Brooks to Lead Statewide Preschool Program
Will begin as Secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) on June 16.
Governor Kay Ivey announced on Tuesday that she’ll appoint Ami Brooks as the new Secretary of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE). Her official start date is June 16, 2025 .
Brooks steps in after Jan Hume, who’s led the agency for two years and served there almost 14 years. Hume will take a role as Professor of Practice in Public Administration at Auburn University, where both she and the Governor went to school.
“People like Jan and Ami are why Alabama has led the nation in early childhood education for 19 consecutive years. Throughout her tenure as acting secretary and at the Department, Jan has fully embraced our goal to give every Alabama child a strong start through efforts like improving the quality of Pre-K to implementing new initiatives like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. I am grateful to Jan for her service to Alabama and know Auburn will benefit from her expertise in the years to come,” said Governor Ivey. “I am excited to promote Ami to lead the Department of Early Childhood Education to build on our success. Ami’s several years with the Department and her background as a Pre-K and kindergarten teacher make her exceptionally qualified to lead the agency. Truly, serving our state’s youngest citizens is her passion.”
Brooks is currently the director of the P‑3 Partnership at ADECE—a key part of Governor Ivey’s “Strong Start, Strong Finish” initiative. She’s one of the department’s first coach facilitators and led updates to the statewide assessment and Kindergarten Entry Assessment.
Before moving into leadership, Brooks spent nearly twenty years teaching Alabama kids—from Pre-K all the way to 4th grade. In 2017, she was a finalist for Alabama Teacher of the Year.
“It’s an incredible honor to be appointed by Governor Ivey to serve as Secretary for the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education,” said Brooks. “Young children have always been my joy, and I’m thrilled to continue collaborating with dedicated individuals who share a commitment to giving every child a strong start. It is a privilege to contribute to this important work and help further its positive impact. I am grateful to Governor Ivey for this opportunity.
To help ensure a smooth handoff, Hume will stay on through the summer before joining Auburn. On June 16, Brooks will officially begin her new job.
