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Dr. Gloria Wicker was unanimously elected as the 2023 board chair for the Baldwin County Board of Education.
“It feels good to be the board chair again. It’s always a good feeling to be able to make decisions that will benefit the staff and the children of Baldwin County,” said Wicker.
Wicker has served on the board for over 10 years and previously served as the board chair in 2014. Before running for the board, Wicker had also previously served in the position for three months after another member resigned. This small time serving is one reason why she later ran for a full position.
“I initially finished another board member’s term after their resignation upon the request of the superintendent at the time, Gene Trammell,” said Wicker. “I had just retired and so I served for three months and then ran in the next election but lost. But the second time I ran, I won and as they say the rest is history.”
Before becoming a board member, Wicker had an extensive background in education. As a teen she began teaching in the church as a Sunday School instructor. Then, after receiving her bachelor’s degree in English from Clark Atlanta University, she began her official teaching career in Harris County at a junior high school.
“All of my educational career has been in special education,” said Wicker. “I started by teaching students with mild intellectual disabilities and by the time I left Harris County, I taught students with learning disabilities.”
After leaving Harris County, Wicker taught at Muscogee County School System, where she continued to teach students with learning disabilities. She taught at an elementary school and junior high school.
“All of these experiences prepared me for my position on the board because it allows me to understand what it is like to be a teacher, to be in a school environment, and to know the students,” said Wicker. “And these experiences are what led me to further my own education.”
Wicker would later earn her master’s degree in Special Education from Columbus College and a doctorate in Education Administration from Nova Southeastern University.
“All of my years in education have taught me to understand what a child is in need of,” said Wicker. “As a board, we are working to meet these needs and ensure a future for our students.”
According to Wicker, she recognizes no student or teacher is alike and that to work efficiently, the board has to meet the individuals where their needs are present. Taking in their background, disabilities and more informs the Board of Education where needs are and how to meet them.
“Our goal (as a board) is to ensure that all policies are in line with strategic plans and school improvement plans,” said Wicker. “My goal is to continue with that and we are already working with Superintendent Dr. Noris Price on strategic plans.”
As chair, Wicker will lead the board in setting policies and making decisions in conjunction with Price that will impact the education of all students in Baldwin County. To learn more about the The Baldwin County Board of Education, the public can attend meetings the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office.