Alabama’s HIPPY Heroes

2008 HIPPY Heroes

• 2008 HIPPY Heroes Photo Gallery
• 2008 HIPPY Heroes Book

2009 HIPPY Heroes

• 2009 HIPPY Heroes Photo Gallery
• 2009 HIPPY Heroes Book

2010 HIPPY Heroes

• 2010 HIPPY Heroes Photo Gallery
• 2010 HIPPY Heroes Book

2012 HIPPY Heroes

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  2012 HIPPY Hero Bill Rice
  The Montgomery HIPPY program nominated Mr. Bill Rice as one of the HIPPY Hero recipients for the 2012 year. Bill Rice has been one of HIPPY’s biggest advocates through his positive promotional writings in The Montgomery Independent, a local newspaper. He makes it a practice to keep readers in our city abreast of the many success stories that our HIPPY staff along with families in the community participate in that enhances academics and social skills. Mr. Rice also takes time out of his busy schedule to serve on the HIPPY Advisory Committee. He operates on the belief “True leaders and teachers put others ahead of their own agenda, possess the confidence to serve, initiate service to others: are not position-conscious, and serve out of love. Servant leadership is never motivated by manipulation or self-promotion. In the end, the extent of your influence depends on the depth of your concern for others.” (Author unknown)
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Bonnie Durham
  Bonnie Durham is Program Manager for the Appalachian Regional Commission in ADECA, and is located in Fort Payne, Alabama. Bonnie realizes that HIPPY works successfully to develop Alabama's most important resource, our families, and she works hard to help establish HIPPY programs in the ARC area of service. She is a wizard at making things happen to smooth the rocky and often confusing grant writing road. Bonnie sees to it that grant writers are available to write the grant and that resources are provided to help with the reports. She goes far beyond what she has to do because she truly wants to make good things happen in the region, and HIPPY is a good thing! Bonnie, HIPPY Alabama salutes you and commends you for all the many wonderful things you do again and again. Clay, Coosa, Hale, DeKalb, Lauderdale HIPPY all tip their hats and say, "Thanks" to our amazing and wonderful HIPPY Hero!
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Dorothy Phillips
  Ms. Phillips, also known as Dot, has always had a love for children. She now plays a big part in the Macon HIPPY Program. Her position allows her to be the first to greet families as they enter the school. She has singlehandedly recruited so many families for the Macon HIPPY that the program had to establish a waiting list for the upcoming year. During the program’s time of need, Ms. Phillips donated ALL of the games for the Game Night group meeting and gave every HIPPY child in attendance the game of their choice to take home. She provided lunch for the program during the ETO training sessions held in the office. She is amazing and we cherish our HIPPY Hero!
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Dr. Daniel Boyd
  Every HIPPY Program would be fortunate if they had a superintendent as supportive as Dr. Boyd. Once he became Superintendent of Lowndes County, he set about putting in place a successful plan to achieve excellence. Dr. Boyd has very high standards and expectations for the Lowndes' school family, and he places those same high standards on himself. He wants stakeholders to be involved and make a difference, and because he knows a parent is the first and best teacher, Dr. Boyd does all he can to help HIPPY Lowndes reach as many families as possible. He provides an office and training space for the program and sees to it that computers are in place for the coordinator and parent educators. Dr. Boyd makes sure that the school system applies for the HIPPY Grant that is made available to qualifying LEA's annually. He handles all financial aspects of the grant which is very necessary for payroll purposes. He keeps an eye out for funds for the program, and much, much more. As Education Chair for the Alabama Black Belt Commission, he arranged for Alabama HIPPY's Director to appear before the group to ask for a resolution supporting HIPPY's efforts to secure an important grant. The Black Belt Commission was very supportive, and they worked quickly to meet the funding deadline. Whenever Dr. Boyd can help expand HIPPY in the county and the state, he does so with expert knowledge of the program in Lowndes County and how it helps send an eager, prepared student to kindergarten. He is what one hopes an educator will be! Dr. Boyd, HIPPY Lowndes and HIPPY Alabama appreciate all that you do for us. You are our HIPPY Hero!!
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Dr. Huey-Ling Lin
  Dr. Lin is a faculty member of Alabama State University in the Child Development Department and a valuable member of the Alabama HIPPY Advisory Board. Dr. Lin is a wonderful advocate for HIPPY, and she diligently strives to find grant opportunities that will allow her to collaborate with HIPPY. A recent, very successful project was her inclusion of HIPPY in the USDA Food Safety Grant. Thanks to Dr. Lin, our HIPPY programs around the state received funds and training materials to teach Food Safety to HIPPY Parents. This was very educational and needed information for HIPPY. The collaboration also provided funds for last year's wonderful training conference at the Renaissance. Thank goodness for the many things Dr. Lin does to expand and strengthen HIPPY. Dr. Lin is truly a HIPPY Hero!!
  

  
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Elaine Liveoak
  Elaine Liveoak is an active supporter of the HIPPY Talladega County program. As Head of Youth Services at the B.B. Comer Memorial Library in Sylacauga, Ms. Elaine provides a weekly list of the children’s books that are associated with our HIPPY WOW----Word of the Week so the list can be distributed to our HIPPY families. Ms. Elaine promotes HIPPY by telling parents of young children about all the benefits of our program and she is constantly sharing information concerning programs and activities being held at the local library. As a HIPPY Advisory Board member, Ms. Elaine attends all board meetings and actively volunteers during our Christmas parties. She has a perfect attendance record for our HIPPY Advisory Board meetings. She is known for that big smile and cheerful outlook that helps to brighten our day.
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Georgia Pinkston
  Georgia Pinkston is a dedicated educator, and Elmore County is fortunate that she lives and teaches there. She is a tireless advocate for things in which she believes, and Georgia believes in HIPPY! She was the first HIPPY coordinator in Elmore County, and she established a top notch, superb program. Georgia saw to it that the program was implemented with excellence and became a model of which any state would be proud. Certainly Alabama HIPPY considers the program an exemplary one. Imagine her sadness when the county school system was faced with economic distress and had to face the almost certain prospect of shutting HIPPY Elmore down. Georgia was told she would have to give up HIPPY and return to the classroom. Georgia and the Superintendent, Dr. Langham, knew that closing HIPPY would be a lost opportunity for many children, and they both worked to save the program. Georgia was unstoppable for she absolutely refused to accept defeat even though she knew she was going back to the classroom. Georgia spent her summer talking, emailing and writing to everyone she could think of to get the money Elmore County needed in order to keep the HIPPY program going. She made herself known to the legislators representing Elmore County, and let them know, often, how necessary it was to attain line item funding for her program. Thanks to all her hard work, Elmore County is happy to say we still have the HIPPY Program. Georgia, you are our HIPPY Hero, and we are so thankful for you!
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Hiram Templeton
  Hiram Templeton is involved in many organizations in Baldwin County. HIPPY, however, is the dearest to him. Getting HIPPY started in Baldwin County was an endeavor that required a person with perseverance, dedication to a mission, and the ability to persuade others that this program was worth pursuing. Hiram was involved in the initial start-up of HIPPY Baldwin in 2009, when in a collaborative partnership with Baldwin County United and Escambia County HIPPY, HIPPY Baldwin serves 19 families or 3-year-old youngsters. Money became a scarce commodity in 2010 and while funding was not secured for a second year of HIPPY for the school year 2010-2011, Hiram was not deterred. He never stopped trying to secure funds and pitched HIPPY to everyone. He spoke to legislators, to organizations, to friends and neighbors and to teachers and the Board of Education. He was instrumental in getting people to listen to the need for HIPPY in Baldwin and in October 2011, he was successful in obtaining a grant through the Alabama Department of Education specifically targeting emerging sites. Hiram quickly assembled his Board of Directors and a part-time coordinator, and worked to start the program as quickly as possible. By January 1, 2012, the program was operational with three part-time parent educators visiting families in all areas of Baldwin County. As he was when the first program started in 2009, Hiram is very visible in the program. He continues to tirelessly promote HIPPY throughout the County and always attends the HIPPY meetings, whether it is an orientation meeting, a group meeting, or graduation. He has said more than once, that he loves speaking with the HIPPY families. The HIPPY families also enjoy speaking with Hiram and for those that have not had the pleasure of meeting him, enjoy the fruits of his labor through the HIPPY program. Thanks for being our HIPPY Hero!
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Hunter Lindblom
  Hunter Lindblom helped to form Monroe County HIPPY program over seven years ago. Since then he has been an active member of the Advisory Board, not missing a meeting. As an Advisory member, he serves as Financial Director and spends many hours producing financial reports. He is instrumental in fund raising efforts. Mr. Lindblom is always available to serve in any capacity when asked. He built the HIPPY House for us. He serves as a volunteer on Fun Day and at graduation. He is a tremendous supporter of HIPPY in Monroe County and we could not do it without him. Thanks, Hunter, for all you do for us. You are a HIPPY Hero!
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Mary Tomlinson
  Mary Tomlinson has such enthusiasm for HIPPY that she accompanies Parent Educators on home visits, takes many pictures of families, and attends special events such as graduation. She spreads the good news about HIPPY by writing articles for the Monroe Journal which includes wonderful pictures. Mary is our cheerleader for HIPPY that is why Monroe County HIPPY nominates her for the "HIPPY Hero Award."
  

  
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Representative Jay Love
  Representative Jay Love represents the 74th District with full knowledge of its people's needs and dreams as he was born and raised in Montgomery. He is the proud father of three daughters and one son. Representative Love knows how important education is to his family, so he supports a strong education system for Alabama's children. He graduated from Robert E. Lee and is an outstanding product of public education. Representative Love has been chosen as a HIPPY Hero for many reasons. He makes time to listen and learn about the programs the legislature is asked to fund. He came and addressed a statewide HIPPY Alabama meeting of coordinators and talked about his ideas for Alabama. Then, to everyone's delight, he asked the coordinators to tell him about HIPPY! He listened and asked good questions, thus attaining a good understanding of the value of HIPPY. Even with budget woes assailing the state, he knew HIPPY wasn't a program that should be cut, so it wasn't! Representative Love has stood for children again and again, and that alone makes him a hero. Then, add to the mix the fact that he supports expanding the program to reach as many of our Alabama families as possible when money becomes available, and you can see why that not only is the 74th District lucky to have Jay Love, the entire state of Alabama is lucky! Jay, you have a caring heart, and you are our friend and HIPPY Hero!!
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Ronnie Brogden
  Ronnie Brogden, Conecuh County’s Superintendent of Education is Conecuh County’s HIPPY Hero. Ronnie has been in the Conecuh County school system for over 30 years. During that time he has served as a teacher of biology, chemistry and physics; he has been a coach, an Assistant Principal, a Principal, was appointed as Superintendent two times and has been elected five times! Ronnie is truly an advocate for education and he believes that Conecuh County’s youth must be at the forefront of technology! He has established positions of reading and math coaches and middle school coaches to help teachers and students in instructional areas; he has installed computer labs in all county schools; he has implemented distant learning opportunities for students so that they can take courses not normally offered and he has implemented Pre-K programs at all schools in Conecuh County! Ronnie understands the importance of early education and has been instrumental in getting the HIPPY Conecuh program started and funded. The first year that HIPPY Conecuh started they were funded by At-Risk money that was made available by the Conecuh County Board of Education. Since then the County Board of Education has received funding from the State Board of Education for HIPPY Conecuh. Ronnie has made the Evergreen Elementary School available for monthly HIPPY group meetings and HIPPY graduation and he serves on the HIPPY Conecuh Advisory Council.
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Senator Bryan Taylor
  Senator Bryan Taylor is a HIPPY Hero. Senator Taylor was elected to the Alabama Senate on November 2, 2010 to represent District 30. He and his wife, Jessica, and their young children, Samuel and Fair McDaniel, reside in Prattville. During a time where many crucial issues are facing our state, Senator Taylor has worked tirelessly to improve Alabama as a whole. He has the foresight to invest in our children and their future. He has been an active participant in learning about HIPPY, attending planning meetings to form the new program in Butler County, and taking a leadership role in supporting the growth and sustainability of the program statewide. He worked hard to insure that HIPPY line item funds were increased so that more HIPPY programs could exist for our children. Thanks to our Champion, Senator Taylor, the Butler County HIPPY program will be able to improve the Graduation Rate, increase our job skills and foster stronger families. He is our hero! We wish to thank Senator Taylor for being there from the ground floor forward, making The Butler County HIPPY Program a reality.
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Senator Dick Brewbaker
  When Senator Brewbaker learned that the Elmore County HIPPY program was not receiving any funding from the HIPPY allocation set aside by the legislature, he put forth the effort needed to convince the Education Committee that the allocation should be increased so that additional sites, like Elmore County, could receive funding. He didn’t quit there. In order to make sure that the children of Elmore County could be served, he issued a community service grant to the program. Thanks to the state funds and Senator Brewbaker’s grant, the program was saved. Senator Brewbaker is someone who can and will move mountains when the need arises. We have a senator who cares and will go to bat for his constituents. HIPPY Elmore is so lucky to be represented by someone who values education and cares about making things better for kids. Thank you, Senator Brewbaker for getting things done and saving our HIPPY Program. You are our HIPPY Hero!
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Senator Trip Pittman
  We in Baldwin County think of Senator Trip Pittman as a true friend. He is open, accessible, and a “Man of the People”. He has high standards and isn’t afraid to stand up for what is in the best interest of Alabama families --- even when he is being pressured to do otherwise. Trip has worked tirelessly in support of HIPPY Alabama. He believes in what we are doing and understands education begins in the home. We were fortunate in Baldwin County to receive funds to start our own HIPPY Program this past year. We would not be here today without Trip’s assistance and support. He is truly someone we are proud to call our friend and neighbor. HIPPY Alabama has been heard to say, “He is every HIPPY Program in Alabama’s Hero”!! Thank you Trip; we couldn’t do what we do without you!
  

  
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Hero Teresa Green
  Teresa Green is someone who is quietly changing the world each and every day. She is not on the front page of the Montgomery Advertiser, and not mingling with the Gates and Buffets of Alabama. Instead, she is an everyday person who has made an extraordinary commitment to the MPS HIPPY program. For four years straight; Teresa has included the salary of two HIPPY parent educators in the Safe Schools/Healthy Schools' budget. Through the Safe Schools/Healthy Schools grant, HIPPY age siblings of students placed in the Safe Schools/Healthy Schools program are referred to the HIPPY program with the hopes that it will help impact the families and change the way parents relate to their children. This has proven to be effective. Additionally, Teresa has made yearly home visits to experience first-hand the effects of HIPPY on families. She has also served three years on the MPS HIPPY Advisory Board. The impact of her contributions has made a profound effect on the 50 plus HIPPY families she has sponsored through the Safe School/Healthy Schools grant. Teresa is indeed a true HIPPY Hero.
  

  

  2012 HIPPY Heroes Clarke County Commission: Left to Right: Commissioner Elma Averett, Commissioner Karen Bradford, Commissioner Patricia DuBose, Commissioner Tyrone Moye and Commissioner Rhondel Rhone. Seated is County Administrator, Annie D. "Lois" Morris.
  The Clarke County Commission is the governing body of Clarke County, consisting of five members elected by the citizens of Clarke County. The members are: Honorable Elma Averett-District 1, Honorable Karen Bradford-District 2, Honorable Patricia DuBose-District 3, Honorable Tyrone Moye-District 4, and Honorable Rhondel Rhone-District 5 As the governing body of the county, this commission supports HIPPY Clarke County in many ways. The HIPPY program is funded $10,000 each year. In addition to this funding, the commission provides the program with space in one of the buildings owned by the county. The only expense for the program is the telephone service. Commissioner Rhondel Rhone serves on the HIPPY Advisory Board. The other commissioners also support the program by attending HIPPY activities and events. The Clarke County Commission Office is under the direct supervision of the County Administrator, Annie Deloise "Lois" Morris. Alabama Code Section 11-3-18 provides specific duties of the county administrator which include the responsibility of implementing policies enacted by the County Commission for daily operations of the county government. Ms. “Lois” is always available to answer questions and explain issues related to HIPPY. She is an advocate for the HIPPY program and offers her support as it relates to the disbursement of the funding and any issues with the building space provided by the commission.
  

  
  

  2012 HIPPY Heroes Photo Gallery

• 2012 HIPPY Heroes Book

2008 HIPPY HEROES

2009 HIPPY Heroes