From Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences
Top Photo courtesy of ASHS, with cutline: L to R: Susanna Speegle, admissions director; Laura Bailey, dean of curriculum and instruction; Dr. Antonio Cooper, Jr., dean of students; Dr. James Martin, school president. (Credit: ASHS)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Just one month into his tenure, Dr. James Martin, president of the Alabama School for Healthcare Sciences (ASHS), has successfully recruited three accomplished educational leaders to contribute their distinct expertise to the school’s development. The statewide school board unanimously approved his selections, followed by enthusiastic acclamation.
“With these three leaders, ASHS is moving forward with a ‘Dream Team’ that will help the school, and its students reach their potential — and beyond,” commented Martin during his presentation to the ASHS board, which convened at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine in Birmingham on Wednesday. The newly approved administrators are:
- Laura Bailey, (a resident of Wetumpka) appointed Dean of Curriculum and Instruction. She previously served for five years as an education administrator for Career & Technical Education (CTE) Workforce Development at the Alabama State Department of Education and also directed Alabama Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).
- Dr. Antonio Cooper, Jr., named Dean of Students. Since 2019, he has been the director of curriculum and instruction for the Vestavia Hills City School System and holds a position as an adjunct professor of education at Samford University. With extensive administrative experience in both rural and urban settings across Alabama and Mississippi, his focus areas include CTE, establishing dual enrollment programs, and fostering partnerships between schools and business/industry.
- Susanna Speegle, joining as Admissions Director. An expert in enrollment and data management, she currently serves as the assistant director of enrollment management at Marion Military Institute, located northeast of Demopolis. Her background includes both off-campus and on-campus recruitment efforts at MMI, including coordination and event management with schools, institutions, and families.
Martin conveyed to the board, “Laura, Antonio and Susanna’s experience and commitment to the concept and mission will inspire everyone they meet and truly change lives.”
The trustees warmly embraced the appointments. All three administrators are set to begin their roles on July 1. Board president Mike Warren remarked on the significant undertaking, stating, “We are asking these important people to join us as we take a major leap of faith.” He acknowledged the complexity and demanding nature of launching this innovative concept, adding, “We are initiating a complex new idea with a wide scope and complicated demands and are all entering this exciting venture with high expectations. We are asking these talented experts to commit to creating a new community with the added responsibilities associated with ASHS being a residential campus. As such, these persons will have broader responsibilities than they have had in the past in traditional school settings.”
Warren concluded, “We applaud these exceptional choices and Dr. Martin’s efforts to meet all of ASHS’s needs.”
Laura Bailey, a Wetumpka resident, brings 17 years of experience as an administrator and secondary teacher. In her previous state role, she supervised staff across CTE fields including Health Science, Education & Training, Hospitality & Tourism, and Human Services, overseeing approximately 200 Health Science and 350 Family & Consumer Science Programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Montevallo and a Master of Education Leadership from Auburn University. She is currently pursuing a J.D. at Birmingham School of Law, expected December 2026.
Bailey shared, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help shape a school that will directly impact Alabama’s healthcare future. My experience as a teacher, district administrator and state leader has prepared me to design a curriculum that supports students in discovering their purpose and gaining the skills they need to thrive. I’m excited to work alongside students, educators and industry partners to empower the next generation of healthcare professionals.”
Dr. Cooper has been recognized for his work in developing student character education and strategies for engaging students and stakeholders throughout his nearly two decades as an educator and administrator. He earned both his Bachelor of Science in elementary education and a Master of Science in K-12 guidance education from Alcorn State University, followed by an educational specialist degree and a doctorate in education from Walden University in Minneapolis.
A Birmingham native residing in Tuscaloosa, Cooper commented, “I’m honored to serve as the inaugural Dean of Students at ASHS and excited about the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the healthcare landscape of our state. My vision is to cultivate a campus environment where students are inspired to develop their character, confidence and calling in healthcare, while preparing to make an immediate impact in their communities. By bridging academic excellence with personal transformation, we’ll create a close-knit campus family rooted in purpose, resilience, and service. From the moment they walk through our doors to the launch of their careers, I want this to be an experience they’ll carry with pride for a lifetime.”
Susanna Speegle, who calls Demopolis home, holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications with a public relations concentration from Jacksonville State University and earned a master’s degree in management from Faulkner University last year.
Speegle stated, “I’m thrilled to be part of ASHS and to contribute to shaping its future. This opportunity allows me to not only give back to my hometown community but to help students make a difference in their own. I can’t wait to be a small part of these students’ big future.”
ASHS is rapidly progressing toward enrolling its first freshman class of up to 100 students in the fall of 2026 at a temporary campus located on the grounds of the University of West Alabama in Livingston. Final decisions are currently being made regarding healthcare career pathways and curricula necessary for recruiting faculty, staff, and students. Groundbreaking for the $62 million 10-acre residential campus adjacent to Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027, is anticipated this fall.
For additional details, please visit the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences Foundation website at https://ashsfoundation.org/.
