Session Rewind

As we unpack the 2026 Alabama Legislative Session, one theme keeps surfacing: workforce gaps are driving education policy conversations.

Lawmakers are looking for ways to grow the talent pipeline faster, connect students to credentials with clear value and give local schools the tools to meet regional employer demand. That includes everything from expanding and modernizing career pathways, to strengthening partnerships with business and industry, to making it easier to recruit and certify the instructors who can deliver high-quality training.

That’s why this year, our annual Session Rewind will focus on career and technical education (CTE) and workforce development, featuring a panel moderated by Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News publisher and Capitol Journal host. Todd will facilitate a conversation to connect the dots between legislation and real-world impact. Panelists include:

• Chairman Danny Garrett, Alabama House of Representatives, District 44; House Ways and Means Education Committee
• Commissioner Merceria Ludgood, Mobile County Commission, District 1
• Dodd Hawthorne, Assistant State Superintendent for CTE/Workforce Development, Alabama State Department of Education

Following the discussion, attendees are invited to stay for a casual happy hour and networking time. Thank you to Alabama Beer Company for providing free beer for guests 21+.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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