About Us

Our Mission
The Alabama Expanded Learning Alliance (AELA) works to ensure Alabama youth, families, and communities have access to high quality programming during Out-of-School time that promotes positive development and life-long learning.

Our Goals
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Create a sustainable structure of statewide, regional and local partnerships, particularly school-community partnerships, focused on supporting policy development at all levels.
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Support the development and growth of statewide policies that will secure the resources that are needed to sustain new and existing school-based/school-linked afterschool programs
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Support statewide systems and partnerships to ensure programs are of high quality.
Our Staff

Jeana Ross
Director of Policy and
Children’s Affairs

Jessica Millican
AELA Projects Coordinator

Dr. Christine Spear
Director of STEM Education
By Region

Andrea Bridges
Region 1
Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Jackson, Lawrence, Morgan, Marshall, DeKalb, Winston, Cullman, Blount, Walker

Monica Jeffreys
Region 2
Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Sumter, Greene, Hale, Perry, Choctaw, Marengo, Wilcox

Sallie Chastain
Region 3
Jefferson, Shelby, St Clair, Etowah, Cherokee, Calhoun, Talladega, Cleburne, Clay, Randolph, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chambers

Tiarra Stevenson
Region 4
Chilton, Dallas, Autauga, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Montgomery, Bullock, Russell, Butler, Crenshaw, Pike, Barbour

Brittney Reeves
Region 5
Clarke, Washington, Monroe, Conecuh, Escambia, Covington, Coffee, Dale, Henry, Houston, Geneva, Escambia, Baldwin, Mobile

Dr. Tracye Strichik
AELA Director