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Dr. Layne H. Dillard

Award-Winning Educational Leader and Innovator

19 Years of Experience in Administration



Ever wondered what you could achieve if you could hire and grow leaders that embraced innovation and developed a learning culture based on doing what is best for the child? 
I am Layne Dillard, an innovative leader that has spent 27 years perfecting the art of reaching, teaching, and leading schools and district programs built around the most important people in a school district -- the students.

What Makes Layne Different?

My Story

Growing up in my parents’ Hardware Store in Falkville, AL I learned the importance of hard work and honesty and that it is our responsibility to take care of others. It was alongside my daddy, beside those railroad tracks, that I discovered time is the best investment I can ever make in the lives of other people – and through listening to their stories and watching the sacrifices that they made – I learned that nothing matters more to anyone than their child.
 
I took these lessons and I applied them to everything that I have accomplished in my career.
 
From my start twenty-seven years ago at Danville Middle School as an instructional aide, I worked my way to a teacher and then, at 29 years old, became the youngest female principal ever hired in my school district. I know I was young, but there was never a doubt that leading schools was what I was called to do with my life.
 
Over the past 18 years of leading schools and district programs, I have had the opportunity to lead from pre-k all the way to our Seniors. I have been the principal in elementary schools, a middle school, a Private Christian School, the Alternative School, Virtual School, and I also spent time as a district level administrator where I led all of our high schools, directed Safety for the district,  led our Counseling programs, and I also partnered with legislators to secure grants that brought the first 10 pre-k classes into our schools. 


I left the district level to be the principal at Sparkman, where we transformed a failing school into the most improved school in Alabama. We went from a 51 on the state report card to an 81, are one of only 7 schools in the State (2023) with 100% of 3rd-Grade students reading at grade level, were awarded the prestigious CLAS Banner School award, and we were just named a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence. I now have the honor of working at the Alabama State Department of Education as an Education Administrator in the Office of School Improvement where I get the privilege of taking what I do best and helping other struggling schools become highly effective. 

I want the exact same accomplishments for the schools in your district. There is absolutely no goal, no achievement, no dream that is too large to reach when you have the right people in the right places and keep the focus where it has to be – on doing what is right for every child in your building. 

Honors and Recognitions

  • Awarded a CLAS Banner School, Sparkman School, GROW and THRIVE – 2021 
  • Invited to speak at a general session at Alabama State Superintendents Association’s Fall Conference on GROW and THRIVE programs, 2021
  • Invited by ALSDE to present at the State’s MEGA Conference on Creating a Culture of Learning, 2021
  • Selected by CLAS to serve as a Mentor for New Principals 2021-22
  • Recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, Beacon School, Sparkman School – 2021
  • Selected by Dr. Eric Mackey to serve on ALSDE Policy Committee for the  development of a State Policy regarding unsafe schools, January 2020. 
  • Awarded the First Heart-Safe School Award in Morgan County Schools, Sparkman School, 2018
  • Appointed by the Morgan County Commission to serve as the Morgan County  representative on the NCAMRA Board of Directors, currently in year four of a six year term.
  • Selected in 2020 and 2022 by CLAS Alabama to serve on the selection board for CLAS Banner  Schools District 8 
  • Selected in 2011 and 2012 by Leadership Huntsville Focus Class as a guest  speaker on the panel of “Public Engagement on Education” which focuses on the  challenges and victories that educators face as they train our community’s future  workforce and leaders.
  • Invited through a competitive selection process to be a candidate in Huntsville’s  Connect Program, a professional leadership program for outstanding leaders  under 40. 
  • Recipient of the Morgan County Mental Health Association Community Service  Award for work with at-risk students 2008 
  • Invited to speak at CHANGES State Department Conference by being recognized  as having one of Alabama’s most successful at-risk programs
  • Invited to present by Governor Bob Riley at his Dropout Prevention Summit by  demonstrating outstanding results in MOMS program 2010
  • Awarded Morgan County Secondary Teacher of the Year 2005
  • Awarded Veterans of Foreign Wars Secondary Teacher of the Year 2005
  • Recognized by the state as a Model Program by continually showing academic  and social success with at-risk students
  • Recognized as a CLAS Banner School for the state by maintaining innovative  programs within the school, MCLC 2004

EDUCATION


Lipscomb University Nashville, TN

Doctor of Education, Learning Organizations and Strategic Change 2018-2020


University Of North Alabama Florence, AL

Masters of Arts, Educational Administration 2000 - 2002

Bachelor of Science, Secondary Education -- Social Science/Language Arts 1993 - 1997

CERTIFICATIONS


School Leadership and Management, Harvard University 2022-Present

Middle School Endorsement 4th - 8th, ELA/Social Science, UNA 1998-1999





“Exemplary leaders know that if they want to gain commitment and achieve the highest standards, they must be models of the behavior they expect of others.”

-- Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge

Videos And Award-Winning Programs

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Award-Winning Intervention

GROW and THRIVE are the intervention programs we developed and how I led a school from an "F" to a 
CLAS Banner award-winning school in 4 years. 

Layne's Experience

Innovation is my passion and strength. I have spent 25 years in education problem solving and creating programs that make a dynamic impact on student success. 

Sparkman School

Principal, Sparkman School/Morgan County Virtual Academy/Alternative School

2015 - Present

  • Led school to be the most improved school in Alabama on State Report card from 2017-2023 with a 30 point gain - - 51 to an 81.
  • Awarded CLAS Banner School in 2021 for the success of GROW and THRIVE programs
  • Named a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence 2022 with emphasis in mission/vision/core values, student-centered culture/climate, community connections
  • Created Ready, Set…Work! a simulated workforce program to teach K-6 students soft skills, financial literacy, and an employability mindset
  • Hosted over 55 schools and districts from across the State to learn about intervention and creating a student-centered learning culture
  • Secured over $150,000 in donations from stakeholders over two years to make school  improvements 


Principal, Morgan County Learning Center -- Alternative School/Credit Recovery 2005-2009 and 2016 - Present


  • Recognized by the state as a Model Program by continually showing academic and social success  with at-risk students 
  • Reduced dropout rate for maternity students from 38% to 0% by creating and managing MOMS  Program 
  • Maintained a recidivism rate of only 3% with disciplinary students in alternative program by  implementing meaningful academic and counseling programs with an emphasis on decision-making skills
  • Led all Virtual Academy students in district grades K-12 

Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction, District Evaluations, Public/Community Relations 2012-2016

  • Worked Collaboratively with three school districts to write consortium grants to begin Pre-K in our district
  • Led and trained all new staff hired in the school district as well as recruitment  
  • Oversaw all evaluations in the school district and planned meaningful PD along with plans for professional growth
  • Worked directly with all news channels and print media to promote weekly stories about our school district and craft our own narrative. Wrote all press releases and official statements for events including crisis and promotional messaging. 

Whitesburg Christian Academy – Huntsville, Alabama
2010 - 2013

  • Constructed Leadership Programs beginning in Kindergarten that provide support for our Student  Leadership Institute in the Upper School 
  • Selected in 2011 and 2012 by Leadership Huntsville Focus Class as a guest speaker on the panel  of “Public Engagement on Education” which focuses on the challenges and victories that educators  face as they train our community’s future workforce and leaders  
  • Chosen through a competitive selection process to be a candidate in Huntsville’s Connect  Program which is professional leadership program for outstanding leaders under 40
  • Served as a catalyst to help promote the Capital Campaign to build a new school which raised over  $3 million dollars

 

Falkville Elementary School, Principal -- July 2009 – July 2010

  • Created 40 enrichment Clubs to connect the community to the school and offer learning opportunities not traditionally offered in K-5 settings. 
  • Made a commitment to the Fine Arts that began the first Drama program within Falkville Elementary School.

 

Morgan County Central Office -- Director of Safety/Title IV/ Director of Counseling/
District Grant Writer -- July 2006 - July 2009

 

  • Maintained Safety Plans for all 17 Schools in the district
  • Led At-Risk Programs for school district
  • Invited to Speak at Governor Bob Riley’s Dropout Prevention Summit, Montgomery 2008
  • Supervised all student drug-testing sessions and coordinated drug-dog searches with law enforcement.
  • Secured over 150,000 in grants for Dropout Prevention programs in the district bringing in our first FACT worker, a graduation coach, and the MOMS program.
  • Spoke at the state At-Risk conference on Effective Alternative Programs and Dealing with Teen Suicide  

 


MCLC Alternative School Teacher -- August 2002 – February 2005

 

  • Worked on the team that created the structure for the new alternative school
  • First teacher hired to work in the Alternative School – English, Reading, and History
  • Awarded Morgan County Secondary Teacher of the Year 2005
  • Awarded Veterans of Foreign Wars Secondary Teacher of the Year 2005
  • Recognized by the state as a Model Program by continually showing academic  and social success with at-risk students

Danville Middle School, Teacher -- 6th Grade Reading and English / 6th-8th Drama and Chorus -- August 1998 to July 2002

  • Started first Drama programs at Danville Middle with full productions of The Wizard of Oz, and an annual 6th grade performance of Romeo and Juliet
  • Started the first Chorus class at Danville Middle School with 6th - 8th grade students. The choral performances emphasized patriotic music and a tribute to America

Danville Middle School, Instructional Aide --ISS --August 1997 - July 1998

  • Began my career in Morgan County Schools as an Instructional Aide serving students in In-School Suspension, which began my passion for working with at-risk students


Dr. Layne H. Dillard

Making a difference is my purpose -- my driving force. It's the reason I get up every day and do what I do. Most importantly, it keeps me pushing to achieve bigger and better things with each new challenge.


134 Quailwood Ln., Decatur, AL 35603 • [email protected] • (256) 303-8021