Sharon Willis has been named federal programs coordinator for Madison City Schools.

Sharon Willis (Photo contributed)

In December, Jeana Ross vacated the position to serve as Commissioner for the Department of Children’s Affairs in Gov. Robert Bentley’s cabinet.

“As at-risk coordinator, I worked closely with Jeana Ross coordinating grants and federal programs that would positively enhance the education of every student,” Willis said. “Our passion is to make sure that every student becomes a prepared graduate.”

Cognizant of that goal, Willis “constantly strives to make sure that every student has what they need to be successful.”

Her hometown is Greenville, S.C. Willis earned a bachelor’s degree at Converse College. She pursued graduate study there and at the University of South Carolina.

She received a master’s degree in special education at Alabama A&M University. Willis completed educational and supervision credentials at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

In her first assignments, Willis taught in South Carolina at Laurens School District and Forest Acres Elementary School. Relocating to Alabama, she taught in special education at Lacey’s Spring and Leon Sheffield elementary schools and Brookhaven Middle School.

With Madison City Schools, Willis was a classroom teacher, assistant principal and then principal at Discovery Middle School. Since 2011, Willis has worked as the district’s at-risk coordinator.

As federal programs coordinator, Willis will coordinate instructional programs, grants and state initiatives. The coordinator prepares, monitors, reports and evaluates budgets, program applications and inventories in accordance with state and local regulations.

Willis will continue to research, write and submit grant proposals. “I will be an integral part of the instructional department to assist with effective professional development for teachers and administrators,” she said.

With system administrators and school leaders, Willis will help to integrate federal programs with school improvement initiatives; assessment/accountability activities; summer schools; extended day, pre-school programs and parent involvement programs; and personnel recruitment and retention.

Her husband Tony is executive associate pastor at Calvary Assembly in Decatur. Their son Joshua graduated from Middle Tennessee State University and works for Panalpina.