Who We Are

Nikki Mann serves as the Executive Director for the Florence Education Foundation. Nikki is a graduate of the University of North Alabama with a degree in Social Work. Nikki has been involved in many community organizations including UNA Alumni Board, a sustaining member of the Junior League of the Shoals, Scottsboro Education Foundation Board of Directors, and the Muscle Shoals Education Foundation Board of Directors. Nikki is married to Andy Mann. They have three daughters, Kate, a graduate of Florence City Schools, Ella, and Anna Claire who are currently students in the Florence City School system. Nikki believes Florence City Schools to be the best school system in the state of Alabama and wants everyone in our community to be a part of this legacy we are building for our children.

Julie Cochran serves as President of the Florence Education Foundation Board of Directors. She was born in Florence and graduated from Coffee High School in 1992. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Armstrong Atlantic State in Savanah, GA. She is employed at United Cerebral Palsy and her family attends Church of the Highlands. She and her husband Parke have three children (Charlie, Parkhurst, and Rosemary) and they all enjoy being active in their church and community.

Jeffrey Jones serves as Vice President of the Florence Education Foundation Board of Directors. He is a graduate of Coffee High School and the University of North Alabama. Jeffrey is Vice President/Branch Manager of Progress Bank and is involved in many community organizations. Jeffrey is married to Caroline Jones. They have one daughter, Stella, who is the light of his life.

Paula Wilkes serves as Secretary of the Florence Education Foundation Board of Directors. She is a graduate of Bradshaw High School and Auburn University. Paula is married to Dr. Jason Wilkes. They have two daughters, Claire a graduate of Florence High School and Emily, who attends Florence High School. She attends Faith Church and has served on various boards and service organizations in our community.

Kaisha Lyles serves as Treasurer of the Florence Education Foundation Board of Directors. Kaisha is a lifelong resident of Florence, AL. She graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in Commerce and Business Administration. Kaisha has worked in payroll for over 10 years and is currently Payroll Manager for TNT Fireworks, Inc. where she has been employed since 2015. Kaisha is married to Daniel Lyles. They have three children, Samuel, Mattie, and Emma who are very involved in arts and athletics. Kaisha and her family attend Christ Chapel. She is proud to be part of the Florence Falcon Community.

Bobby Champagne is currently the agency owner of The Bobby Champagne Allstate Agency in Florence, Alabama. Champagne has over 30 years of experience in college athletics with 15 years as the head men’s basketball coach at the University of North Alabama. Champagne and his entire family have been active members of the community volunteering with the American Cancer Society and several other community organizations. He has four children, Charlie and Will graduates of Florence City Schools and Joe and Annie who are students in the Florence City School system.

Tammie is a lifelong resident of Florence, Alabama. She graduated from the Bradshaw High School and the University of North Alabama in 2003 with a BS in Public Communications and Marketing. Tammie is a Residential Real Estate Appraiser and owns Northwest Alabama Appraisal, LLC. She has been married to Will Haddock for 14 years. They share a beautiful daughter, Raynie.

Beth Howard is a native of Jackson, Tennessee, and moved to the Shoals area in 1996. She is married to Lance Howard and they have two children, Anna Kate a graduate of Florence City Schools and Julia a student in the Florence City School System. She has served her community through the Junior League of the Shoals and is co-founder of Room in the Inn Shoals. Beth has enjoyed serving the school system through her involvement in PTO for many years and is excited to now serve on the board of the Florence Education Foundation.

Sharlene Key is a graduate of Coffee High School and Georgia State University with a BA in Marketing and Management. She is married to Pete Key. They have two daughters, Erin and Joi, who are both graduates of the Florence City School system. Sharlene and Pete host “Lunch with the Keys” for Florence City School system. The Keys bring in motivational speakers for students to encourage and support them with the many obstacles and issues faced by teens today. The Keys are committed to growing leaders in the Florence City Schools system!

Dr. Tera Kirkman is the Associate Dean of Nursing and Professor of Nursing in the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of North Alabama. Dr. Kirkman is completing her 13th year at UNA. Before her employment at the University of North Alabama, she worked as a nurse, nurse manager, and hospital supervisor at Eliza Coffee Memorial hospital. Dr. Kirkman also worked as a nurse leader and case manager at J.W. Sommer Rehab at Shoals Hospital. She completed her bachelors of science in nursing degree at the University North Alabama. In 2013, she completed her masters of science in nursing administration at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, and later completed her doctorate in instructional leadership with a focus in nursing education at the University of Alabama in 2011. Dr. Kirkman authored publications entitled High fidelity simulation effectiveness in nursing students’ transfer of learning, Strategies for implementing a multiple patient stimulation, and Strategies for promoting student retention for diverse populations. In 2012-2016, she served as Co-Writer and Program Director of the $2.1 million HRSA grant entitled Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students (SDS). She is currently the Co-Writer and Co-Director of the $2.4 million SDS HRSA grant. Dr. Kirkman is the proud wife of Dr. Eric Kirkman and mother to Jalen and Justin.

Kevin is a lifelong resident of Florence. He has been a local business owner in the Shoals area since 2007. He owned Bluewater Hospice from 2007-2010. In 2010 he started Med Rid, a medical disposal company that serves Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Kevin is a graduate of Mars Hill Bible School and the University of North Alabama. He is married to Samantha Mitchell. They have three daughters Reece, Blake and Grier.

Suzanne Moore is the Community Development/Marketing Coordinator at Community Action Northwest Alabama. She has an MBA and Masters in Education from the University of North Alabama. Suzanne is originally from Mississippi but has lived in the Shoals for most of her adult life. Suzanne has been an adjunct instructor with NW-SCC for the past 10 years and previously served on the Federal Programs Advisory Council for Florence City Schools. She has two daughters, Maggie a 2015 graduate of Florence City School and Ellie who is currently a student at Florence High School. She attends Church of the Highlands. Suzanne enjoys serving in her church, school system, and community.

Jenny Ozbirn is a recent retiree from Florence City Schools. Jenny is certified in Language Arts 6-12 and German 7-12. She began her career at Lee and Butler High Schools in Huntsville in 1994, and continued her path in 1996 at Coffee High School, teaching 12th grade English and German and continued until moving into her instructional coaching position five years ago. Lover of all things Google, she has served as EdCamp Florence co-founder for three years. She grew up as an army brat, moving every year until she landed at the University of North Alabama in 1988 where she promptly put down some Alabama roots. She has been married to Bob 22 years and has three teenage daughters (Leelee, Suzy, and Gracie) and three dogs. The dogs are easy.

Jeanne Leavitt Reid was born and raised in Florence, Alabama. She graduated from Bradshaw High School in 1983. After high school, she attended Auburn University graduating with a degree in Business Management. Upon leaving Auburn, she moved to New York City, Dallas, and Boston while working for Delta Airlines. She returned to Florence with her husband, Billy Reid, in 2001 to be closer to family. She has three children, Mattie and Abba who are graduates of Florence City Schools, and Walton who is a student at Florence High School.

Ashley Smith is a graduate of the University of North Alabama and has been a resident of Florence for 20 + years. She has been married to her husband Micah, for 18 years and they have two teen daughters, Abby and Mollie. Ashley is the Executive Director of the Homeless Care Council of Northwest Alabama.

Emily Gresham Taylor is a lifelong resident of Florence, Alabama. A graduate of Bradshaw High School, Emily received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Alabama. She is married to Kin Taylor, and they have four children, Collin and Evan graduates of Florence City Schools, and Grant and Ella who are students there now. After working several years at ECM Hospital, she decided to stay home and care for their children. Emily enjoys watching her children play sports, traveling, and spending time with friends.

Julie Ferguson Trapp was born and raised in Memphis, TN. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Rhodes College. In Memphis, she taught high school, ran a tutoring program, and worked as a youth director. Eventually she decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Nursing from Vanderbilt University. She received her MSN in 2002 and was licensed as a Family Nurse Practitioner for the state of Tennessee while she and her husband Will started their family. She is now a full-time mother to three children and serves as the Women’s Ministry Director for Redeemer Church in Florence, Alabama. She currently serves as a board member for the Florence Lauderdale Public Library and previously for Success by 6 with United Way.

Heather White, originally from Kentucky, is now proud to call Florence home. Heather is married to Joseph White. They have two boys, Parker and Logan, who are in Florence City School system. She’s been a board member of the Florence Education Foundation Board of Directors for two years. Heather joined the board in hopes to help make a difference in Florence City Schools. Go Falcons!

David previously served a three year term on the Education Foundation Board. He is Deputy General Counsel for Whitesell Corporation in Muscle Shoals. David and his wife Leslie have two Florence High School graduates who are in college, with their youngest attending Florence High School. He is a native of the Florence, attending Florence City Schools in grades 1 - 12, graduating from Coffee High School in 1986. David received his B.A. from Rhodes College and his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law.