Dr. Layne Dillard

District 5 Representative

Dr. Layne Dillard is an award-winning educational leader with 19 years of administrative experience and a 27-year career dedicated to student-centered innovation. Beginning as an instructional aide at Danville Middle School, she became the youngest female principal in her district at age 29. Dr. Dillard has led various educational institutions, including elementary, middle, private Christian, alternative, and virtual schools. Notably, as principal of Sparkman School, she transformed it from a failing institution to one of Alabama's most improved, raising its state report card score from 51 to 81. Under her leadership, Sparkman achieved 100% third-grade reading proficiency, earned the CLAS Banner School award, and was designated a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence. Currently, she serves as an Education Administrator in the Alabama State Department of Education's Office of School Improvement, where she assists other struggling schools in becoming highly effective.