CULLMAN, Ala. – Cheryl Gable Harrison recently announced she is seeking re-election to Place 3 on the Cullman City Board of Education.
Below is Harrison’s announcement, unedited and in full.
Cheryl Gable Harrison announces her re-election bid for Cullman City School Board, Place 3.
Harrison, a lifelong resident of Cullman, has served on the Cullman City School Board for the past five years, including a two-year term as Board President. Following her election in August 2020, the board quickly set a clear vision for Cullman City Schools. Many of their visionary projects have already come to fruition, yet Harrison emphasizes that much more remains to be accomplished.
Reflecting on her candidacy, Harrison stated, “When I first ran five years ago, I was eager to learn and leverage my professional experience to advocate for education. Over the course of my first term, I gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to uphold the high academic standards Cullman City Schools has for their students. Now, as I seek re-election, I want to highlight the tangible successes of our board, which demonstrate our commitment to student success and the continued growth of our school system.”
During her tenure on the school board, a strategic plan successfully reduced chronic absenteeism from 14.51% to 8.33% over six years. The board prioritized school safety by implementing door access entry systems across all campuses, significantly strengthening student safety. These safety measures were recognized at the state level when Cullman City Primary School was honored with the Alabama Attorney General’s Safe Schools Award.
Building on these accomplishments, Harrison emphasized, “Student safety, alongside curriculum investment, remains a top priority,” The board has expanded and prioritized both STEM and Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculums across all campuses. A key achievement has been increasing access to Wallace State Dual Enrollment for Cullman High School students, with dual enrollment numbers rising from 282 in 2024 to an expected 401 in 2025. Furthermore, the school system earned an “A” rating on the state report card for two consecutive years, with three schools receiving the highest ratings in the district’s history.
In her previous election bid, Harrison highlighted aging infrastructure as one of the school system’s most pressing challenges. When elected in 2020, she and the board immediately addressed the issue. During their tenure, they completed an addition to Cullman City Primary School and are on track to complete the Cullman Middle School project this year. Additionally, construction is underway on the Cullman Intermediate School, which will consolidate all third through fifth-grade students, as well as a new Career and Technical Education addition at Cullman High School. The board also upgraded the athletic facilities by installing turf on the softball field, soccer field, and baseball practice diamonds.
Harrison’s commitment to the community is deeply personal. Her son, Cole, will graduate from Cullman High School in May, following in the footsteps of her daughter, Sophie, who graduated in 2020. Harrison and her husband, Ben, are devoted to Cullman and remain steadfast advocates for the city. “The future of Cullman is bright, and it starts in our schools,” Harrison stated.
The municipal election will take place Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.
