HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Local Air Force veteran and educator Cathi Bradford is running for Alabama State Board of Education District 6.
Bradford lives in Hanceville with her husband. She said she active in the community and has clear goals for the District.
Bradford shared that she met her husband at Westover Air Reserve Base during Desert Storm and they married one year later
“I have been married to my husband, Mike Bradford, for nearly 33 years,” she said. “We have two daughters that are both married, each with a 3 year old, and the newest addition to our family was another granddaughter born on April 29. We are blessed, for sure. For the first 14 years of our marriage we were stationed at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida (where both of my daughters were born). My husband and I started our Air Force careers as avionics technicians, but over the nearly 26 years that I served, I served in several different capacities including Avionics Technician, where I worked on radios and radar systems for a range of aircraft systems.”
Bradford said she also served in Job Control, scheduling maintenance on aircraft, and in Maintenance Data Analysis, tracking break rates and trends to optimize aircraft maintenance strategies.
“I retired as an Air Force Historian (maintaining a top secret security clearance), compiling data, interviewing personnel and analyzing unit performance to enhance organizational knowledge,” she said. “In 2007, we moved back to my husband’s hometown of Hanceville, Alabama.”
With 24 years of experience in the classroom, Bradford said, she is a passionate and dedicated educator specializing in history, English and reading for sixth-grade students.
“I hold a master’s degree in Teaching History, which complements my commitment to creating engaging, insightful lessons that cultivate curiosity and critical thinking,” Bradford said. “ In addition to my teaching role, I’ve also coached middle school girls’ volleyball for four years.”
Outside of her career in education and military service, Bradford said, she is deeply committed to her community.
“I serve as chairman of the Hanceville Library Board, secretary of the Hanceville Housing Authority Board and is treasurer of the Cullman County Republican Committee,” Bradford said. “As the president of the Cullman County Republican Women, I often play a pivotal role in promoting civic engagement and empowering women in leadership positions. Most recently, I was appointed as Alabama Federation of Republican Women, District Director 4 East.”
She continued, “I am running for State Board of Education, District 6 which includes the following counties: Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Cullman, Etowah, Marshall, St. Clair and Talladega,” Bradford said. “As one who has taught for the past 26 years, I certainly have seen a lot of changes in our classrooms. And, I am prepared to bring boots-on-the-ground, informed educator experience to Alabama’s public education system. Every decision we make must be student-centered. My platform is simple: back to basics, back to a focus on classroom instruction and back to instilling patriotism in all of Alabama’s students.”
Bradford said one of the most important jobs of the state school board is ensuring the textbooks used in classrooms reflect Alabamian’s conservative values – not any ideologies.
“This is not history that leaves out important facts, and certainly they should not contain any sexual innuendos,” Bradford said. “And yet, some elementary reading textbooks currently in our classrooms across our state contain stories that teachers regularly skip due to the content. Most recently, our eight-member state board voted four in favor and four opposed to the social studies textbooks selected by the state textbook committee. Governor Ivey broke the tie, and so these books that four members courageously opposed will also be in Alabama’s classrooms.
“We need to go back to Instilling patriotism in all of Alabama’s students,” Bradford said. “That one thread that unites such a diverse nation is love of country, and sadly, we’re missing that opportunity in our classrooms. As a retired veteran, I certainly have come to understand that it is imperative that our young people learn respect, responsibility and to love this great nation in which we live.”
She said her vision for Alabama’s public education system is rooted in a simple belief: every child deserves the opportunity to succeed through hard work, strong values and a quality education that prepares them for real life.
“I believe it’s time to move Alabama education back to the future — back to the proven fundamentals that built strong schools, strong families and strong communities, while preparing students for the opportunities of tomorrow,” Bradford said. “That starts with getting back to basics. Our schools should focus on reading, writing, math, science, history and critical thinking — not political or social agendas that distract from learning. Students must leave our classrooms with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete, succeed and lead.”
Bradford said she envisions schools where teachers are respected, supported and empowered to teach.
“Great teachers change lives, and we must restore discipline, order and classroom environments where learning can thrive,” Bradford said. “I also believe Alabama’s education system should reflect the values and strengths of our state. Manufacturing and agriculture are Alabama’s leading industries, and our schools should provide clear pathways for students to succeed in those careers, whether through college, technical training, apprenticeships or workforce development. When students experience the connection between hard work and success, they gain confidence and motivation that lasts a lifetime. Our children should graduate not only career-ready, but life-ready — equipped with character, responsibility, patriotism and pride in their communities and country.”
As a veteran, educator and conservative leader, Bradford said, she believes parents must remain the primary voice in their children’s education.
“Transparency, accountability and local control are essential to rebuilding trust in our schools,” Bradford said. “My vision is for Alabama to become a national leader in education by restoring excellence, rewarding achievement, protecting parental rights and creating schools that prepare students for productive, meaningful futures. Together, we can build an education system that honors our values, strengthens our workforce and gives every Alabama child the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Now, I am running for the Alabama State Board of Education, District 6, to bring common-sense leadership, parental involvement and a renewed focus on academic excellence to our schools. I am ready to help Alabama get back to basics, back to a focus on classroom instruction, and back to patriotic ideas.”
For more information visit www.cathibradfordforstateboard.com.
Key dates
- Primary Election: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
- Primary Runoff Election: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
- General Election: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
