State Superintendent of Education Joseph B. Morton (ex officio) 

Named CEO of the State Department of Education in July 2004, Dr. Morton previously served for eight years as Deputy State Superintendent of Education.  Prior to working for the State Department of Education, Dr. Morton was Superintendent of Education of Sylacauga City Schools and of Sumter County Schools.  Named by The Executive Educator magazine as one of the top 100 school executives in North America, Dr. Morton founded the Sylacauga City Schools Foundation.  He was a member of the inaugural classes of Leadership Sylacauga and Leadership Alabama.  Dr. Morton earned a B.S. degree from Auburn University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from The University of Alabama.