Employees of the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

have officially selected Rebecca “Becky” Cornelius today, as the January-March 2022

Barbara Fannin Memorial Employee of the Quarter.

The Barbara Fannin Memorial Employee of the Quarter Award recognizes ALSDE staff

members who demonstrate outstanding work ethic, a true commitment to assisting their

colleagues, and dedication to helping our state’s local communities and school systems.

Becky Cornelius is a highly respected Education Specialist at

the ALSDE. She serves as the State Advisor and administrator

for Alabama’s HOSA program, which prepares high school

and college students for great careers in the medical field.

Candidates for this department award are nominated by their

colleagues. Honorees are selected by the ALSDE Employee

Recognition Board, whose members are elected by department

staff. This special quarterly award is named in honor of the late

Barbara Fannin, who was an employee of the Alabama

Department of Education and a recipient of the award.

Becky Cornelius has had a wonderful and rewarding career.

She was a full-time Registered Nurse for many years. She was

inspired to teach young people and became a full-time classroom teacher for 14 years at

Luverne High School. Cornelius also taught at the Crenshaw County Schools Health Science

Program located in the Crenshaw Community Hospital. She joined the ALSDE team in 2019.

“Mrs. Rebecca Cornelius handles every aspect of her job here at the Alabama State

Department of Education with the utmost integrity,” said Assistant State Superintendent, Dr.

Jimmy Hull. “She is an ideal team player that cares deeply about her work, her team members,

the Health Science teachers in Alabama, and our wonderful K-12 students. She instills

confidence in our teachers and promotes excellence in our department and initiatives.”

Cornelius grew up in Petree, Alabama. She holds both a bachelor and master’s degree in

Nursing from Troy University.

She enjoys spending time with her family, husband Todd, and their wonderful seven-year-old

son Drew. She is a member of South Luverne Baptist Church, where she sings in the choir. Her

high school anatomy teacher, Mrs. Martha Ann Allison truly had a great influence on her life.

Cornelius originally planned to pursue a career in optometry. The early passing of her mother

led her to seriously consider a career in nursing and health education. She won the National

Goodheart Wilcox Outstanding HOSA Advisor Award in 2016.