Yellowhammer News on Wednesday learned that Dr. Brenda Pike, the executive director of the Alabama Education Association (AEA), is leaving the organization.

Pike has landed a new job in the same role for the Virginia Education Association after a national search. She will begin working at the VEA on October 29.

Per Ashley McLain, a public relations director for AEA, Pike has family in the Virginia area and that motivated the move. McLain emphasized that the AEA wishes Pike nothing but the best and is happy for her being able to spend more time with her family.

A search process will be conducted for AEA’s new executive director. Bill Thompson will serve as interim executive director.

McLain noted in an email, “Bill has many years of experience with education affiliates and was actually already serving as the AEA interim business manager. With Mr. Thompson’s knowledge of the operations of the association and the recent hire of a permanent business manager, it was a seamless transition for Mr. Thompson to interim executive director.”

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn