Marcie brings more than 20 years of experience in special education, family advocacy, leadership, and community engagement to her role on the Board of Directors of Advocacy Family Network, Inc.

As a hard-of-hearing mother of 21-year-old twins, one of whom is deaf with additional special needs, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her advocacy. 

Marcie completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Jacksonville State University, earning multiple degrees and certifications in specialized areas of special education.

She continued her professional education through postgraduate studies at Gallaudet University, studying in an immersive environment taught by Deaf professors. This experience strengthened not only her fluency in American Sign Language (ASL), but also her understanding of Deaf culture and the importance of accessible and effective communication. 

For 15 years, Marcie served as a special education teacher before transitioning into family advocacy and leadership. Her work focuses on identifying and removing barriers that prevent children with disabilities from fully accessing their education, services, and opportunities. She advocates ensuring children receive the support and services they are entitled to and that families have the knowledge, resources, and voices necessary to navigate complex systems. 

She served as a Parent Guide with Alabama Hands & Voices from 2019–2022 and currently serves as the organization’s Advocacy Support and Training (ASTra) Coordinator, where she leads a team of advocates, plans trainings, supports families and professionals, develops community partnerships, and collaborates with state agencies and attorneys. Marcie has also been invited to serve on a national committee focused on developing standards for interpreters, allowing her to contribute her expertise to efforts in shaping professional standards at the national level. 

As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic abuse, Marcie brings a deeply personal understanding of the importance of being heard, believed, respected, and connected to meaningful support. She is passionate about building bridges between families, professionals, and community systems.

Through her service with Advocacy Family Network, Marcie is committed to using her education, professional expertise, and lived experience to strengthen partnerships, empower families, remove barriers, and help ensure that every individual has access to the advocacy, resources, and support they need.