Antwon Womack said he’s running for the District 8 seat on the Birmingham Board of Education for a fourth time for the same reason he did it the first time.

“I’ve always had a passion for public education after I, myself, dropped out of high school and I saw that there was no support, nor were there any avenues available for individuals that did not go through traditional high school,” Womack said. “I saw how the system basically just failed.”

Womack, now a freelance paralegal and president of the Ensley Highlands Neighborhood Association, said his top priorities as a school board member would be responsible stewardship of taxpayers’ dollars, students’ mental health, and keeping stakeholders engaged and making sure parents have access to the resources they need.

He said he’s been involved in parent-teacher associations to support his nieces and nephews who attend Birmingham City Schools, and the relationships he’s built and his experience as a neighborhood association leader make him a good fit for the school board role.

“One thing that I have been able to present over the years to stakeholders and to the public is that I’m consistent,” Womack said. “I’m very knowledgeable of board procedures. I know who does what. And most importantly, as a neighborhood president and as a neighborhood officer, I’ve been able to work with my principals and others to make sure I am able to be a part of the process. So, I have already insight on what’s going on.”

Womack ran unsuccessfully for the District 8 place on the Birmingham board in 2013, 2017 and 2021. He ran for the District 6 spot in 2009. He also has been a candidate for other offices, including Alabama House of Representatives District 55 in 2018 and 2023, Jefferson County School Board in 2010 and mayor of Tarrant in 2008.

During the 2009 school board race, it was revealed that Womack, who was 21 at the time, lied about his age, education and previous activities.

“I was young, and I wanted to serve,” he said this week. “But like any individual, sometimes you don’t think things through. I went and got those things that I said I had, and I stayed active and stayed committed to wanting to serve the children of Birmingham City Schools. I can now say I’m glad that happened because it allowed me to learn interpersonal skills. It allowed me to learn trustworthiness and honesty.”

Womack received his high school diploma through Birmingham City Schools’ Dropout Recovery Program in 2017. He earned an associate degree in 2023 and a bachelor’s degree in 2024, both from Columbia Southern University, based in Orange Beach, and both in business administration.

Womack said Birmingham City Schools is on the right path with improvements in reading and math scores and in communication among teachers, parents and stakeholders, including community leaders, churches and neighborhood associations. He said continuing to strengthen the relationship between the school system and those stakeholders is important.

Birmingham City Schools still has federal funding that was distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Womack said, and using that money wisely would be his focus as a school board member.

“My top priority is going to be making sure that we continue to use those dollars towards classrooms, but most importantly, using those dollars towards initiatives that will continue to drive academic success,” he said.

The Trump administration last month announced it was cutting off access to any of those funds not already spent, but that move is being challenged in court.

Womack also said the school system needs to direct funding toward students’ mental health care and making sure parents are aware of all the resources available to them.

“No one knows what those children are dealing with when they leave those classrooms, and when they come back, they’re going to begin to demonstrate what’s going on at home,” he said.

Birmingham City Schools and the school board could face challenging times soon if the Trump administration dismantles the U.S. Education Department, which distributes Title I funding the school system depends on, Womack said. He said states would have to step in to distribute the grants and there are concerns about that happening in an accurate and timely fashion without a system in place.

“With everything going on at the national level, there are going to be some hard decisions in the near future for the new board,” Womack said.

So far, Womack will be facing Pamela Bass in the District 8 race. The election is Aug. 26.