Gov. Kay Ivey denounces ‘woke’ preschool training book, ousts state official Barbara Cooper, head of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, was forced to resign after state officials found the department was distributing teacher training materials that included so-called “woke concepts.” According to a statement released Friday by Gov. Kay Ivey’s office, state officials were alerted last week about a pre-K educator resource book that they said contained “content that is simply not in line with what the Ivey Administration or the people of Alabama stand for or believe.” Reference: www.al.com