>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

AND HAPPY ECLIPSE DAY!

MILLIONS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA LOOKED TO THE SKIES WITH SPECIA GLASSES TODAY TO SEE A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION EVENT - A TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

MOST OF ALABAMA SAW ABOUT A 80 PERCENT ECLIPSE AS THE MOON BLOCKED OUT THE SUN'S LIGHT.

I WATCHED MUCH OF THE EVEN FROM NASA'S LIVE STREAMING COVERAGE ON YOUTUBE, WHICH HAD LIVE HITS FROM TOTALITY LOCATIONS IN MEXICO, TEXAS, ARKANSAS AND ALL THE WAY TO NIAGARA FALLS.

MANY FROM NASA'S MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER IN HUNTSVILLE WER IN RUSSELLVILLE, ARKANSAS FOR THAT TOTAL ECLIPSE EVENT.

I ACTUALLY SPOKE TO JOSEPH PELFRY - THE DIRECTOR OF MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER - JUST AFTER THE ECLIPSE FROM ARKANSAS.

HERE'S A CLIP OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> NASA MARSHAL OUR TEAM WAS STATIONED IN RUSSELLVILLE, ARKANSAS BUT THE TEAM HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS PARTNERS.

WE WERE IN THE FULL PATH OF TOTALITY AND GOT FOUR MINUTES, 11 SECONDS OF TOTAL ECLIPSE AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

TO SEE AND TO EXPERIENCE HERE.

AS IT STARTED YOU COULD FEEL IT COOL DOWN.

WHEN WE WENT IN THE TOTALITY, IT WAS LIKE IT WAS RIGHT AT SUNSET, AND PRETTY DARK.

LIGHT STARTED COMING ON.

PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HEARD CONSTRICTS IF NOT FOR EVERYONE CHEERING SO LOUD.

IT WAS QUITE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

THIS WAS MY FIRST VIEW TO BE ABLE TO SEE TOTALITY HERE IN THE PATH AND JUST AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

>> YOU CAN WATCH OUR FULL INTERVIEW LATER IN THE SHOW.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY FOUND AN INTERESTING PLACE TO CATCH THE ECLIPSE TODAY.

IVEY BROLL THE GOVERNOR WAS VISITING SAFARI PARK IN SOUTH MONTGOMERY COUNTY WHERE SHE MET “MISS KAY” A LLAMA NAMED AFTER HER.

AND YOU GOTTA FEED THE GIRAFFES WHILE YOU'RE THERE RIGHT?

TURNS OUT IT WAS A GREAT LOCATION TO WATCH THE ECLIPSE.

WHILE WE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH IVEY, WE TURNED TO STATE HOUSE ISSUES, SPECIFICALLY THE ISSUE OF GAMBLING.

THE GOVERNOR CAME OUT FORCEFULL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE I THE HOUSE.

BUT SHE'S BEEN LESS VOCAL EVER SINCE THINGS HAVE GOTTEN COMPLICATED WITH TWO VERY DIFFERENT VERSIONS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

>> WELL, I STATED THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE OPEN THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I STILL BELIEVE THAT VERY STRONGLY.

IT'S JUST OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT YOU PUT A APPLE IN FRONT OF THEM THAT WILL LIMIT GAMING AND POSSIBLY REGULATE LIMITED FORMS OF GAMING.

I AGREE WITH SPEAKER LEDBETTER WHEN HE SAID HE HOPED THE HOUSE AND SENATE COULD WORK TOGETHER AND I AGREE WITH THAT SO THE PEOPLE CAN HAVE A FINAL SAY ON THIS.

>> GAMBLING IS ONE OF SEVERAL ISSUES WE EXPECT TO SEE ACTION ON THIS WEEK.

AGAIN, WE ARE JUST WAITING TO SEE IF THE SENATE VOTES TO GO T A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND WHIC MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED TO REPRESENT THE BODY.

MOST EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN THIS WEEK, BUT IT'S UNCLEAR WHETHER THEY WOULD ACTUALLY REPORT SOMETHING OUT THAT SOON CONSIDERING HOW FAR APART THEY ARE.

OTHER ISSUES TO WATCH INCLUDE THE BUDGETS.

THE EDUCATION BUDGET IS IN HOUS COMMITTEE TOMORROW AND COULD BE ON THE FLOOR AS SOON AS THURSDAY.

THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET COULD B ON THE SENATE FLOOR THIS WEEK A WELL, SO THOSE ARE STARTING TO MOVE.

ALSO, EXPECT FINAL PASSAGE ON ALL OR SOME OF THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE THAT WAS ROLLED OUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE A THREE LEGISLATIVE DAY WEEK, JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET THOSE BILLS OVER THE FINISH LINE.

AS I MENTIONED, THE EDUCATION BUDGET IS IN HOUSE COMMITTEE TOMORROW.

THAT'S 1:00 IN ROOM 200 OF THE STATE HOUSE.

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN DANNY GARRET SAID THE BUDGET PROPOSAL IS VER SIMILAR TO WHAT GOVERNOR IVEY ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

IT TOTALS $9.3 BILLION DOLLARS, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $651 MILLION IN SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING THIS YEAR.

THAT'S FROM ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WASN'T EXPECTED WHEN THEY BUDGETED LAST YEAR.

THE HOUSE IS LOOKING TO INCREAS THE ADVANCEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY FUND TO $1 BILLION THIS YEAR.

SOME OF THE NOTABLE LINE ITEMS IN THE ETF GO TO HELP FUND RECENT INITIATIVES LIKE THE LITERACY AND THE PRINCIPAL ACT.

LET'S HONE IN ON THAT PRINCIPAL ACT FUNDING BECAUSE THIS WILL INFORM AN INTERVIEW WE HAVE COMING UP.

THE HOUSE IS PROPOSING $7.8 MILLION IN THE 2024 SUPPLEMENTA TO HELP ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AT SCHOOLS WITH MORE THAN $300 STUDENTS.

THAT NUMBER FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WILL BE $10.8 MILLION.

AND THE TOTAL ETF FUNDING PROPOSED FOR THE PRINCIPAL ACT IS $30.85 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

IT'S GOING TO BE A WONKY WEEK.

WITH ELEVEN DAYS LEFT IN THE SESSION, LAWMAKERS KNOW IT IS CRUNCH TIME ON LEGISLATION THEY WANT TO GET MOVING.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER AS THEY ADJOURNED LAST WEEK FOR A PREVIEW OF THE WEEK AHEAD.

>> WE'RE GOING TO COME THREE DAYS NEXT WEEK.

WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THE PACKAGE OUT YOU TALKED ABOUT AND START WORKING ON THE BUDGETS.

THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET COME OUR COMMITTEE YESTERDAY IN THE SENATE SO WE HAD ARE WILL START LOOKING A THE THAT.

THE CHAIRMAN DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB AND HE HAS BEEN ON TOP OF IT.

AND IT WILL GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE OUR BUDGET CHAIRS BECAUSE THEY COULD A TREMENDOUS JOB.

THEIR COMMITTEE AND THEM ARE IN TUNE WITH WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO FOR THE STATE SO I APPLAUD THEM FOR THAT.

WHEN WE COME BACK, MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH NASA'S JEFFERY PILLFREY ABOUT THE ECLIPSE.

AND THEN VIC WILSON OF THE COUNCIL FOR LEADERS IN ALABAMA SCHOOL JOINS ME IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRINCIPALS IN EDUCATION.

STAY WITH US.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS VICK WILSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CLASS.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> MANY VIEWERS MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH CLASS.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WHAT IT DOES IN THE STATE?

HAPPY TO.

WE'RE THE COULD YOU BELIEVE FOR LEADERS IN ALABAMA SCHOOLS.

IT WAS BEGUN IN 1969 AT A PLACE FOR ADMINISTRATORS WHERE THEY COULD WORK TOGETHER TO DO THEIR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, ALL OF THEIR ADVOCACY, CONFERENCES AND IT BECAME CLASS THEREFORE, AND NOW WE DO ALL OF THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR ALL OF THE PRINCIPLES AND THE ASSISTANT HE PRINCIPLES AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL PEOPLE.

13 AFFILIATES UNDER OUR UMBRELLA.

ANYTHING FROM CHILD NUTRITION DIRECTORS UP TO SUPERINTENDENTS THAT WE ACTUALLY HELP WITH SOME OF THEIR STUFF TOO.

>> INTERESTING.

SO TALKING ABOUT PRINCIPLES, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, ADMINISTRATORS AND THE LIKE.

SO WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT TEACHERS WHICH WE SHOULD.

>> OBVIOUSLY.

>> IN THE CLASSROOM.

BUT I WAS TALKING WITH SENATOR OR THE OTHER DAY AND HE DESCRIBED PRINCIPLES AS LIKE THE COACH OF THE TEAM.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD LEADERSHIP FOR ANY SCHOOL TO THRIVE.

SO TALK BE A THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THAT LEADERSHIP, YOU KNOW, AT THE PRINCIPLE LEVEL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPLE LEVEL.

>> TODD FOR YEARS EVERYONE HAS KNOWN THE NUMBER ONE IMPACT ON STUDENT LEARNING OUTSIDE OF GREAT PARENTS WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS IS THE TEACHER.

THE TEACHER IS THE NUMBER ONE IMPACT, A GREAT TEACHER HELPS.

CLOSELY FAR BEHIND THAT WAS PRINCIPLES.

AND THERE'S ACTUALLY NEW SCHOLARSHIPS SAYING DATA THAT SHOWS THE PRINCIPLES HAVE AS MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON STUDENT LEARNING AS TEACHERS.

SO WE WORK HARD TO ENSURE THAT THE LEADER OF THE TEACHERS HAS WHAT HE OR SHE NEEDS TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON STUDENTS.

IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE OUR PRINCIPLES AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPLES BUILDING LEVEL ADMINISTRATORS ARE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE UNDER THEIR CARE.

>> WELL, SPEAKING OF THAT, LAST YEAR, YOU HAD YOUR PRINCIPLE BILL, RIGHT, THIS IS SENATOR ORR'S BILL, HAVING TO DO WITH, LIKE YOU SAID, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MAKING IT -- GIVING PEOPLE PATHWAYS TO PRINCIPLES AND REWARDING AND SOME OF THAT KIND OF THING, AND THIS YEAR, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME MORE FUNDING ATTACHED TO THAT.

TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT PROCESS WAS LIKE TO GET THAT BILL THROUGH LAST YEAR AND NOW LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUNDING LEVEL.

>> IT WAS INTERESTING.

FIRST TIME I EVER STARTED A BILL FROM SCRATCH AND THEN CARRIED IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH FRUITION.

I'M NOT SAYING IT I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN BUT IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSE.

IT'S NOT AN EASY THING.

>> NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

>> IT ISN'T,ED TO.

BUT WE WORK HARD TO ENSURE AND WORK WITH SENATOR ORR SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LITERACY ACT, FOLLOWED BY THE NUMERACY ACT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SENATOR ORR AND I TALKED ABOUT WAS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD THE FUNDING NECESSARY FOR THE PRINCIPLES TO HELP WITH THAT LITERACY.

SO IF YOU WILL, WE NOW HAVE A THREE LEGGED STOOL, LITERACY, NUMERACY AND LEADERSHIP.

WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW STATES IN THE NATION THAT HAVE THAT SO OUR LEGISLATURE IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR PUTTING TIME, ENERGY AND EFFORT AND THE FUNDING NECESSARY HAD TO DO THAT, TOGETHER.

SO WHAT WE DID, MY GOAL WAS TO HAVE MENTORING.

I'M A BIG FAN OF MENTORING AND COACHING.

I UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE IN WHAT THAT CAN DO FOR PEOPLE.

SO WE HAVE A BILL THAT WE PASSED THAT HAS MENTORING FOR ALL FIRST AND SECOND YEAR PRIMS, WHICH BEGAN IN JULY, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE NEW PROFESSIONAL LEARNING STANDARDS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, AND EVERY PRINCIPLE AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPLE MR. HAVE TO HAVE A POP, WHICH STANDS FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PLAN TO SPEAK TO TWO THINGS THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR STUDENT LEARNING.

ONE IS STUDENT GROWTH OR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT OR BOTH IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

OR SCHOOL CULTURE AND CLIENT.

AND WE BELIEVE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR STATE IS GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR EDUCATION.

>> SO, YEAH, THAT WAS A PRETTY BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT LAST YEAR.

TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR THIS YEAR.

WHAT THE WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR TO MAKE SURE THE PROGRAMS HAVE THE DOLLARS BEHIND THEM THAT THEY NEED.

>> THAT IS THE KEY.

ALL THREE OF THOSE, LITERACY, NUMERACY AND LEADERSHIP OF.

YOU HAVE TO FUND THEM.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE COACHES AND THE MENTORS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE OF THE ABILITY TO PUT IN PLACE THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR PRINCIPLES AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPLES TO GET WHAT THEY NEED TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.

SO FUNDING IS CRITICAL.

WITHOUT IT, YOU SIMPLY HAVE A PAPER TIGER AND YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT SAYS WE HOPE TO DO THIS AND WE CAN'T DO IT.

SO I APPLAUD THE LEGISLATURE FOR TALKING WITH THE EDUCATIONAL ENTITIES WORKING WITH DR. MACKEY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDING IS THERE TO DO THESE THINGS.

TODD ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, WHEN I GO AND MEET WITH MY PEERS, PEOPLE PROSECUTE ACTUALLY TALKING TO ME AND SAYING WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING IN ALABAMA, HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING THAT?

WE WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD AND I KNOW IT MAKES -- HOPEFULLY IT WILL HELP OUR LEGISLATORS SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS AND FUND IT PROPERLY.

>> SURE IS THING.

IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE FEEDBACK COMING THE OTHER WAY.

I CAN'T SAY THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS FOR ALABAMA.

SO, YEAH, THAT'S POSITIVE.

I HAVE HEARD THE HAD SAME THING ABOUT LITERACY.

I KNOW WE TOOK A LOT OF THAT FROM MISSISSIPPI BUT OTHER STATES SAY "AWE HEY THIS IS A GOOD MODEL, GOING BACK IN IN IN THE DAY TO READING INITIATIVE THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE GAS DOWN ON.

JUST TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROFESSION, PRINCIPLES AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND JUST THE -- WELL, THE PROFESSIONALISM.

YOU TALK ABOUT MENTORSHIPS AND TALK ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

IT SEEMS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHEN I WAS COMING UP.

I HAD GREAT PRINCIPLES.

MADE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE Y'ALL HAVE GONE LEAPS AND BOUNDS FROM WHERE WE WERE JUST A COUPLE OF DECADES AGO.

>> TODD, WE REALLY HAVE.

WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPLE, IT WAS ON THAT CHANGING OF THE GUARD, SO TO SPEAK, WHERE I WAS NOT JUST A MANAGER, I WAS NOT THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS SAFE, WHICH IS STILL CRITICAL.

I WAS NOT THERE JUST TO MANAGE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

I ALSO WAS CALLED TO BE THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING TO HELP LEARNING, GIVE OUR TEACHERS WHAT THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN HELP THE STUDENTS LEARN AT HIGH LEVELS.

PRINCIPLES ARE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE NOW, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR IS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPLE IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF A SCHOOL AS WELL.

SO THAT THE PRIM WHO IS DOING THE LITERACY, NUMERACY, LEADERSHIP ASPECTS IS NOT ALONE AND HAS SOMEONE THERE TO HELP AND CARRY OUT ALL OF THE WONDERFUL ENDEAVORS THAT ARE GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> WELL, AND YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT -- IF SOMEBODY IS CHOSEN TO BE AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPLE, MAKES IT TO THE PRINCIPLE LEVEL, THE WORST THING THEY CAN BE IS UNPREPARED, NOT HAVE THE TRAINING, NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY.

I'M SURE YOU HEARD FEEDBACK OVER THE YEARS AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WOW I WASN'T AS PREPARED AS I NEEDED TO BE AND THESE PROGRAMS CAN HELP FIX THAT.

>> WE -- ACTUALLY THAT'S EXACTLY; RIGHT.

WE HAVE THREE THINGS THAT WE DO WE HAVE ASPIRING PRINCIPLE CONFERENCES, ASSISTANT PRINCIPLE CONFERENCES AND NEW PRINCIPLE INSTITUTES AND LAST YEAR WE HAD A PRINCIPLE LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM.

SO WE WILL GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED.

DR. SANDERS IS OUR DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

THIS MORNING SHE SHARED AN EMAIL WITH ME OF A NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPLE THAT RECENTLY HIRED THAT SAID THAT EVERY QUESTION THEY GOT IN THE INTERVIEW THEY WERE PREPARED FOR BECAUSE OF OUR ASPIRING ADMINISTRATOR CONFERENCE.

IT MADE US BOTH FEEL PRETTY GOOD.

THAT'S KIND OF HER WHY BUT TO HEAR HER SAY THAT.

IT'S THE SAME LEVEL.

WE'RE HELPING ASSISTANT PRINCIPLES BECOME PRINCIPLES BECAUSE THE LAST THING WE WANT IS FOR A PRINCIPLE TO BE HANDED THE KEYS AND SAY DON'T CALL ME UNLESS THERE'S A PROBLEM.

YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED AND LEAD AND MANAGE THE ORGANIZATION BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO MANAGE THE INSTRUCTIONAL ASPECT OF IT AS WELL.

AND VISIONARY.

AND RELATIONS.

RELATIONSHIPS ARE SO CRITICAL WITH THE COMMUNITY ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, THE PRINCIPLE HAS TO BE FORWARD THINKING IN REGARDS TO THAT.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT TO HEAR STORIES ABOUT WHEN THE HAMMER HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THE EDUCATION BUDGET WILL BE MOVING THIS WEEK SO THIS IS AN APROPOS CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW HE.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE, TO DO.

THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

TODAY'S TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE WAS A ONCE IN A GENERATION EVENT.

IT'S ALSO A REMINDER OF THE UNIQUE ROLE THAT ALABAMA PLAYS IN THIS COUNTRY'S SPACE PROGRAM.

JOINING ME NEXT FROM RUSSELLVILLE ARKANSAS WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO SEE THE SOLAR ECLIPSE IS JOSEPH PELPHREY DIRECTOR OF THE MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER IN HUNTSVILLE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

AND I HAVE TO ASK, SINCE YOU'RE THERE IN ARKANSAS, I GUESS Y'ALL GOT TO SEE THE TOTALITY, RIGHT, THE COMPLETE FULL TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN?

>> WE DID.

NASA MARSHAL, OUR TEAM WAS STAYING HERE IN RUSSELLVILLE, ARKANSAS.

THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS PARTNERS.

WE WERE IN THE FULL PATH OF TOTALITY AND GOT FOUR MINUTES AND 11 SECONDS OF TOTAL ECLIPSE.

AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, STUNNING TO SEE AND TO EXPERIENCE HERE HE.

AS THINGS STARTED TO GET DARK YOU COULD FEEL IT COOL DOWN.

AND WHEN WE WENT IN THE TOTALITY, IT WAS LIKE IT WAS RIGHT AT SUNSET AND PRETTY DARK.

AND AS SOON AS IS THE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON, YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HEARD CONSTRICTS IF NOT FOR EVERYONE CHEERING SO LOUD.

IT WAS QUITE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

THIS WAS MY FIRST VIEW TO BE ABLE TO SEE TOTALITY HERE IN THE PATH AND JUST AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

>> THAT'S ALL REALLY INTERESTING.

LOOK, I WAS WATCHING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE -- THROUGH THE PATH OF THE ECLIPSE, WHERE DIFFERENT NASA PLACES WERE STATIONED AND IT HAS TO BE SPECIAL WORKING IN THE PROGRAM, WORKING FOR NASA WHEN THIS ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION EVENT OCCURS.

>> IT REALLY IS.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TELL OUR STORY, WHAT NASA DOES IN TERMS OF SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION BUT ALSO FROM A SCIENTIFIC STANDPOINT AN TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR SCIENTISTS.

MARSHAL WORKS IN ALL OF THE SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS NASA DOES AND HELO PHYSICS IS ON THE STAGE TODAY, STUDY OF THE SUN AND WE HAVE OTHER SCIENTISTS PART OF THE TEAM THAT WERE STATIONED AROUND THE PATH OF TOTALITY TO BE ABLE TO STUDY THE EVENTS OF THE ECLIPSE AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE THINGS THAT WE NORMALLY DON'T GET TO SEE FROM EARTH WHEN THE SUN IS JUST IN THE SKY AND ITS NORMAL -- A NORMAL DAY.

AND SO OUR SCIENTISTS -- THIS WAS A REALLY TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUN AND WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND CORONA, AND LOOKING AT THE ENERGY THAT IS COMING OFF.

WE HAD SOME SOUNDING ROCKETS THAT WERE GOING TO BE LAUNCHED, OUT OF NEW MEXICO.

WE HAD PEOPLE WITH TELESCOPES ALL AROUND THE PATH OF TOTALITY.

SO FOR THE ENTIRE DEGREE AND SPECIAL FOR MARSHAL AND OUR SCIENCE TEAM, JUST A TREMENDOUS DAY TO ADVANCE OUR KNOWLEDGE AND CONTINUE TO STATE THE SUN AND IT'S EFFECT ON EARTH AND THE -- IT HAS SO MANY EFFECTS ON WHAT WE DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED AND THIS IS JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE.

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.

THIS ISN'T JUST A ONE DAY EVENT FOR NASA.

YOUR WORK NOW BEGINS.

YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE DAY TO LEARN WHAT WE CAN FROM THIS UNIQUE EVENT.

Y'ALL'S JOB IS JUST GETTING STARTED I SUPPOSE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S JUST STARTING AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PLANNING TO GET READY AND CAPTURE AS MUCH DATA AS WE CAN.

THIS WHOLE YEAR IS A YEAR OF HELIOPHYSICS FOR THE AGENCY.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF INSTRUMENTS AND SATELLITES THAT ARE IN ORBIT LAYER THIS YEAR.

WE WILL FLY CLOSE TO THE SUN AND GIVE US DATA WE HAD NEVER RECEIVED BEFORE.

IT WILL BE THE CLOSEST APPROACH TO THE SUN'S SURFACE WE EVER HAD.

THAT WILL BE LATER THIS YEAR.

SO ALL OF THE EVENTS ARE HAPPENING THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TOTAL ECLIPSE TODAY, IT'S JUST BUILDING UP OUR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING, AND IT'S REALLY A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF OUR SCIENTISTS CONSIDERING THAT THE NEXT SOLAR ECLIPSE OVER THE U.S. WON'T OF COURSE UNTIL 2044 SO IT'S ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME FOR A LOT OF OUR SCIENTISTS TO STUDY AND HAVE THIS STUDENT OPPORTUNITY AND THEN FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION TO GET KIDS INTERESTED IN STUDYING WHAT IS THE GOING ON IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE ON EARTH AND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE MANY, MANY STUDENTS AND KIDS AND GENERAL PUBLIC, PARENTS, EVERYBODY EXCITED ABOUT TODAY'S EVENT.

>> WELL, SO THIS IS A SOLAR ECLIPSE.

THAT MEANS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MOON.

RIGHT?

AND WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE MOON.

I KNOW THAT THE ARTEMIS MISSION IS WELL UNDERWAY.

I KNOW THAT MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER THERE IN HUNTSVILLE REALLY PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE.

SO TALK ABOUT THE ARTEMIS MISSION AND ESPECIALLY MARSHAL'S KEY ROLE IN THAT MISSION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

THERE'S BEEN A FUN DEBATE TODAY 0 SEE WHO THE STAR WAS TODAY, THE SUN OR MOON, BECAUSE THE MOON GRANTED THE ECLIPSE AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT WE CAN LEARN ON THE MOON AND THAT'S WHAT THE ARTEMIS CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT, MARSHALL SPACE NIGHT CENTER IS PROUD TO BE LEADING A LOT OF ACTIVES REGARDING TO RETURNING HUMANS TO THE MOON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS.

WE DEVELOPED THE SPACE WALK SYSTEM ROCKET, AND IT HAD IT'S INAUGURAL FLIGHT NOVEMBER OF 2022 TO TEST OUT THE SYSTEMS AND IT PERFORMED EXTREMELY WELL.

NOW THE TEAM AT MARSHAL IN PREPARING FOR ARTEMIS TWO WHICH WILL RETURN HUMANS AROUND THE MOON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE ORION SPACE DRAFT AND IT'S LAW FIRMING SEPTEMBER 2025 AND MARSHAL IS LEADING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SLS TO LAW FIRM THAT GROUP.

WE'RE ALSO LEADING THE DEVELOPMENT WITH OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS OF THE NEXT HUMAN LANDERS THAT RETURN HUMANS TO THE SURFACE OF THE IMMUNE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS.

ON A FUTURE ARTEMIS FLIGHT.

AND SO MARSHAL'S ACTIVITY VERY PROMINENT THERE IN HAD TO THOSE TWO PROGRAMS AND WE'RE ALREADY PREPARING FOR HOW WE DO SCIENCE AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE THE SCIENCE EXTREMITIES WE'RE GOING TO DO ON THE MOON AS WE HAVE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS ON THE NATIONAL SPACE STATION.

THERE ARE SO MANY ASPECTS OF THE ARTEMIS CAMPAIGN THAT MARSHAL IS INVOLVED OR LEADING FOR THE AGENCY AND SO EVENTS LIKE TODAY JUST MAKE US WANT TO GO EXPLORE EVEN FURTHER AND LEARN AND CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE ON ANOTHER CELESTIAL BODY TO LIVE LONGS DURATIONS AWAY FROM EARTH BECAUSE ALL OF THIS IS PREPARING US FOR A TRIP TO MARS WHICH IS OUR BIG GOAL.

SO TO RETURN TO THE MOON, STAY THERE FOR A LONGER DURATION AND TEST OUT TECHNOLOGIES AND THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE IS JUST GOING TO PREPARE US FOR THAT TROOP TO THE MOON AND MARSHAL WILL BE LEADING THE WAGON FOR THAT TRIP WHEN WE GET READY.

SO A LOT OF EXCITEMENT ON THE CENTER, IN THE COMMUNITY, OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN ALABAMA IS CONTRIBUTING TO WHAT WE'RE DOING AS AN AGENCY AS WE HAVE FOR THE LAST 60-PLUS YEARS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE.

>> LOOK.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON SEEING YOUR FIRST TOTALITY!

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE THE TIME, THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TELL OUR STORY.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE BAM LEGISLATURE, HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACEY.