Karen Phillips, a member of the Oxford school board, was recognized as 2009 Alabama All-State School Board Member. She was honored with a plaque and special recognition during AASB's Dec. 3-5 convention at The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham.

Phillips has 25 years experience as a social worker, including former service in a county office of the Department of Human Resources and current service with the community-based Health Services Center. She puts that experience to work, exercising sensitivity toward the needs of disenfranchised students, sharing facts about such social issues as bullying and teenage pregnancy and using her expertise to link school administrators to community resources for meeting the emotional needs of children and families.