After attending Hubbertville School in rural Fayette County, Hubbert worked for the Fingerprinting Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Washington, D.C. He later graduated from Florence State College (now the University of North Alabama) before teaching at Buckhorn High School in Madison County. He received his M.S. in 1962 and Ed.D. in School Administration and Finance in 1964 from the University of Alabama.

For three years, he served as Business Manager of Tuscaloosa City Schools before moving to Troy, Alabama, serving as Superintendent of Troy City Schools between 1967-69.

On March 1, 1969, he became Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Alabama Education Association, an organization that grew to represent 105,000 public school employees. When Hubbert took the reins, the segregated AEA had 21,000 members and was in the process of merging with the all-black Alabama State Teachers Association.

Dr. Hubbert directly impacted every major piece of school reform and legislation affecting education employees approved by the Alabama Legislature for more than four decades.

Dr. Hubbert served as Chairman of the Alabama Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) as well as other committees and commissions appointed by Governors Brewer, Wallace, James, Hunt, Siegelman, Riley and Bentley.

Hubbert ran his first political race in 1990. He won the Democratic nomination before losing narrowly to the incumbent governor in the general election.

In January 2009, Dr. Hubbert was voted the “Most Influential Alabamian” by a panel of New York Times Regional Newspaper editors in Florence, Gadsden, and Tuscaloosa.

Hubbert retired from the AEA on December 31, 2011, after more than 42 years of devoted service to Alabama education employees.

In recognition of the 25-year liver transplant survivor, the University of Alabama Birmingham established the Paul Hubbert Legacy of Courage Award, which is presented annually to someone working to improve the lives of those living with liver disease.

In 2013, Dr. Hubbert was inducted to the inaugural class of the University of Alabama College of Education Educator Hall of Fame.

Although he will be recorded in history as one of Alabama’s political giants and the leader of AEA, Hubbert is also remembered for his generous spirit and caring nature in his personal relationships, especially with those who had a need, whether or not he knew them personally.

Dr. Paul Hubbert, former executive secretary-treasurer of the Alabama Education Association, is one of the most prominent advocators for educational excellence and teacher benefits in the state of Alabama. Hubbert served as the executive secretary-treasurer of the Alabama Education Association from 1969 until his recent retirement in 2011. In 1969, he took on the challenge of merging the white teachers’ union with the black teachers’ union, which was under the direction of Joe Reed. Together, Hubbert and Reed transformed the organization from a professional club into a substantial political powerhouse. Their efforts with the Alabama Education Association had an inimitable influence on Alabama politics for more than 40 years. Hubbert built a strong network of political contacts throughout his 42-year term and has an exceptional knowledge of the Alabama Legislature. Before entering the political realm, however, Hubbert served as the superintendent of Troy school systems and held several educational positions in Tuscaloosa. Hubbert’s unique passion for the betterment of education is long lasting, and his legacy continues to inspire.