“If I can help somebody as I travel along… then my living shall not be in vain.”

At Purdue University in Indiana, Annie completed graduate course work toward certification in Learning Disabilities. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with an emphasis in social problems racial minorities, child/family services, public social services, family communication and therapy, community organization, child development and sociology of education.

Annie began her career teaching at East Chicago, Indiana in 1985. She taught Kindergarten and 1st grade. While with Hammond Public School System, she was a Special Learning Needs Teacher working with mild to severely disables students in Elementary to Middle School helping them to transition/mainstream successfully in an environment conducive to their learning skills. In 1993, Annie went on to work with the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons. She worked in Florence, Colorado and Forrest City, Arkansas until she retired in 2015 after 22 years of service.

During her time with BOP, Annie served as a Special Learning Needs Teacher, Camp Education Coordinator and Re-entry Affairs Coordinator working with offenders with mild to severe learning disabilities. She worked to help them successfully pass both Spanish and English General Education Development programs. Annie also spent time working as a liaison preparing offenders for re-entry into society upon their release. While working as a teacher for 2 years at Woodridge Behavioral Care, Forrest City, Arkansas, she was responsible for compliance with the Special Education standards for Students.

Annie first heard of CPOF when she attended a Federal Conference in 2004. The following year, she attended PROJECT 2000 for the first time and served as an escort for the family of Army Staff Sergeant Stacey Brandon, who was killed in Taji. Sergeant Brandon and Annie worked together at Forrest City Federal Correctional Institution before his deployment.

While deployed in Iraq, Annie’s son, Christopher, was injured when an IED exploded and caused major damage to his leg. CPOF was there to assist Annie in her time of need, and her son continued to serve our nation in the Army following his long recovery. He retired in 2022 with 27 years of service.

She spends her spare time as a St. Francis Success Program Coordinator, and the Forrest City School District #7 School Board Vice-President. She is the devoted wife of Mr. Kenneth Norman for over 35 years and the proud mother of seven children and 18 grandchildren.

Annie, who has never met a stranger, continues to practice the motto of “Taking Care of Our Own” as she serves the state of Arkansas and federal facilities. Please watch this short video Annie recorded when she first started working with CPOF.