Student Spotlights August ’21

Dr. Hugh Palmer with the Bay Minette Animal Clinic spent time with students in the FFA program at Baldwin County High School. He showed students how to vaccinate their show cattle. Under the leadership of David Garrett and Andy Jones, the agriscience program at BCHS has expanded its reach beyond the classroom. With a focus on agriculture-related courses, students are raising cattle and crops on campus, as well as honing their carpentry skills. For more information on this program or how you can help, contact David Garrett at dbgarrett@bcbe.org or call the school office at 251-937-2341.

Congratulations to Maddie Beaver on her selection for Alabama Girls State, representing Baldwin County High School. Alabama Girls State is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. Delegates spend a week on the campus of the University of Alabama learning how government works. The delegates are divided up into cities and political parties, hold elections and learn how laws are made and cities, counties and states are governed. In addition, delegates have the opportunity to hear from speakers and leaders in government and business and also took part in community service projects. Maddie is the daughter of Blair and Kimberly Beaver of Bay Minette.

Foley High’s Katherine Mancia and Maddie Maurin were selected to represent Foley High School as this year’s Alabama Girls State delegates.
Alabama Girls State is a week-long, fun-filled, hands-on learning opportunity for some of the best and brightest young women in the State of Alabama. Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA), Alabama Girls State is a premier youth leadership program which offers a one-of-a-kind experience to its delegates.
Katherine and Maddie spent a week at the University of Alabama where they were assigned a city, county, political party, and legislative body. They were given the opportunity to run for a city, county, or state office and were allowed to vote and participate in the political process.
They were also assigned to a chamber of the legislature, either the House of Representatives or the Senate, where they drafted and proposed bills addressing issues impacting the State of Alabama. They heard from some inspiring and influential speakers throughout the week.

SEEDS (Supporting Educational Excellence in Daphne Schools) is the non-profit education foundation that provides enrichment grants to Daphne public schools. Since our inception in 2004, SEEDS has invested more than $760,000 into classroom enrichment programs: including STEAM initiatives, leadership training, mentoring programs, early reading initiatives and the Leader in ME program.
In 2020-2021, Daphne’s public schools received $60,000 in enrichment grants, $36,000 in master school grants, and $24,000 in 28 teacher grants, totaling 34 grants. These enrichment programs provide invaluable resources for our students and administrators. We are grateful to all our sponsors, Friends of SEEDS, and community for supporting Daphne’s Public Schools.
We provide several ways for donors to impactfully serve students in Daphne’s Schools–you can become a Friend of SEEDS member, register for the March SEEDS Classic Rock 5K & Fun Run or sign up a foursome for our Annual Golf Tournament in November.
The 4th Annual SEEDS Golf Tournament will be held Friday November 12, at Timber Creek Golf Club and the SEEDS Classic Rock 5K & Fun Run will be Saturday, March 5, 2022, on the streets of Old Towne Daphne.
Please visit our website at https://www.seedsindaphne.com and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SEEDSinDaphne for more information on our programs!

Central Baldwin Education Foundation (CBEF) was created to encourage academic excellence in the Central Baldwin area schools by providing funding that is not available through traditional local, state or federal sources. The Foundation provides opportunities for teachers and staff to develop innovative projects through grants; to invest in programs and enrichment activities that have a positive impact on student success; to encourage a continued interest in and support of public education through a network of businesses, individual and community involvement; and to seek and cultivate funding sources for educational excellence.
Each year, CBEF hosts two fundraisers, one of which is the Honeybee Festival & 5K in Robertsdale, AL. The Honeybee Festival has grown significantly throughout the past few years due to the tremendous community support and leadership from the Board of Directors. We’re looking forward to another great year! The two events will fund numerous teacher grants and scholarships for our feeder pattern.
For information on how you can get involved with the Central Baldwin Education Foundation, or on the events hosted, please visit CBEF.org or find us on Facebook-Central Baldwin Education Foundation.

Elberta High School officially sent our first ever delegate to Alabama Girls State! Eloise Arthur, a rising senior here at EHS, was sponsored by the Foley chapter of the American Legion Auxiliary to travel to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where she took part in a mock version of the Alabama government system. While there, she learned how officials are elected and how Senate and House meetings are run.
“I am so thankful for Elberta High School and the American Legion Auxiliary, for their support and for making this incredible opportunity possible! I am so honored to be Elberta’s first Girls State delegate.”-Eloise Arthur

Fairhope resident Kyla Shaw participated in the Rural Health Scholars Program at The University of Alabama this summer where she learned about the need that rural communities have for more doctors and other health care professionals.
Kyla spent five weeks on the UA campus taking college courses for credit and learning how to prepare to enter the health profession education and training.
The Rural Health Scholars Program aims to provide opportunities for rising high school seniors from rural communities in Alabama to pursue careers in medicine and other health care professions. Students take college courses, participate in seminars with practicing health care professionals and visit health care facilities.
The mission of the college is to improve and promote the health of individuals and communities in rural Alabama and the Southeast region through leadership in medical and health-related education, primary care and population health; the provision of high-quality, accessible health care services; and research and scholarship.
The Rural Health Scholars Program is part of the college’s nationally recognized Rural Health Leaders Pipeline and offered in collaboration with Alabama Area Health Education Centers. AHECs were created by Congress in 1971 to increase the quantity, diversity and distribution of health care professionals, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Campers had a great day learning about robots at the Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation Summer Camp! The students designed their own robot using the engineering design process. They also learned about the Mobile Bay bar pilots. They turned our Beebots into ships and navigated through the Mobile Bay channel.

Bay Minette Fire Department recently shared some fire safety tips with the summer camp students at Bay Minette Elementary. The Department also introduced Freddie Firetruck, an interactive fire truck that is used for Fire Safety training.

The summer camp at Bay Minette Elementary School is full of gold medalists! With a theme of “An Olympic Summer,” campers created their own gold medals out of food. The Gold Medal ingredients included Fruit by the Foot, Golden Oreos and icing!

The Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope hosted 6 weeks of sold-out art camps! From painting and pottery, to videography and collage – these campers had a blast in our studios. Some students were even given the chance of taking their sketchbooks around the galleries for inspiration and across Bancroft Street to visit the Mosher Castle grounds! Registration for next summer will go live March 2022 at www.esartcenter.org.

Victoria W. recently represented Orange Beach High School at the Alabama Girls State Leadership Conference. We are so proud of you Victoria!

Silverhill Elementary School’s counseling program received the RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) award in Las Vegas. This national award is the highest honor a school counseling program can receive. Congratulations, Mrs. Bramble!

Throughout the year, Project Outreach chapters host events to connect students with one another, have fun, and build relationships. This year, Project Outreach Daphne High School hosted a luau and scavenger hunt to help our students connect. These opportunities build so much connection for all students and are a vital part of what makes Project Outreach special.

Students attending the summer camp at Bay Minette Elementary School are treated to some very special art lessons thanks to Paint Slingers. During their weekly visits, artists with Paint Slingers guide the campers through art projects such as these. Recently the fourth through sixth grade campers created Olympic swimmers!

City of Daphne – “The Jubilee City” Mayor Robin LeJeune, Councilwoman Tommie Conaway and Councilman Steve Olen met with local Daphne public school principals regarding education initiatives in our area. During the meeting, each principal was awarded funds to assist with teacher resources and tutoring programs. The Daphne Educational Advisory Committee coordinated these funds from the City to help continue our commitment to our local schools and the education of our students and future leaders. Thank you all for your leadership and dedication!
Pictured are (L-R): Benita Battle (DES), Jonathan Ellis (BES), Tommie Conaway, Dana Bottoms (WJC), Steve Olen, Mayor LeJeune, Mark Doherty (DEES), Tiffany Irby Kalakheti (DMS), and Fletcher Comer (DHS).

Baldwin County School Fishing Team members Ryan Wright and Brody Lineberry made it to Nationals! The team, along with Boat Captain Brandon Lineberry, competed July 26-31 in the Mossy Oak Bassmaster High School National Championship Series at Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, TN.
Wright and Lineberry are first-year members of the Fishing Team. They are the only team from all of Baldwin County to qualify for the national contest.
“This tournament is the Super Bowl of high school fishing with 250 teams from around the world competing,” said BCHS Coach John Black. “Ryan and Brody will be living a dream come true to be fishing against the best in the world and be from a small town to be on a back stage like the Bassmaster National Championship.”

The Spanish Fort Education Enrichment Foundation (SFEEF), founded in 2002, is a 501(c) 3 organization whose mission is to inspire the power of community to enrich and support education for all Spanish Fort public school children. SFEEF’s success is a result of the many contributions by sponsors & community volunteers who have dedicated their time and money to support SFEEF fundraising efforts over the years.
Over the past 19 years, SFEEF has contributed over $535,000 to Spanish Fort schools. Some contributions are: $295,000 awarded to Teacher/Student grants, $50,000 Principal Block Grants, $15,000 for reading & diagnostic programs, $23,000 Snoezelen Room for students with Autism and learning disabilities, $29,000 in technical equipment, $13,000 to Scholars Bowl, TSA, FBLA and other academic teams, $29,000 in collegiate scholarships and so much more!
Our signature fundraising event is The Gator Chase 5K on the Causeway slated for February 19, 2022. SFEEF hosts RISE, an annual evening each April, recognizing inspirational academic achievements by our teachers, students, and school administration to the Spanish Fort community. Full STEAM Ahead Camp for Rising 6th Graders gives our students a leg up on SFMS student life while learning about math, science, art, and creative writing.
Please see our website, www.sfeef.com for information on these events and additional ways to support SFEEF. For more information on how you can participate in an event or become a sponsor contact Sheren LeBlanc at 251-604-3728. Like us on Facebook for the latest SFEEF news and to meet our sponsors who make it all possible.

Central Christian School celebrated with Weston Enfinger as he signed a Golf Scholarship with Blue Mountain College. We wish him the best!

Magnolia School would like to thank Ms. Plunkett and the rest of the Fine Arts Department for aligning the art lessons to our summer curriculum. Our students are enjoying art lessons at summer reading camp!

Christ the King Catholic School is pleased to announce that Mrs. Jackie Garlock has been named as the new Principal beginning with the 2021-22 school year. Mrs. Garlock assumed the position this summer, taking over for Mrs. Lisa McDuff, who has served as the Interim Principal for the past year and a half. We welcome Mrs. McDuff back in her former role as Assistant Principal this year.
“I am excited to lead Christ the King in carrying out the mission of faith, knowledge, and integrity,” says Garlock. “We have such an excellent community of teachers and families at Christ the King. It is an honor for me to take on the role of principal with God by my side and the support of our community.”
Mrs. Garlock has taught at CTKCS for the past six years in our Resource department and stepped up to serve as a member of the administration team for the past two years. Mrs. Garlock has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida and a master’s in Educational Leadership from American College of Education. She has over 10 years of experience teaching grades K-8 in both public and Catholic schools.
Mrs. Garlock and Mrs. McDuff were instrumental in keeping the CTKCS staff and students healthy and safe, and finishing a successful 2020-21 school year in the midst of a pandemic.

Bayside Academy’s Will Middleton ’21 was invited to compete in the 2021 High School Golf National Invitational as a result of his performance in the Alabama 3A State Championship. The tournament was held June 28–30 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. The 54-hole, invitation-only event showcased 336 of the best high school golfers nationally, and Will finished in the top half.

Fairhope East Elementary School Counseling Program was recognized for receiving the RAMP Award from the American School Counseling Association in 2020 at the ASCA National Conference!
The RAMP designation, awarded for aligning with the criteria in the ASCA National Model, recognizes schools committed to delivering a data-informed school counseling program and an exemplary educational environment. Currently 15 schools in Alabama are RAMP schools.
Congratulations to Mrs. Beth Ann Mills and Mrs. Kenita Bonner-Callwood and THANK YOU for your hard work and dedication to our school! We are so #baldwinproud of you both!

Bayshore Christian School hosted a fun and educational volleyball camp this summer. Campers had a blast!

Robertsdale High School Navy JROTC was recognized by Navy League of the United States – Mobile Council as USS Mobile LCS Honorary Plankowner.

Spanish Fort High had a great time at the Southern Miss Lady Eagle Basketball basketball camp. This will be a fun group to watch!

The Orange Beach High School softball team was recently recognized by Superintendent Eddie Tyler and the Baldwin County Board of Education for winning the 2A State Softball Championship! Head Coach Shane Alexander was also honored for being named 2A Coach of the Year. What an achievement for the first year of the program! Help us celebrate these amazing athletes!

Congratulations to Foley High Senior Madison Messick on being awarded this year’s Kiwanis Club of Foley Dean Hansen Scholarship. Pictured here is club President Russ Morrison with Madison.

Summer campers at Bay Minette Elementary learned how to make their own tie dye shirts using natural options. Charlotte Roberts from Alabama Cooperative Extension System taught the campers about the various fruits, vegetables, and flowers that can be used to create vibrant tie dye designs. After learning all about these options, the campers got to create their own shirts. Roberts visits the camp weekly to talk with the students about healthy habits, and the importance of taking care of nature and learning life skills through hands-on learning, such growing plants and vegetables.

We had a wonderful day of teaching and learning at Summer Reading Camp at Foley Elementary School!

The work and volunteering doesn’t stop during the summer hours! At Belforest Elementary Teacher training, kids programs, maintenance projects, and 21-22 preparation is full steam ahead!

Ag in the Classroom was an amazing opportunity for educators to learn the importance of teaching not only the What and Where, but Who is behind the work, how AL farms provide resources, build sustainability, and why Alabama commodities are vital to our everyday life. Foley Elementary teachers were honored to be accepted into the program! They were inspired by teachers who shared their lessons, ideas, and ways of implementing Ag in the Classroom. They toured @blueribbondairyllc and @whippoorwill_vineyards and had an amazing lunch @lazenbyfarms. The teachers laughed a lot and built many connections and friendships. A huge thanks to @alfafarmers for hosting an eye-opening learning opportunity they can take back and share with the future of Alabama!

The Central Baldwin Middle School Cheerleaders headed out to Auburn for UCA Cheer Camp this summer and had an AMAZING week!
CBMS placed 1st in Game Day Overall, 1st in Camp Routine, and 2nd in Cheer.
Malaia Guzman earned the honor of being named an All-American Cheerleader and a Pin-It Forward Recipient. Emme Kate Lynn won the entire JV and Below Jump Off.
The entire Robertsdale Cheer Program was picked by the UCA Staff to receive the Traditions Award. We are so proud of the hard work these girls and coaches put in this week!

Bayside Academy’s Kyle Cooper ’26 competed in a USA Triathlon Junior Elite Series Cup race in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, on June 6. He competed in the male 13-15 year old age division where he finished 23 out of 69 starting racers from across the country. His swim (375y) / bike (10k) / run (2.5k) time of 34:14 earned him a qualifying spot at the 2021 Youth Elite National Championship at Voice of America Park in West Chester, Ohio, on July 31.

During the first week of June, Mrs Jackie Garlock, principal, and Mrs. Lisa McDuff, assistant principal, joined by several members of the CTKCS faculty, spent two days at a conference called Nuts and Bolts, held at St Mary’s Catholic School in Mobile. The Nuts and Bolts Symposium is a one-of-a-kind professional development opportunity designed for administrators, teachers, and school personnel.

Congratulations musicians! Pictured (Left to Right) Eli Godfrey – Honorable Mention; Leila Thomas – Honorable Mention; Sydney Wrye- Honorable Mention; Tyler Croy – Third Place; Mark Sayler – Second Place; Sofia Keeling – First place. If you are or know an incoming Senior that is planning on continuing their music participation at the collegiate level, please check for application deadlines for the John Allen Memorial Scholarship Competition 2022!

Who Is FEEF?
The Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation (FEEF) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1996, that is dedicated to promoting and enriching educational opportunities for all Fairhope public school children.
FEEF is made up of a twenty-member volunteer board of directors and is supported by an advisory council of volunteers who work to raise funds and support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) initiatives in our schools.

How Does FEEF Support Schools?
FEEF works year round to raise funds, create initiatives and provide support directly to the five Fairhope public schools. FEEF funds are given directly to the schools to provide programs and equipment to our students and teachers that are not made possible through traditional funding the schools receive.
Thanks to the community’s support, FEEF provided over $140,000 in funding to our Fairhope schools for 2020- 2021 school year.
This supported the following in our schools that would otherwise not exist:
• Hands-on Science Labs at Fairhope East, Fairhope West and J. Larry Newton
• STEAM center and school-wide, grade level STEAM classroom supplies for Fairhope East, Fairhope West and J. Larry Newton.
• Choral and Piano including a teacher salary, for Fairhope Middle
• Piano Lab and Engineering Lab equipment, art supplies and Band and Theater sound equipment at Fairhope High School
• Pelican’s Nest Science Lab, and a new Preserved Specimen Collection used in class when students could not travel to the Pelican’s Nest during COVID.
• Teacher Classroom Grants included: robotics kits- Ozobots and Bee Bots, Podcast Equipment, Interactive Poster Makey Makey, Fairy Tale Problem Solving Kits, and washtub gardens.
How Can You Help FEEF Support Our Students?
• Become a Friend of FEEF online at www.feefonline.org • Volunteer
Donate your time and talents to support the fundraising events, initiatives and programs FEEF provides. Contact FEEF at 251-990-3333 or director@feefonline.org to get involved. • Share the News
Like the FEEF Facebook Page @FEEFFairhope and share news and events

Central Baldwin Sunset Rotary had the pleasure of meeting a couple of their scholarship winners recently. The winner of the Garrett Phillips Memorial Scholarship is Abbiegail Kennard from Robertsdale High School Bear Nation. Abbiegail plans on going to South for Hospitality & Tourism and she would like to own her own business. The Academic Scholarship went to Emily Crandall. Emily plans on attending The University of Southern Mississippi for psychology. Emily wants to go into the mental health field. The third scholarship winner (not present) for the Garrett Phillips Memorial Scholarship is Trinity Roper of Elberta High School Warriors. Trinity plans to attend Cosmetology School.
Congratulations students and good luck to you. Pictured, Peggy Wallace Nelson the head of the scholarship committee, Abbiegail Kennard, Emily Crandall and our Rotary Club President Tonja Givens Lowery Absent: Trinity Roper.

Hundreds of band students all over the county have had the opportunity to participate in feeder pattern band camps this summer. The band camps were funded through the office of the Dean of Academics, Renee Carter. Thanks to Mrs. Carter for allowing band education to continue this summer! In these photos, students from Elberta participate in small group sectional lessons and finally join together for a large group lesson.

SFMS cheerleaders attended a Universal Cheer Association (UCA) cheer camp recently at OWA. The girls had a great time and learned lots of great routines and cheers to cheer on our teams and pump up our crowd this school year. They also created friendships that will last a lifetime.
These girls swept first place in all categories: 1st place in cheer; 1st place in sideline; 1st place in home routine. We also had several girls who were chosen to be a part of UCA’s All American Team! Congratulations to these girls! A HUGE shout out and thank you goes to Ms. Paige Asbill for sponsoring and coaching these girls! She does a great job!

During day 2 of UCA Cheer Camp at Auburn University Spanish Fort High School cheerleaders earned 2 blue superior ribbons after performing their cheers, learned 2 band dances, 3 sideline chants, multiple stunts & pyramids.

Congratulations to Bayshore Christian student Boaz Dernlan for being named one of the top winners of the National Awards Recipient. Boaz scored in the top 1% of the Classic Learning Test!

Congratulations to our Senior 4-H Avian Bowl team placing 3rd at the state competition in Auburn. Best part of the overall experience was the hard work and team collaboration that was full of fun!

Congratulations to Spanish Fort Middle rising 7th grader, Megan K., who was recently accepted as a summer student at Miami City Ballet! She has been invited for a 5-week summer intensive program which only accepts a small number of students aged 12-18 each summer. We are so proud of her and all her hard work inside and outside the classroom! Go do great things Megan!

Lady Trojans Skills Camp was blessed to have three ladies from South Alabama Women’s Basketball on Day 2 of camp. They talked about having self-confidence and staying the course towards your goals. Can’t wait to see them in action this upcoming season!

The Baldwin County Education Coalition’s mission within the community is to engage community shareholders in public education and to advocate with one voice for the success of every child in Baldwin County. The Coalition is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan citizens’ organization who recognize education as the single best investment for economic prosperity and as the very core for addressing social challenges such as poverty and crime. The Coalition encompasses eight local education foundations that serve communities across Baldwin County, and is strengthened by the value brought to the communities and the shared vision for creating world class schools.

The Coalition works collectively to increase the level of support for Baldwin County Public Schools by mobilizing financial and volunteer resources, as well as in-kind services. Highlights of these services include:
• Providing program grants and funding that align with the district’s strategic plans for academics – close to $300,000 towards Guided Reading and The Leader in Me.
• Inform, engage and connect citizens to our public schools to create awareness and support – 80 community meetings with 1,642 people informed.
• Hosting Annual Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference providing over 1,000 local educators with innovative professional development to increase competencies and strengthen instruction.
• Hosting Annual Teacher of the Year Banquet to recognize each school’s (48) outstanding educator.
• Advocate with a collective voice on issues concerning our public schools at the county and state levels – six referendums in nine years to stabilize funding for Baldwin Schools.
Born out of need for emergency funding and recognizing the strength in a united voice, the Coalition was formed by the education foundations to advocate for a penny sales tax referendum. Our efforts to help stabilize funding for our public schools resulted in five referendums over a seven-year period with voters demonstrating a much better appetite for sales tax. The first full year of the penny tax brought in approximately $23.6 million in revenue in 2011, compared to $42.6 million in 2019. Each foundation provides programs and services to meet the specific needs of the schools in their local communities, while the Coalition focuses on systemic initiatives and best practices that improve student achievement and impact every child, hence our motto: One Voice. Every Child. Our collective impact is $1.2 million annually, much of which is made possible through the very generous support of the business community.
One thing is certain, the Coalition remains united and will continue to mobilize resources to ensure little stars have bright futures. As always, we are Baldwin Proud and Community Strong!
To learn more about how you can be involved with and support the coalition visit: https://betterbaldwin.com/get-involved/

Central Christian school offers elementary, middle, and high school sports camps. Pictured is Coach Enfinger leading our elementary baseball camp.

Day 2 of the SFEEF sponsored STEAM Camp was even better than the first! These students had the BEST time and learned so much! They will be ready for the first day of 6th grade on August 11!

Congratulations Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Morris of Daphne East Elementary for receiving the RAMP Award at the National RAMP Recognition Dinner. This is in conjunction with the Alabama Program of Distinction Award received during the 2020-2021 school year. We are proud of their hard work!

Summer Writing Camp and Math Camp were held this summer at Daphne High School. These SEEDS-sponsored camps provide students opportunities to brush up on key skills. Thank you, Mrs. Nagy, Mrs. Casolaro and Mrs. Carley for preparing our students for the new school year!

A Heart for Education! Since 2003, the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation (SBCF) has made an impact on the communities of Foley, Lillian, Elberta, Magnolia Springs, Bon Secour, and Summerdale. Raising more than three million dollars in the past eighteen years, SBCF is a 501c3 dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our youth through programs and partnerships that focus on educational enrichment, leadership development, and community involvement.
● Our primary benefactors are the students of Foley High School, Elberta High School, and their feeder schools.
● Our mission is to enhance lives through programs and partnerships that enrich education, develop leadership, and better our community.
● Our goal is for all South Baldwin students to graduate and succeed.

South Baldwin Chamber Foundation is trying to affect economic opportunities by connecting community stakeholders and organizations through program support. These programs are funded through individual and corporate contributions as well as our three major annual fundraisers: Golf FORE! Education, BBQ & Blues Cook-Off, and Casino Night. The programs we provide would not be possible without the support of our generous donors!
Nearly all programs and events supported by the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation rely on volunteers for their success. If you are looking for a way to get involved in your community and make a difference, while making friends and having fun in the process, you will find a volunteer project or job that you will love with the Chamber Foundation! When we help a child succeed in school, we help that child succeed in life. The opportunities for gifts of time and talent are endless when it comes to the South Baldwin Schools we serve.
Your generous gifts of time and resources are needed for the Chamber Foundation to continue making a positive impact on the future of South Baldwin. Contributions to the Chamber Foundation help promote a sense of community, develop a skilled workforce, and provide the type of student support needed for leadership development, as well as dropout prevention. Students in our schools today are the workforce of tomorrow and the future leaders of our community.
We thank you for your support!
To find out more about the Chamber Foundation, please visit www.sbchamberfoundation.org or contact Kylee Raulerson at 251-943-5520,

Daphne East Elementary teachers are pictured getting ready for the new school year by learning a new math curriculum.

The Daphne High School Trojans 6th grade music camp was full of fun!

With special thanks to the Loxley Elementary School awesome staff, our garden is BACK!

Fairhope Volleyball had a great camp this summer filled with skills and fun.

Daphne High School Trojans wrestling’s Kalee Holder is headed to Fargo for the 2021 US Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals! She is a member of Team Alabama.

Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation Summer STEAM camp kicked off recently at the Pelican’s Nest! Mrs. Hardman and Mrs. Kennedy had a blast teaching children about the Wonders of Our Bay!

In 2008, a small group of dedicated individuals with a huge passion for education formed an organization called the North Baldwin Coalition for Excellence in Education (also known as NBCEE) as a way to support the schools in north Baldwin County and to supplement the programs offered by the school system. The organization and the work continues today with the same passion for education and a mission which it’s had from the very start – “to enhance the educational experience of all the students in the Bay Minette feeder pattern by providing financial support and other resources to supplement district wide programs.” NBCEE accomplishes this mission through three core focus areas – Teacher Grants, Summer Enrichment Camps, and Teacher of the Year recognitions.

Since 2008, the Teacher Grant program has provided more than $120,000 to local teachers for a wide variety of creative and innovative classroom and school projects. And it is made possible because of a long-standing, truly collaborative relationship with our community organizations of Heritage Junior Women’s Club and Bay Minette Rotary Club, and our community members. These two organizations organize a popular annual community event, the Chilly Run/Chili Cook-off held each February at the Bay Minette Kid’s Park, where 1 mile and 5K runs are held, local businesses and schools compete for coveted awards and bragging rights, and community members gather to eat all-you-can-eat chili. The proceeds of the event go directly to benefit the NBCEE Teacher Grant Program. In the spring of each year, NBCEE accepts applications from teachers at each of the eight public schools in north Baldwin County. The applications are judged by an independent, objective and unbiased panel and winners are awarded their grant during an exciting, surprise “prize patrol” visit to their classroom in the last month of school.
Each summer, NBCEE sponsors and organizes Summer Enrichment Camps for children of all ages, and to date, approximately 3,000 youngsters have attended an array of camps at several of our local school locations. Summer Camp offerings are posted on our website, www.nbcee.org, usually by the end of May each year.
In March of each year, NBCEE recognizes each of the Teachers of the Year from our eight schools at a Bay Minette City Council meeting. Through annual fundraising and sponsorships, NBCEE awards each of them with gift, along with a gift bag which is made possible by the generous donations from local businesses and community members.
The North Baldwin Coalition for Excellence in Education foundation works with all eight schools to provide additional resources and enrichment opportunities for students and faculty, as well as annual Teacher Grant allotments. In addition, the education foundation sponsors summer camps for children ranging from conservation and engineering to sewing and cooking.
To learn more about the North Baldwin Coalition for Education and our programs, to make a donation, apply for a sponsorship, or to get involved, visit our website at www.nbcee.org and like us on Facebook.

Bayshore Christian School faculty & staff came together this summer for fellowship and encouragement at this year’s Repairing The Ruins ACCS Annual Conference!

Students attending the summer camp at Bay Minette Elementary School are treated to some very special art lessons thanks to Paint Slingers. During their weekly visits, artists with Paint Slingers guide the campers through art projects such as these. In recent weeks, the campers have experimented with watercolor crayons, designed their own flags, and painted pineapples as a sign of friendship. In the process, the campers are tapping into their artistic talents.

Bayside Academy rising senior Patrick Daves won the 110m hurdles (17-18 division) at the USATF Youth Outdoor Nationals in Rome, Georgia, on June 26 and has been named an All-American hurdler following his 5th place finish at The Outdoor Nationals presented by Nike in Eugene, Oregon, on July 2.
In this year’s 3A AHSAA State Meet in Cullman, Patrick won all four individual events in which he competed. Patrick is the only athlete, regardless of classification, to score 40 points at any of the AHSAA State Meets.
Patrick is currently ranked 1st in Alabama and 25th in the nation for 110 meter hurdles, as well as 2nd in the state and 73rd in the nation for 300 meter hurdles as of July 10. Additionally, according to the MileSplit rankings in early June, he is the 21st top recruit for the class of 2022.

J. Larry Newton School’s 6th grader Addison wowed an audience of superintendents, administrators, teachers, nurses, paras and other educators at the MEGA Conference in Mobile recently. We are so proud of you, Addison!

Bayside Academy Athletic Director Jamie Ferguson was named the 2020–2021 Athletic Director of the Year by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association. Coach Ferguson was recognized at the Coaches Championship Awards Banquet in Montgomery on July 23. We are thrilled that he has been recognized on the state level for his accomplishments and leadership.

City of Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan and Councilmen Jimmy Conyers, Jack Burrell and Kevin Boone recognized members of the Fairhope Junior City Council in appreciation for their service during the 2021-2022 school year.
Pictured with the Councilmen are, Galey McKelvain, Grayson McKean, Anne Lyles Tapscott, Addison Spears and Victoria Whatley; Not pictured are members Rafael Olivier, Emory Horton Isabella Tran and Isabella McCormick. Applications for the 2021-2022 Junior City Council will be available in August.