SPANISH FORT, Ala.—The Baldwin County Education Coalition has officially named its founding board of directors and officers for 2011-12.

Terry Burkle with the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce was elected chairman during the countywide nonprofit organization’s first meeting held recently in Robertsdale. In addition, Sheren LeBlanc with the Spanish Fort Educational Enrichment Foundation will serve as vice chairman, while Beth Dotson with the Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation and Sam Morgart with RBC Bank will serve as secretary and at-large representative respectively.

The coalition debuted in 2009, in the hopes of establishing a collective voice for the county’s seven smaller local foundations while also providing a mechanism through which larger funding grants could be sought for which the smaller organizations are not eligible.

Denise D’Oliveira, a spokesperson for the coalition, said volunteers realized quickly that the collective network of education supporters "could have a greater impact if their efforts were cohesive and aligned.

Nearly two years later, the group has successfully lobbied for a nationwide superintendent search, organized support for the successful 2010 package of an emergency three-year, one-cent sales tax earmarked for education, and launched Yes We Can Baldwin, which D\’Oliveira called a "countywide public engagement project" to improve the quality of the public Baldwin County educational system.

The nonprofit coalition foundation will act as a permanent accountability mechanism for the grassroots educational overhaul, and includes representatives from each of the seven smaller foundations, the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance and all five county chambers of commerce.

D’Oliveira said two at-large members and four ex officio leaders round out the coalition board.