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ROBERTSDALE — The annual January Superintendent's Breakfast was held Friday, Jan. 20, at the South Baldwin Center for Technology Culinary Arts Building at Robertsdale High School.

The event, which began with a breakfast cooked and served by the school's student culinary staff and was led by Superintendent Eddie Tyler, focused on several topics and plans for the new year, such as updated security measures, the importance of state assessments and a new scholarship for high school students interested in becoming educators.

Marty McRae, assistant superintendent, spoke about the new security system that is now fully implemented in 45 schools as well as on buses and in central offices.

"In less than a minute, we can have our student resource officers and administration on site," McRae said. "It may cost a few extra dollars, but when it comes to saving lives that is what our staff cares about."

Shortly after, Renee Carter, dean of academics, took the stage to speak about the significance of state assessments for the county and how to improve preparation for these assessments.

"While we have been preparing all year academically, we also have to think about interferences when it comes to state assessments," Carter said. "Think about how schools love to win a state championship. I love athletics, but the ACAP and the ACT, that is our academic state championship."

Carter addressed how attendance, quality of sleep and motivation are all key components of performance on state assessments, regardless of how they perform academically.

Tiffany Wilson, director of human resources, spoke about what this year will look like for the department's scholarship for students and employees interested in the field of education.

Wilson also announced an upcoming scholarship event, An Evening of Education Champions, which will be held Feb. 2 at Oak Hollow Farm in Fairhope.

"Last year was extremely successful. We raised over $50,000," Wilson said. "This year, we want to have a greater participation with local business partners and create greater awareness about the scholarship."

The latter part of the event focused on the plans for and structure of Baldwin Preparatory Academy, set to open Fall 2024 to serve grades 10-12.

Kendall Mowdy, career technical coordinator, and John Wilson, chief school financial officer, took the stage to discuss updates concerning the academy, which is estimated to cost $80 million in construction.

Baldwin Preparatory Academy will implement a new model for teaching that has not yet been seen in Alabama, largely focusing on sharpening career technical skills.

The academy will include "pods," an open setting style classroom that will use applied learning methods and a blend of computer and face-to-face learning.
The academy will also include unique courses such as cosmetology, cyber security, health sciences and more.

"We don't build a career tech high school every day," Mowdy said. "We have to shift the idea of what career tech is."

Mowdy and Wilson also discussed the academy's partnership with Coastal Community College in Gulf Shores.

"This will be a community school, open during the day, in the evenings and on the weekends," Mowdy said. "We are strategically doing that because we want Coastal to be able to come in and use our facilities and for industry partners to come in and mentor these students."

The final portion of the breakfast featured an update on two proposals that will be presented to the school board this year, including possible upgrades to several athletics and fine arts facilities, and possible partnerships with the county to build roads and bridges to combat the rapid growth of the county's population.

There was also mention of possible plans to create a behavioral school in Baldwin County, which would partner with AltaPointe, a division of the Alabama Department of Mental Health.

This innovative school would provide full-time therapists, psychologists, mental health counselors and more for children with mental health and behavioral challenges.

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate the partnership," the superintendent said as he closed out the event. "There is a great climate and culture in our county because we all work together."