ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — For two Central Baldwin principals, providing a good, quality education and helping students reach their full potential are at the top of their goal list for the 2010-11 school year.

Beginning her fifth year as Loxley Elementary School principal, Dr. DeAnn Ramey strives to keep the students safe while “exposing them to enrichment opportunities, building character and having fun while doing all of it. Each child at LES is encouraged to progress to their own potential, not someone else’s, and every child has and continues to improve each and every year.”

Keeping watch over the 397 Pre-K through sixth grade students can always be a challenge, Ramey said, but “educators are taught to be flexible and creative despite the recent economic hardships. We rely on the State Legislature to fund education in Alabama, which means education rides an economic and political rollercoaster. And lately, that roller coaster has been going down much more often than coming up.”

But despite teacher and service staff cuts for the past three years and the complete removal of State funding for classroom supplies, as well as larger class sizes and fewer resources, Ramey said they are continuing to do more for less.

“Parents and the Loxley community have stepped up to help where they can, but they are facing their own financial crisis. We owe a debt of gratitude to parents who have spent their own money and time to make this the best start of a school year ever,” Ramey said.

And with 18 teachers and 10 support staff, Ramey feels confident about the new year.

“Our teachers are working harder than ever to meet the needs of their students. We all do everything in our power to keep the challenges we face from directly impacting students, The quality of our teachers is more important now than ever and they are up for the challenge,” Ramey explained.

In addition to parents’ support, Ramey said local businesses like Cain’s Grocery, Burris Farm Market, Hot Wheels Skate Center, Citizens Bank and United Bank have joined with the Town of Loxley in their financial support of our school.

Ramey is also thankful for the passing of the Penny Tax in March and the support of Baldwin County residents who voted for it.

“This tax will keep us from spiraling into debt which means we put financial resources where they should be, toward educating our students, not paying off a loan. This tax revenue saves teaching jobs, allows the school system to bring back some critical service positions like nurses, bus drivers and cafeteria workers. It puts us in a positive financial position that allows us to focus on students,” Ramey commented.

In addition to the Penny Tax revenue, LES received a $1,500 21st Century Grant for the Afterschool program, Project HOPE which allows the school to provide afterschool care to students for $1 a day.

“This is such a bargain for students and additionally, the grant is going to allow us to provide a summer camp for our students that will not only have an atmosphere of fun and games but also an educational component provided by certified teachers,:” Ramey said.

Donna Byrd is the Project HOPE director and Ramey said she is diligently working to create quality programs for the students in both programs.

Students will also benefit from new reading and math computer software by Compass Learning. “Each student has been issued a log-on for a self-paced reading and math program and are scheduled for daily computer usage. They will either receive academic remediating or acceleration depending upon their individual needs. I am anxious to see the result of this implementation” Ramey explained.

And even though Loxley and four other schools didn’t make AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) last year, Ramey wants the parents and communities to realize LES excelled in every area (Special Ed Math, Poverty Math and Reading, Minority Students in Reading and Math, Attendance and Overall Math and Reading) except Special Education Reading.

“In determining AYP, there are no percentages, it is 100 percent or zero. We are all working diligently to improve the scores for Special Ed Reading to meet AYP requirements and to maintain the standard of excellence achieved in all other subgroups,” Ramey said.

The same holds true for Elsanor Elementary School principal Dr. Susan Runnels.

Starting her sixth year as principal for the 300 Pre-K through sixth grade students, Runnels said Elsanor School is “one of Baldwin County’s best kept secrets. It’s a community school where everyone knows everyone. The parents are wonderful and the faculty and staff are the best””

With 21 teachers and support staff, Runnels wants every student to reach or exceed their maximum potential and said they, along with J. Larry Newton School in Fairhope and three Mobile County Elementary Schools, are working with an AMSTI (Alabama Math and Science Teaching Initiative) to pilot a Math program.

“This program will require students to think mathematically and our third through fifth grade teachers are very excited about this opportunity and we have already seen an improvement in our students this year,” Runnels explained.

As with LES, Runnels said the Penny Tax saved personnel at her school.

“I can’t imagine what our schools would be like this year without the additional money. It’s only a temporary fix, so we must develop a plan to permanently provide money for our schools,” Runnels said.

And lastly, Runnels wants the parents and community to know “We don’t have ‘challenges’ at Elsanor School, only opportunities.”