The Baldwin County Education Coalition recently hosted the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year Banquet recognizing educators from throughout the county, six of which came from Foley feeder pattern schools.

According to a press release on the Foley teachers who were recognized, Teacher of the Year for individual schools included Kerry Becton with Florence B. Mathis Elementary, Amanda Welsh with Foley Elementary, Brandy Richard with Foley High, Michelle Millon with Foley Middle, Kaitlyn Martin with Magnolia Elementary and Angela Ingraham with Swift Consolidated.

Four of the 10 Baldwin County teachers recognized as National Board Certified Teachers at the banquet were also from Foley schools. Christina Henson with Foley Middle, Terri Smith with Foley High; Lisa Tidwell with Foley Elementary and Alicia Morrison with Foley Elementary received or renewed their certification.

Elizabeth Von Hofe with Spanish Fort Elementary School, was named Elementary Teacher of the Year for Baldwin County. Emily Hudson with Spanish Fort High School, was named Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Each school in the district selects a Teacher of the Year, and from those honorees, a panel of judges chooses one elementary and one secondary educator to represent Baldwin County Public Schools. Both winners will advance for consideration in the Alabama Teacher of the Year program.

Foley City Council and Foley Education Advisory Committee also recently recognized area educators for improvements at the six area public schools.

The state ratings for all Foley area public schools improved in the last year. Each of the six schools received a “B” on the state report card. This is the first time that the grade for all schools has reached that level.

In the last three years, Foley High School’s report card score increased 10 points, from 70 to 80. Foley Middle School’s score increased from 68 to 81. Mathis Elementary went from 79 to 83. Grades at Foley Elementary increased from 79 to 85. At Magnolia, the grades rose from 77 to 83. Swift grades went from 78 to 82.

According to the press release, city and school officials said the financial support provided by the city has helped schools improve. The City Council budgeted $300,000 to be distributed to Foley schools. The funding is distributed through the FEAC. The Baldwin County Board of Education also matches the city funding.

Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the city is working with the school system to help each school make improvements. Foley began the program to provide additional funding three years ago.

“Last year, in a statewide grading program, all of our schools in Foley now grade a ‘B.’ This is the first time, in my memory, that we were able to do that,” Hellmich said. “Our partnership with Baldwin is an asset that helps healthy schools go over the top.”

He said the city will continue to work with schools to improve education in Foley.

“We’re hoping that we get some schools in the coming year to ‘A.’ We are working closely with the Baldwin County Board of Education,” he said. “We’re proud to do that. We did that without putting a tax on the citizens and we’re going to continue to work with them and improve our schools.”