Orange Beach City Schools honors AP Program teachers for outstanding achievements

GCM Staff Report
Posted 10/17/24

Orange Beach City Schools recognized the contributions of their Advanced Placement (AP) Program teachers during the October Board of Education meeting, celebrating both teacher dedication and student …

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Orange Beach City Schools honors AP Program teachers for outstanding achievements

Posted

Orange Beach City Schools recognized the contributions of their Advanced Placement (AP) Program teachers during the October Board of Education meeting, celebrating both teacher dedication and student success.

The school district highlighted the achievements of its AP courses, which offer high school students a chance to tackle college-level material, potentially earning college credit based on their performance in the AP Exams.

AP courses at Orange Beach High School, spanning 13 subjects, prepare students to take the AP Exams, scored on a scale of 1 to 5. Many universities in the United States award college credit to students who achieve scores of 3 or higher, making these courses both challenging and highly rewarding.

In a news release, Principal Chris Shaw of Orange Beach Middle and High School emphasized the hard work of both students and teachers in preparing for these exams.

"The incredible success of our students on the AP exams truly reflects the dedication and hard work our teachers and students put in every day," Shaw said in the release. "We couldn't be more proud of what they've accomplished together."

To further acknowledge the dedication of these educators, the Orange Beach Board of Education awarded a $200 stipend to each teacher for every student who scored a 3 or higher on the AP exams. With 134 qualifying scores, a total of $26,800 was distributed in recognition of these academic achievements. This financial incentive underscores the district's commitment to supporting teachers who guide their students toward academic success.

Superintendent Randy Wilkes also expressed pride in the program, stating, "We are incredibly proud of our Advanced Placement program and the dedication of our teachers and students. The exceptional results from this past year's AP exams testify to our educators' commitment to fostering a rigorous and engaging academic environment that mirrors college-level expectations.

"The success of our students demonstrates not only their hard work but also the relentless support and guidance provided by our teachers. Programs like AP are vital to preparing our students for future academic and career success, and we are honored to recognize our outstanding educators for their contributions. Their efforts have resulted in an impressive 134 qualifying scores, reinforcing the high standards we have set here at Orange Beach City Schools."

The 2024 AP Exams at Orange Beach High School produced 22 AP Scholars, students who achieved scores of 3 or higher on three or more exams. Additionally, three students earned the AP Scholar with Honor designation, achieving an average score of at least 3.25 across all their exams and scoring 3 or higher on four or more exams. Two students received the prestigious AP Scholar with Distinction award, requiring an average score of at least 3.5 and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams.

The following teachers were recognized with stipends for their exemplary efforts and the success of their students: Drew Castillow, Madison Fields, Kristie Garner, Matthew Loper, Kim McBee, Daniel Paul, Rhonda Prater, Ben Slaton, Morgan Soutullo and Chesley Sullivan.