On Tuesday, April 25^th Baldwin County Public School administrators presented $40,000 in scholarships to students pursuing their education with hopes of becoming future teachers. A total of 40 scholarships were awarded— 28 new scholarships and 12 renewal scholarships.

Superintendent Eddie Tyler welcomed guests to the Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarship Reception stating that “tonight you will see that what has been accomplished is because of the relationships and partnerships that have come together to promote education in Baldwin County.”

In keeping with the district mission to ‘select, develop and retain outstanding employees committed to providing exceptional learning opportunities for all of our students,’ the Human Resource Department has sponsored the Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarship and the Joshua Eric Hall Baldwin Proud Memorial Scholarship.

“We hope these scholarships will encourage aspiring teachers to enter the field of public education and return to serve our Baldwin County students and communities and will offer support to our current employees who are seeking certification or continuing their education,” said Robbie Owen, Rockwell Elementary Principal and emcee for the celebration.

The Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarship began in 2021 as an HR Initiative that immediately grew into a Baldwin Proud initiative supported by Superintendent Eddie Tyler, School Board Members, the Baldwin County Education Coalition, Baldwin County Public Schools Senior Staff & Communications Department, as well as school and district administrators.

“Our donations have increased from $2,000 in year one to over $60,000 in year three,” said Tiffany Wilson, Director of Human Resources. “We have many to thank for this success and for the opportunity to award 28 new scholarships and 12 renewal scholarships this year, compared to having just four recipients in year one. To say we are elated is an understatement.”

The Baldwin County Education Coalition serves as the fiscal manager of the Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarship, the Josh Hall Memorial Scholarship and AEA Partnership Funds. “As a charitable nonprofit organization, we are able to meet funding needs where public funds cannot,” said Terry Burkle, Executive Director for the Baldwin County Education Coalition. “Private donors and sponsors are supporting initiatives that are making a difference, including the Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarship that is growing future teachers and investing in current teachers to further their education.”

In February 2023 the Baldwin County Education Coalition launched a new fundraising event, An Evening of Education Champions, in an effort to increase the level of funding for the Josh Hall Memorial Scholarship which focuses on scholarships for existing employees and their children. The inaugural event raised $25,000 for the scholarship fund.

Scholarships were awarded in the following categories:

BALDWIN PROUD FUTURE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship was the initial vision that began this initiative. It is a $1,000 scholarship given to a Baldwin County Public School graduating senior who is attending college with a major in education. This scholarship recognizes at least one graduate from each feeder pattern. This year ten Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarships were awarded. These scholarships are are renewable each year, provided the scholarship recipient is enrolled in a college or university and is still pursuing public education as a career goal.

Andrea Jill Robertson, Foley High School

Josiah Hixon, Spanish Fort High School

Tre’Kerria Smith, Baldwin County High School

Blakely Starrett, Fairhope High School

Maggie McVay, Daphne High School

Olivia Henderson, Robertsdale High School

Noah Givens, Elberta High School

Kaydynn Bourque, Daphne High School

Tyshaun Washington, Elberta High School

Ryleigh Hevner, Elberta High School

Renewing

Lily Glassford, 2021 Robertsdale High School

Wyndal Mosley, 2021 Elberta High School

Michaela Sharp, 2021 Fairhope High School

Abby Beech, 2021 Spanish Fort High School

Elizabeth Kell, 2022 Daphne High School

Zachariah Hixon, 2022 Spanish Fort High School

Hannah Brooks, 2022 Baldwin County High School

Kira Berona, 2022 Orange Beach High School

Citlaly Mendez, 2022 Foley High School

Amberleigh Gibbs, 2022 Robertsdale High School

Mary Kate Robertson, 2022 Elberta High School

Betsy Murphy, 2022 Fairhope High School

JOSHUA ERIC HALL BALDWIN PROUD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship was created last year to honor the memory of our former Florence B. Mathis employee, Josh Hall. Josh was dedicated to mentoring and teaching the students at his school. He was truly Baldwin Proud. This scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship and to be eligible applicants must be a current employee, as was Josh, or the child of an employee, and must be enrolled in an education program to either become a teacher or to obtain an advance degree in an education field.

Employees currently working in Baldwin County Public Schools

Sara Brantley, Special Education, Bay Minette Middle School

Lacey Vinson, Prekindergarten Aide, Perdido Elementary School

Amy Martin, Reading and Math Intervention, Baldwin County Virtual School

Patrice Williams, Second Grade, Daphne East Elementary School

Lisa Madden, Prekindergarten Aide, Elberta Elementary School

Marla Warner, Second Grade, Fairhope West Elementary School

Chelsea Loftus, Paraprofessional, Foley High School

Mayra Avila, Bilingual Paraprofessional, Robertsdale High School

Ana Hurtado-Capiz, Bilingual Paraprofessional, Robertsdale High School

Brunilda Vega-Campos, Spanish, Robertsdale High School

Blakely Norris, Payroll Clerk, Baldwin County Public Schools

Children of employees of Baldwin County Public Schools

Casie Carr, student at the University of South Alabama

Catherine Fallo, student at the University of South Alabama

Raines Faulkner, student at Auburn University

Corinne Stanton, student at the University of Alabama

Chloe Giardina, student at the University of South Alabama

Mary Katherine Gunn, 2023 Graduate of Elberta High School

AEA PARTNERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship opportunity began last year as a partnership between our Human Resources Department and AEA and is for $1000. It is given to either a current Baldwin County Graduate or former Baldwin County Graduate.

Trenton Spaller, 2022 Graduate, Fairhope High School

If you are interested in making a donation to the Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarship Fund or the Josh Eric Hall Baldwin Proud Memorial Scholarship Fund please visit https://linktr.ee/betterbaldwin to make your donation today!

CLICK HERE to view the photo gallery from the 2023 Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarship Celebration.