Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley area educators were recently honored as the community celebrated a historic milestone. Teachers from six schools were recognized at a countywide banquet. The city highlighted major gains in report card scores. All six Foley area public schools now hold a "B" rating for the first time.

The Baldwin County Education Coalition held the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year Banquet in March to honor educators from all over the county. The Foley City Council and the Foley Education Advisory Committee also recently recognized local teachers for their efforts to improve area schools.

Foley area teachers named as school Teachers of the Year included Kerry Becton, who specializes in multiple disabilities, special education, and K-2 at Florence B. Mathis Elementary; Amanda Welsh, a second-grade teacher at Foley Elementary; and Brandy Richard, who teaches AP U.S. History, AP Human Geography, and U.S. History II at Foley High.

Michelle Dillon, a science teacher at Foley Middle, was also honored. Kaitlyn Martin, a kindergarten teacher at Magnolia Elementary, and Angela Ingraham, a special education teacher at Swift Consolidated, rounded out the list of honorees.

Four of the 10 Baldwin County teachers recognized as National Board Certified Teachers at the banquet were from Foley schools. They were Christina Henson, mathematics and early adolescence, Foley Middle; Terri Smith, art, Foley High; Lisa Tidwell, literacy, Foley Elementary; and Alicia Morrison, generalist, Foley Elementary.

The numbers behind the school improvements are impressive. Over the past three years, Foley High School's score rose by 10 points, from 70 to 80. Foley Middle School experienced the largest increase, going from 68 to 81.

Mathis Elementary increased from 79 to 83, and Foley Elementary went up from 79 to 85. Magnolia Elementary improved from 77 to 83, while Swift Consolidated rose from 78 to 82.

City and school officials stated that the city's financial support has been crucial to the improvements. The Foley City Council allocated $300,000 to be distributed to local schools through the FEAC. The Baldwin County Board of Education also matches that funding.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the city started its program to provide extra school funding three years ago and is collaborating with the school system to help each campus improve.

Last year, as part of a statewide grading program, all of our schools in Foley received a 'B.' This is the first time, in my memory, that we have achieved this," Hellmich said. "Our partnership with Baldwin is an asset that helps healthy schools excel."

Hellmich added that the city has even higher ambitions moving forward. "We're hoping to 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 it without taxing the citizens, and we're going to keep working with them to improve our schools.

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

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