The Current - November 2022 Issue

THE

FOCUS ON

Hello Mako Nation!

I am Randy Wilkes, proud Superintendent of Orange Beach City Schools. I hail from Pike County, Alabama, where I grew up on a farm tending to cows, catfish, peas, and hay I attended TROY, lettered in football, and was a member of the 1987 National Championship team I earned two degrees while at TROY, both in secondary mathematics I later earned my Education Specialist degree from

Auburn University Montgomery. I began my professional career at Troy Middle School and Charles Henderson High School, teaching algebra and geometry. I became the Principal of Highland Home School at 28 years of age, was elected as Crenshaw County’s Superintendent in 2010, and was appointed as Phenix City’s Superintendent in 2014 I was named Superintendent of the Year in 2019 and Troy Alumni of the Year in 2021

Cathy and I have been married for nearly 33 years and have two boys, Haden and Ryan Haden is married to Orange Beach Elementary School’s special education teacher Kaylee. They have a 4 year old daughter Hadley who attends “Pop’s Shark School.” Cooper, the furriest member of the family, and golden retriever, is six. Ryan, our youngest son and the most courageous person ever, passed last spring after battling Duchene's Muscular Dystrophy his entire life We all are members of the “Hood” and are proud to call Bear Point home

My hobbies include working out (I have a six pack, it’s just located behind the pound cake),

cooking, fishing, and working in the yard (you cannot tell yet). I hope to enjoy boating again one day, real soon.

I aim to help make Orange Beach City Schools an elite school system Through increased expectations, goal setting, and rigorous professional development, I believe that OBCS can become the envy of not only Alabama but the entire nation. My family and I are most excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

Makos!

Capital Plan

After determining the safety needs of schools, Superintendent Randy Wilkes conducted a facility assessment. Using school and city data for the past ten years, a conservative student growth model of a 5% increase over the next five years and a slower 2% increase over the years six to ten was developed. Using this model, the student population would increase from 1,250 to 1,750 by 2032. The system’s Capital Plan reflects this potential growth and includes the following:

Orange Beach Elementary School’s (OBES) new cafetorium and library are underway The additions are scheduled for completion by the end of this school year OBES Phase II will include converting the present cafeteria and library into eight classrooms The desire is to begin this renovation at the end of the school year Construction will likely persist into the fall of 2023

The development of William Silvers Parkway and Canal Road may include a competition gymnasium, practice facility, field house, weight room, coaches’ offices, football stadium, track, and central office The Board is considering proceeding with this aspect in four phases Central Office

a i b c. d.

The office staff is using a City facility needed for City personnel Mass Grade (dirt work)

Competition Gymnasium, Covered Practice Facility, Field House Stadium and Track

Currently, secondary classroom space is adequate, though it is imaginable that an additional wing on the southside of the current school (enclosing the facility to provide a courtyard) will be needed in three to five years With this, it is expected that specialty classrooms featuring new career and technical offerings will be constructed

Note that the plan is fluid and will likely change based on various factors Then, too, some current athletic facilities will need to be relocated to accommodate the improvements Additional information will be provided in future Current editions

A Focus on Safety

Our top priority is to keep our students safe while learning and thriving in our schools Not a task to take lightly, we have partnered with experts both locally and across our region to understand the latest trends in school safety As a result, our parents and students will see changes implemented on our campuses Many of these will be visible, while some will not On the opposite page, we have outlined some of the tools and safeguards we have adopted Remaining a steadfast and committed partner, the City of Orange Beach continues to fund our local SROs. Offering dedicated attention to student protection, these SROs are on campus each school day and travel with teams to every off campus event. While our families may have grown accustomed to having their presence on campus and appreciate their watchful eye when traveling, this is an incredible and unique commitment to the safety of our students, for which we are extremely grateful We will continue to monitor the needs while staying in tune with safety trends and concerns across our nation

The Safety Summits

Thankful for the partnership with the City of Orange Beach, City Administrator, Police Department, Fire Department, and Office of Emergency Management, we have worked together to create a comprehensive safety preparation and response plan in the event of emergencies that could possibly impact our students. These Safety Summits are designed to gather input from all stakeholders, creating the safest atmosphere and an unrivaled comprehensive response to a wide array of potential emergencies

Pictured:KenGrimes(CityAdministrator),Randy Wilkes(OBCSSuperintendent)NicoleWoerner (DeputyDirector-CoastalResources),Jason Beaman(Meteorologist-in-Charge,NWS Mobile/Pensacola),ZachHood(Director,Baldwin CountyEmergencyManagementAgency),and SeanBrumley(GISSpecialist-Community Development)

CrisisAlert empowers confident human action in any incident from the every day to the extreme Our easy to use solution allows staff and administrators to immediately handle any situation, anywhere on the premises Our wearable badge ensures that staff never have to worry about finding help because help will always find them

It is recommended that schools develop and implement an Incident Response Plan to cover cybersecurity events Schools maintain sensitive data on students, and it is critical to keep the information as secure as possible An Incident Response Plan will minimize the effects of a cyber event The objective of an Incident Response Plan is to provide assistance to a school system during a breach from the beginning to the end with a fast recovery time frame

An on line safety partner, Lightspeed is designed to assist in school violence prevention, web filtering, suicide prevention, social media safety, student online safety, and prevent cyberbullying

Here are a few of the tools OB City Schools has employed to protect student safety:

Joining Orange Beach City Schools at the start of the school year, Mr. Michael Lee brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience as an educator After spending ten years as Principal and five years as Assistant Principal at Clay Chalkville, he knows a thing or two about student success and engagement When asked, "Why Orange Beach City Schools?", Mr Lee responded: "My wife and I have been vacationing in Orange Beach for 20 years We have always loved the family friendly environment and the way of life here on the island Our family faced the challenge of my wife going through cancer treatment this last year. Having all of us in a smaller environment has

been a huge blessing. We felt called to come to Orange Beach, and those feelings have been confirmed many times since we've been here. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring our family to the Orange Beach community and work for this amazing school system." We are certainly grateful that he brings his experience and perspective to our system. Mr. Lee was asked to choose three items of importance to him and explain their significance in his life. Read below to learn more about his Top Three.

Be Humble, Be

It would come as no surprise to anyone who knows him, Mr Lee's first item is a photo of his family He has been married to his wife, Jana, for twenty years. His children are his pride and joy: John Michael (a senior), Sam (a junior), and Addison (7th grade). They have jumped right in and are proud to be part of Mako Nation. He was born and raised in Carbon Hill, Alabama (a small town in Walker County) He says, "where faith, family, and athletics became the most important things to me "

The High School Experience: Creating a Legacy

Orange Beach City Schools set the charge this year for our students and administrators to be conscious of the legacy we are creating. While this is naturally a year of many "firsts," this year will begin to chart the course for who we are and where we are going. Both an exciting opportunity and a weighty responsibility, our students continue to rise to the challenge Setting the bar on testing, achievement, and student life, our students continue to be the force that drives all that we do This past Monday, October 31st, marks the first Senior Class "Character Lunch," and we continue working with our student advisory groups to create traditions that will become ingrained in the Mako experience This year, we will strive to positively impact students in all that we do The weekly newsletter sent to parents will keep you posted on the efforts made to encourage students to participate in this mission Together, we will Create a Lasting Legacy

Kind, Serve Other

This note...Be Humble (You are never above doing anything...remember that you didn't get where you are without help from others.), Be Honest (Look people in the eye and tell the truth ), Serve Others (Do the best you can each day to put others in the position to be successful )

While this note is of utmost importance to Mr Lee, it was interesting to witness that this is only of many that cover his desk. Notes of appreciation, words of encouragement, and scripture verses cover his desktop. If you ever have the chance, you will want to take advantage of the opportunity to read them. They serve as reminders of the impact that he has had on countless students over the years and motivation to continue his work.

This desk "This desk sits in my office and has been in my office for several years I keep it here because it reminds me that every decision I make impacts the students that sit in those seats. Philippians 2:3 4 says, 'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others before yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.' This verse means a great deal to me personally because I truly believe as an educator that our greatest impact only comes when we take the time to consider others when it comes to our actions and the decisions that we make " Michael Lee

Using the Tools

Having the right tools is the first step toward the successful completion of any job Ensuring student success is no different. We want our counselors to be equipped with tools to provide a streamlined, effective, and user friendly experience. Naviance is a tool that we have found to offer this of type service to our students and parents. Through the generosity of the MAAAC, we have been able to contract with Naviance. Not just for college application processing, this is a comprehensive option that allows students in grades 9 12 to consider career and college objectives throughout their high school tenure. Naviance allows students to identify and cultivate personal strengths and aptitudes, leading to a more educated approach to future successes

Used for progress monitoring and test preparation, Progress Learning partners with our teachers to prepare students for the best possible outcomes. It has modules for intervention, as well as standardized test practice for the ACT. It will customize a program for students who may struggle on a standard by providing practice problems with examples and explanations

The elementary intervention module starts a student where they are and customizes a learning pathway to get them to grade level proficiency In addition, teachers can create standards based assignments and assessments for their classes. A great tool for our teachers, our students will be even better prepared to achieve their academic goals

Our teachers are fully committed to student achievement

Kids First is dedicated to professional growth through commitment, collaboration, and creating a personalized plan for schools that includes strategies, action steps, milestones and measures of success. Backed by the research of Timperly, Wilson, Barrar, and Fung (2007) supporting the impact of professional learning on student outcomes, Kids First partners with schools to create personalized programs that are student focused and data driven and ensure high levels of competency for teachers in the identified areas.

This personalized professional development and coaching guides the work in the classroom and assists in creating meaningful Professional Learning Communities to engage teachers in data evaluation and planning with purpose

We are excited to partner with Kids First. This "coaching" model uses student data to address particular needs of students. Then, through personal classroom visits, coaches our teachers through observing, co teaching, independent teaching, feedback, and personal reflection to develop best practices to meet those student needs. This program has proven to be a profound tool for increasing student achievement. Our teachers have embraced the program and look forward to seeing our students thrive.

New position, same dedication

Wes Pouncey, Middle School Principal

Education was not always my professional career plan. Being from a family of educators, I knew public education would always play a big role in my life, but I truly did not realize the effect an educator could have on young lives until I began working in the education field Once I realized this, I valued the opportunity to help a child see their full potential in life I have been blessed with two parents who spent their entire careers in education My wife (Kelly) is an educator at Orange Beach Elementary In addition, my brother and his wife are both educators in my hometown of Highland Home We all share the same beliefs and evolving philosophies, which were molded through years of experience in education.

Students, parents, and community members will find me as a caring, motivating, inspiring educator who promotes trust, respect, and learning. I’ve been fortunate to have numerous opportunities to learn from extraordinary administrators throughout my

career, and through their wisdom and guidance, I’ve learned the education field is a complex social environment that will continue to change and evolve, presenting new challenges to educators every day. With those challenges come opportunities to inspire, encourage, and prepare our students for life

My passion for education is what drives me every day to make a meaningful and positive contribution to our students, staff, and community As the leader of Orange Beach Middle School, it is my responsibility to ensure children of all ability levels receive an exceptional education, and every decision I make should be made solely on what is best for our students

- Wes Pouncey, Middle School Principal

"Orange Beach City Schools provides a K 12 results based experience that focuses on the whole student, one that incorporates challenging academics and skills acquisition, strong character development and solid citizenship, which will build our next generation. "

"My passion for education is what drives me every day."

Middle School Sets the Bar

Gaining Traction in the Classroom: A Hands-On Approach

Fostering a love of STEM/STEAM begins in our elementary school and continues in our middle and high school Our teachers are working diligently each day to provide hands on learning experiences for our students Through labs and interactive lessons, students continue to use problem solving skills, creative strategies, and real world applications.

Greenpower is one of our STEM initiatives that allows students the opportunity to participate in a hands on approach to engineering and project management Participants of the Greenpower Program design, build, and race student driven electric race cars Not only will students benefit from hands on learning and critical thinking, they will also be able to polish their marketing and presentation skills. Through local community partnerships, such as those with the Flora Bama and with Isurus Graphics, our students begin to understand the dynamic of working collaboratively in our community to reach a common goal Some of the skills learned through this program include: Computer Aided Design using Siemens professional software, mechanical engineering concepts, basic electricity, basic aerodynamics, basic energy conservation, teamwork, basic manufacturing techniques, tool basics, project management, fundraising, marketing, and public relations

STEM/STEAM initiatives will continue to be part of our learning environment We will continue to challenge our students to think, create, and excel in our classrooms through projects like these.

What do I love most about Orange Beach Elementary? That’s an easy one for me It’s the people I never dreamed that I would grow up and be a principal. In fact, as a kindergartener, I told everyone I wanted to be “an ice cream man” when I grew up When I got my first job as a school administrator, my mom sent this quote: "If you want to make everyone happy, don't be a leader, sell ice cream " Steve Jobs

Being the Principal of Orange Beach Elementary isn’t always easy, but it really is my dream job This role combines my love of people, especially children, with my love of teaching, learning, and helping others. Our district wide theme this year is Creating a Lasting Legacy

ared a story with my staff I’m working on my doctorate rs held a Clifton Strengths training recently to help us g cessfully complete the dissertation

I took the StrengthsFinder™ assessment, and the results showed my top 5 themes or strengths Communication and Woo were two of my strengths As I read my personalized strengths insights, these are some sentences that stood out to me; “Your congenial that is, friendly manner as well as your interest in people help you identify common ground, offer compliments, ask non threatening questions, and effortlessly move in and out of conversations Because of your strengths, you can make a party, meeting, gathering, celebration, or class fun ” This was my senior quote by Dr Seuss:

I still believe that school should be fun! That’s one reason we have incorporated more academic and attendance celebrations this year (I’m working on figuring out how to make my dissertation more fun, so you might see me writing at a coffee shop on the weekends!)

Out of all my strengths, the one that I would like for others to see most in me is the Maximizer theme. “People who are especially talented in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.”

That’s what I want my legacy to be…collective leadership by highlighting the talent in others. I want Orange Beach Elementary to be extraordinary We have a unique opportunity to excel, and the thoughts and actions from all of us will make the difference I encourage each of you to focus on what matters: our students Please continue to share good news about something you have heard about our school, staff, or students with others

It’s an exciting time to be a Mako!

Mary Catherine Law, Principal

"Being the Principal at Orange Beach Elementary isn't always easy, but it really is my dream job."

Full STEAM ahead for OBES

The STEAM Lab at Orange Beach Elementary School is taught by a STEAM and STEM certified teacher. Together with Sea Sand and Stars, the program works to enrich the classroom teacher’s grade level standards using the Engineer Design Process and a variation of technology to develop 21st century skills along with working in collaborative groups.

As the students progress through their years at the elementary school, they will be introduced to technology with increasingly more difficult coding practices. Students get to experience Bee Bots, Ozobot, Strawbees, Micro:bit, Makey Makey, Vex Robotics, Green Screens, 3 D Printers and more

In the STEAM Lab, they also tend to seven Tower Gardens Students learn about hydroponic and aeroponic gardening. They start plants from seeds, watching them grow. Students then harvest the plants. Students eat a variety of different salads, make pesto, dry herbs, and enjoy their foods in a variety of different ways. Students also learn about the nutrients to be added to their water and test the pH level to ensure it is at the perfect acidic level for their plants

The STEAM initiatives at OBES have become an integral part of the educational experience. This hands on approach fosters learning and imagination. At OBES, students are learning that anything is possible!

Something to "Crow" About

Crow a little louder! I asked Board members at a recent retreat what I could improve upon, and the response was to "Crow a little louder!" Easy enough, I thought so here is my first crow

First, did you know that:

There is a teacher shortage in America?

That is not the case in Orange Beach, for EVERY teacher is appropriately certified and is teaching in a related field

Not one teacher has been employed on an alternate or emergency basis. School systems across the nation are experiencing difficulties securing substitute teachers?

Again, that is not the case in Orange Beach! We have over 80 substitute teachers, nearly one third of which are certified!

There is much media coverage of lessening the college requirements to become a teacher

Not the case in Orange Beach, as 74% of all teachers have advanced degrees.

The school system is currently working with various universities to increase that percentage to 90

This should not be the case for a school system conceived in March, born in August, and is less than 125 days old. Then why?

It is very simple It is the people! Substitute teachers desire to work in a controlled, disciplined environment, not one that is unruly, where students do not respect themselves or others! Staff members want to work with effective leaders and parents who support the educational system in a positive way Administrators want to work in a locale where the municipality, business, and industry are student focused and work collectively as a team

It is true, we educate in paradise paradise made of people, not palm trees, sand, and spectacular sunsets but people Thank you, Orange Beach, for giving us fantastic students and for giving me and 100+ others the excellent opportunity of serving this community Thank you, employees, for giving us something to crow about!

Randy Wilkes, Superintendent

Students in the Spotlight

Mako Calendar Events

Red Ribbon Leaders: Arianna Santos, Blake Brunick, & Allie Roach

OBMHS Students of the Month: (L-R) Hallie Zimmerman- 10th Grade, Lauren Pate- 12th Grade, Emily Perkinson-8th Grade, Ro Barnett11th Grade and Addison Lee- 7th Grade(Not pictured Jack Courtney-9th Grade)

OBES October Terrific Kids: Cullen Soutullo, Katherine Newton, Anna Kate Sonnier, Colton Stewart, Hadley Adams, Tinsley Vail, Noah Barnes, Aaron WaldropSeeley Lewis, Baillie Presley, Grant Tindal, Logan Black, Trey Taylor-Whitman, Lily Galletta, Adalyn Sullivan

Red Ribbon Leaders

of the Month October Terrific Kids

Stay in the know!

Thank you so much for reading the first edition of The Current The charge for our first year as Orange Beach City Schools is to Create a Lasting Legacy. The Current stems from that initiative. We want our parents, partners, and community to be apprised of the incredible things that our faculty and administrators do to foster excellence in every endeavor. I am so proud of the accomplishments made by our school board, city leaders, administrators, faculty, and staff, especially in such a short time. In August, I was fortunate to be able to address the entire staff at Institute. I expressed my unwavering belief that God places us all in the right place, with the right people, at the right time, to change the world around us for the better. I am so thankful to have found myself among people who are driven to positively impact our children. We are all part of something incredible; we are creating a legacy.