Superintendent Notices

Baldwin County Board of Education Selects Marty McRae as Superintendent
 

BAY MINETTE, Ala. — The Baldwin County Board of Education has selected Marty McRae, who currently serves as interim superintendent, as the next superintendent of Baldwin County Public Schools.
 

McRae brings 36 years of experience in public education, all within Baldwin County Public Schools. Throughout his career, he has served as a teacher, coach, technology coordinator, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent, giving him extensive experience in school and district leadership.
 

Prior to being named interim superintendent, McRae served as assistant superintendent of Prevention and Support/Student Services, overseeing multiple departments and districtwide initiatives, including transportation, child nutrition, attendance, alternative education, after-school programs, counseling and health services. In this role, he also led the implementation of districtwide safety initiatives, including surveillance systems, employee panic alerts and standardized emergency response protocols.
 

McRae previously served as assistant superintendent of Secondary Education from 2015 to 2022, supervising and evaluating secondary school principals across the district and supporting curriculum initiatives, including dual enrollment, distance learning and credit recovery programs. He has also served as Baldwin County athletic director since 2015.
 

McRae served as principal of Spanish Fort High School from 2010 to 2015 and as assistant principal of Fairhope High School from 2004 to 2010. He began his career in the classroom as a mathematics teacher and coach at Fairhope High School and later served as the school’s technology coordinator and administrative intern.
 

“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve as superintendent of Baldwin County Public Schools,” McRae said. “Baldwin County is a special place, one that must be preserved while also making the district one of the most competitive in the state. We are in the process of creating our goals and our staff and parents will be hearing more about that in the weeks to come. I cannot do this without our communities’ buy-in and without our parents’ buy-in. I hope they will join me and partner with me on keeping this system at a level we all expect and deserve.” 
 

McRae holds a Master of Education from the University of South Alabama and a Bachelor of Science from Auburn University at Montgomery. He also holds administrative certification from the University of South Alabama and completed the Superintendent Academy at the University of South Alabama in 2020.
 

Baldwin County Public Schools serves more than 30,000 students and employs approximately 4,500 people across Baldwin County. McRae will transition from interim superintendent to superintendent effective immediately.

 

Dear Baldwin County Public School System Families,

Are you ready? Are you not ready? Do you have a million things on your list, or just a couple? I have a feeling most of you fall into the first category, and that's okay. We’ve been working on our to-do list all summer and our employees have been working hard. We are ready to welcome our students back and we can’t wait for them to walk through our doors.

The first week of school is here. In just two days, we welcome our students back. The first day of school for all Baldwin County Public Schools is Wednesday, Aug. 12!

The start of a new school year is one of my favorite times of the year. It's a season filled with excitement, fresh opportunities and endless possibilities. Whether your child is walking into a Baldwin County Public School for the very first time or beginning their final year before graduation, please know that our teachers, administrators and support staff can’t wait for their arrival.

As I begin my first school year as superintendent, I want you to know what an honor it is to serve the students, families and employees of Baldwin County Public Schools. While this is my first year in this role, it is my 36th year in public education, and I remain committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and reach their full potential.

As you prepare for the first day of school, I'd like to share a few reminders to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

Free school meals: Thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), all Baldwin County Public Schools students will receive free breakfast and lunch throughout the 2026-2027 school year. We are grateful to be able to provide nutritious meals that help fuel student success and remove one more worry for families. No forms will be required.

Back-to-school safety: The start of a new school year means thousands of students will be walking, biking and arriving on school campuses each day. Please help us keep everyone safe by slowing down in school zones, staying alert for children and school crossing guards, and allowing yourself a few extra minutes as everyone settles back into their routines. A little extra patience can make all the difference.

Bus safety: Each school day, more than 400 Baldwin County Public Schools buses travel our roads, making frequent stops to safely pick up and drop off students. During the first few weeks of school, traffic will be heavier than usual, so please allow yourself a little extra time and stay alert for our school buses and students. Remember, it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus when its stop arm is extended. If your child rides the bus, please have them at the bus stop a few minutes early during the first week of school. Arrival times may vary by a few minutes as drivers learn new riders and adjust to first-week traffic, so being at the stop early can help ensure your child doesn't miss the bus. We have new software on our buses that will be rolled out and introduced to you soon that is set to make our routes the safest they’ve ever been. It will allow our bus drivers and administrators to know where our buses are at all times. Again, you will be getting more information about this in the coming months.

Traffic and car lines: The first few days of school are always our busiest as students, parents and staff settle into new routines. School zones and campus car lines may take a little longer than usual, so we ask that you pack your patience and allow yourself a few extra minutes. Our schools have well-established arrival and dismissal procedures, and once everyone gets into a routine, traffic typically moves much more efficiently. Your patience and kindness during those first few days go a long way in helping ensure a safe start for everyone.

Cell phone policy: This school year, all middle and high school students will again use Yondr pouches. Students must store their cell phones in the pouches during the school day in accordance with district policy. We encourage families to review the Student Handbook for additional information about the policy and expectations.

For elementary students, there will be a designated place on campus where phones will be kept. Please check with your child's school for additional information.

OneVoice: Student safety remains our highest priority. Baldwin County Public Schools uses the OneVoice anonymous reporting system to allow students to report threats, bullying, mental health concerns or any other safety or security issue. While middle and high school students' personal cell phones will be secured in Yondr pouches during the school day, they can still access OneVoice through the student portal on their school-issued Chromebook. QR codes are also posted throughout each school and may be scanned before and after school hours using a personal cell phone. We encourage students to speak up if they see or hear something concerning. Every report is reviewed so that appropriate action can be taken. Parents and community members can also report using text or the website to enter a submission. We’ve used this slogan for years, but it still applies. See something, say something.

Dress code: While Baldwin County Public Schools no longer requires student uniforms, students are still expected to follow the district's dress code. We encourage parents and students to review the policy before the first day of school to help ensure a smooth start to the year. You can find more details in our Student Handbook.

Athletic events: Fall sports are just around the corner, and we look forward to seeing our school communities cheering on our student-athletes. Families attending athletic events should remember that district safety procedures remain in place. Clear bags are required at high school athletic events, and security measures, including metal detectors at varsity football and basketball games, will continue this school year. Please review our athletic event policies before attending your first game.

Stay connected: Many schools have already shared important information, including school supply lists, Meet the Teacher events and other campus-specific updates. Be sure to check your school's website and social media pages regularly, and verify that your contact information is current with your child's school so you receive important announcements and emergency notifications throughout the year.

We also encourage every family to review the Student Handbook before school begins. It contains important information about district policies, procedures and expectations, including the dress code, cell phone policy and much more.

For additional information, please visit:

• Student Handbook
• Athletic Event Policies

The beginning of a school year is filled with excitement and anticipation. Together, we have the privilege of preparing our students not only for success in the classroom but for success in life.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. As I said when I was voted in as superintendent, I cannot do this without our communities, our elected officials, our stakeholders and, most importantly, you—our parents. We must continue working together to keep Baldwin County Public Schools at the level we all expect and deserve. We have always been #BaldwinProud and #CommunityStrong, and we are adding another layer with #BetterTogether. You will hear me say and include that slogan going forward in most of what I do.

Over the coming months, I'll be taking a close look at our school system, celebrating what's working well and identifying opportunities to make us even stronger. Some improvements may happen behind the scenes, while others may be more noticeable, but when those larger changes come, you'll hear directly from me.

We have a great school system. We have dedicated employees who truly care about children. There is always work to do, but I hope you know you can be proud of where your children go to school. Baldwin County is a special place, and by working together, I know we'll make the 2026-2027 school year one filled with growth, achievement and memorable experiences for every student.

On behalf of the Baldwin County Public Schools family, welcome back! We look forward to seeing our students on Wednesday!

Sincerely,

Marty McRae
Superintendent
Baldwin County Public Schools
#BetterTogether #BaldwinProud #CommunityStrong

Dear Parents,

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and each year Baldwin County Public Schools comes together to recognize the children and families in our community who have been impacted by childhood cancer.

On Friday, Sept. 25, we are asking our schools to Go Gold! Students and employees are encouraged to wear yellow or gold as a show of support for children battling cancer, survivors and the families who stand beside them.

Unfortunately, childhood cancer has touched families throughout Baldwin County, including members of our own school communities. Go Gold Day is a simple way for our more than 30,000 students and thousands of employees across our district to stand together and let these families know they have our support.

Participation is voluntary, and individual schools may also recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in other ways throughout September.

We hope you will join us on Sept. 25 and help us fill our schools with gold. More importantly, we hope this day serves as a reminder to keep these children and their families in our thoughts throughout the year.

Thank you for helping us continue this important Baldwin County tradition.

Sincerely,

Marty McRae
Superintendent
Baldwin County Public Schools
#BetterTogether #BaldwinProud #CommunityStrong

 

Dear Baldwin County Public Schools Families,

I pray this week finds you well. I know we are all counting our blessings as we watched Hurricane Isaias make landfall just to our east. We had some damage, but thankfully, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Please continue to keep our neighbors in your thoughts as the cleanup continues. We’ve been in their shoes before.

This message was supposed to go out last week, but with everything going on, we delayed it slightly.

As we settle into the 2026-27 school year, I want to take a moment to say thank you. We are off to a great start across Baldwin County, and it has been wonderful to see our students learning, growing and thriving throughout our schools.

One of the most exciting parts of beginning a new school year is seeing the progress our students and schools are making. Every spring, students in grades 2-8 take the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP). We just got these scores in, and I am especially proud of the academic growth we saw across our system. In 2026, our district reached all-time highs in 8th grade proficiency in English language arts, math and science. Perhaps most notably, 8th grade science proficiency increased 15 percentage points, from 56% to 71%, which was 16 percentage points higher than the state average. Schools across the district also set record highs and made significant gains in individual subjects, including 25-point increases in 8th grade science proficiency at Bay Minette Middle School, 22-point increases at Baldwin County Virtual School and Perdido School and an 18-point increase at Foley Middle School.

That progress continued beyond ACAP. Our district's ACT average reading score increased from 19.6 to 19.9, setting an all-time high for the percentage of students meeting the reading benchmark. We also tied our all-time high average scores in math and writing. At the same time, our Advanced Placement program reached all-time highs for the number of exams attempted, the number of AP students, the number of passing exams and overall passage rate. Daphne High School, for example, has increased its number of AP students, exams, passing exams and overall passage rate each of the past five years.

We have much to celebrate at the individual school level as well. According to the U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings, our high schools ranked among the top 52 in Alabama, including Fairhope High School, Spanish Fort High School, Daphne High School, Robertsdale High School, Elberta High School, Foley High School and Baldwin County High School. Together, those schools ranked among the top 13% of high schools statewide.

We also celebrated the opening of two brand-new schools this year, Loxley Elementary and Jubilee Elementary. These beautiful new campuses represent an investment in our students and our communities, and it has been exciting to see them come to life with students and teachers filling the classrooms.

I also want to thank our parents and families for your patience during these first few weeks of school. With new schools, new traffic patterns and growing communities throughout Baldwin County, it has taken some time for everyone to become familiar with school zones, carlines and traffic flows. We appreciate your understanding as our families and staff have worked together to find their routines. Please remember to be on the lookout for our buses and students going to and from school.

We are continuing to make investments in the safety, security and convenience of our schools. While our OneVoice program is not new to the system, we continue to remind our students, parents and community members that it is a way to anonymously report bullying, safety concerns or other issues to school officials. Students can access OneVoice through a tile in their student portal, and parents can submit concerns by going to the OneVoice website. Visit https://www.bcbe.org/departments/prevention-safety/onevoice/onevoice-matters for all information regarding OneVoice, including school codes.

We are also introducing Circool, a new system designed to make visits to our schools easier and help us better account for students and visitors on campus. When parents or other visitors arrive at a school, a kiosk will be available for visitor management and for students who are checking in or out. In the event of an emergency, Circool will provide an additional tool to help schools reunite students with their families. This technology started being rolled out at the beginning of October throughout the county. You may have gotten an email from Circool regarding its app. For efficiency, we highly recommend using the app, but it is not required.

Another new resource for families will be new bus technology called BusRight, which will provide an additional layer of information and peace of mind. With this system, students will scan their badge when they enter and exit school buses, allowing parents to use their phones to see their child's bus ride. This program has started being implemented in the county and will continue to be added school by school. You’ll be receiving more information from your individual school as we move forward with the next phase of the implementation process.

When I was interviewing for this job, I told the Board and the public in my interview that it was important for me to stay connected to our classrooms. I have made that a priority and have been able to step into many of our schools and peek into quite a few classrooms. I don't know if I will ever get tired of seeing a student's face light up when they grasp a new concept, learn something new or even make a new friend. Those are the moments that make the start of a school year so special, and they are moments that our educators look forward to as well.

As we move into the fall, I want us to keep that momentum going. One of the most important ways we can do that is by making sure our students are in school and ready to learn each day.

Attendance matters. Being present means students have the opportunity to receive instruction, participate in classroom activities, build relationships with their teachers and classmates and stay connected to their learning. Just as importantly, establishing the habit of showing up and being present helps students develop the responsibility and consistency they will need when they move on to college, technical education or the workforce.

Thank you for everything you do each day to support your children and our schools. You may remember that in my back-to-school message I mentioned a new motto that I’m sticking by, “Better Together.” We are better when we all work together. Our communities are fuller, our staff is encouraged and, more importantly, our students benefit from it.

I look forward to continuing this journey together.

Sincerely,

Marty McRae
Superintendent
#BetterTogether #BaldwinProud #CommunityStrong