FOLEY – Foley welcomed 4,000 educators Friday, Aug. 2, as the Baldwin County Public School System kicked off the 2024-25 academic year.
The system’s annual Teacher Institute took place at the Foley Event Center. The event is a gathering of all teachers, staff members and administrators in the county school system before schools open.
Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich greeted participants at the start of the event.
On behalf of the City Council, on behalf of the citizens of Foley, our event staff staff and we love to have you here,” Hellmich told the audience.
“I want to thank all of you for what you do. It is so important to have such a good system. Here in Foley, we are one of the best, if not the best, partners to the Baldwin County Board of Education and all its teachers. We want to be a good partner and we’re going to continue to be a good partner,” the mayor added.
Hellmich said teachers touch many lives and have a lifelong influence on the future. He said his wife, Jo Hellmich, a retired Baldwin County teacher, recently received a message from a student she taught more than 20 years ago. The email described how a second-grade science project led him to develop an interest in science and space that influenced his career.
Hellmich said teachers, other supporters and administrators, such as Baldwin County Superintendent of Education Eddie Tyler all help shape future county citizens.
“This was not possible to this teacher without the support of the supervisor, the principal, the school board and Mr. Tyler encouraging teachers to be all they can be and I want to thank you guys for what you do to enable our teachers to be able to achieve the best results possible,” Hellmich said.
The institute was held in the Foley Event Center, one of the few facilities in Baldwin County that can accommodate a group as large as the assembled educators.
Teachers began their academic year Thursday, Aug. 1. The first day of class for students is Thursday, Aug. 8.