(Baldwin County)

Baldwin County School Board President Angie Swiger was the featured speaker at a Sept. 19 fundraising lunch sponsored by the Coastal Baldwin Educational Enrichment Foundation, Inc. Held at Gulf Island Grill in Gulf Shores, Swiger presented a program entitled “Learning for Life.”

Swiger said the program is a broad program consisting of both countywide and local initiatives. According to Swiger, the “Learning for Life” program in local schools is part of the larger “21st Century Learning” initiative being implemented throughout the county.

“Our ‘Learning for Life’ program will allow us to implement the technology upgrades of the county’s ‘Digital Renaissance’ at a much faster rate for our schools in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach than originally slated,” she said. “The ‘Digital Renaissance’ program will place a MacBook laptop computer in the hands of each of our students from fourth through twelfth grade and an iPad in the hands of each student from kindergarten through third grade. However, through the assistance of some private donors, we will be able to increase and upgrade the technology placed in the hands of our students and teachers much more quickly than if we waited solely on funding from the school system.”

Swiger introduced Gulf Shores High School Business Technology Teacher Charlene Hoffman to those at the luncheon. Hoffman has been chosen to be the technology facilitator with teachers on the island. “Her job is to teach our teachers how the technology can be used to create a project-based and collaborative classroom as opposed to the traditional classroom where teachers are lecturers rather than facilitators of knowledge,” Swiger said.

Along with the technology initiatives, “Learning for Life” also consists of tailor-made career academies for high school students to get them on a career path in which they have both interest and abilities. Swiger introduced GSHS Social Studies Teacher Ryan Moss as the Career Academy Coordinator for the “Learning for Life” program. “Ryan’s job is important because it is his responsibility to implement the career academies we envision for our students on the island,” Swiger said. “We’ve just started this and in just a few weeks he’s done a great job of lining up 11 internships for us with local businesses. It’s his job to get the students into the business world and get the businesses into the schools.”

The CBEE Foundation is the conduit for corporate sponsors to make donations to assist in the “Learning for Life” funding. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this program and can’t wait to see it implemented,” CBEE Foundation President Yolanda Devine Johnson said.

According to Swiger, individuals may also donate through the individual schools by contacting school principals. Swiger said anyone, or any civic organization, interested in learning more about the program can contact her at 251-609-2873 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Formerly known as the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Educational Foundation, the CBEE Foundation has awarded scholarships to graduating seniors from Gulf Shores High School and grants to teachers in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores public schools for more than a decade. Anyone who is interested in making a difference in our schools is welcome to become a part of CBEE. For more information on the foundation, see its website at cbee.la, or contact Johnson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or 205-613-0001