Orange Beach, Ala. — (GSN) — The Orange Beach Board of Education recognized dozens of educators and staff members at a recent board meeting for outstanding academic performance. The board awarded $79,700 in incentives to employees across the district after top finishes in statewide ACAP proficiency rankings, strong Advanced Placement exam results, and a notable elementary school ranking. The awards reflect the district's ongoing focus on academic achievement and staff support.

The Regular Meeting of the Orange Beach Board of Education was held on Thursday, September 10, 2026. During the meeting, board members honored educators whose students ranked among the top five statewide in ACAP proficiency. The ACAP is one of Alabama's most rigorous academic assessments.

Several Orange Beach City Schools teachers earned first-place statewide recognition. Those educators and their subjects were:

• Janna Bradford & Nikki Walker, Fourth Grade Math
• Nikki Walker, Fourth Grade Science
• Kristen Rayborn & Caitlin Lawrence, Fifth Grade Math
• Brooke Neal, Eighth Grade Science

Second-place statewide honors went to the following teachers:

• Kelly Dorsett & Lindsay Hanes, Fourth Grade ELA
• Kimberly Waldrop, Sixth Grade ELA
• Lora Haghighi & Robert Moorer, Sixth Grade Math

Third-place statewide recognition was awarded to:

• Tiffany Hampton & Lander Murphy, Third Grade ELA
• Liz Dore & Callie Morgan, Fifth Grade ELA

The board also recognized educators at Orange Beach Middle & High School for Advanced Placement results. During the 2025-2026 school year, Orange Beach students took 515 AP exams. Of those, 64% earned a qualifying score of three or higher. 

The following AP teachers were honored:

• Biology: Chesley Sullivan
• Calculus & Pre-Calculus: Drew Castillow
• Chemistry & Environmental Science: Morgan Soutullo
• English Composition: Kim McBee
• Macroeconomics & Government: Ben Slaton
• Seminar: Jodi Perkins
• Spanish: Rhonda Prater
• Statistics: Lawrence Cochran
• U.S. History: Austin Bragg

Orange Beach Elementary School also received special recognition at the meeting after ranking fourth among all elementary schools in Alabama. The statewide distinction reflects the collective efforts of the school's educators and staff to create an environment where students are challenged and supported to succeed. Every employee at Orange Beach Elementary will receive a $350 incentive as part of the award.

Superintendent Randy Wilkes praised the board and the teaching staff for the results. "Tonight is a reflection of what can happen when you have exceptional teachers, dedicated students, and a Board that is willing to invest in both," Wilkes said. "I am incredibly grateful to our Board for recognizing and rewarding the hard work of our educators, and I am even more grateful to the teachers who show up every day committed to helping our students reach their full potential. These accomplishments belong to our entire school community, and we are proud to celebrate them together."

This recognition underscores Orange Beach City Schools' continued commitment to academic excellence, educator support, and student success. As the district celebrates these achievements, it remains focused on building upon this momentum and reaching even greater milestones throughout the school year.