Baldwin Times

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, Orange Beach City Schools Board of Education President Robert Stuart made an emotion-filled recommendation during the board's special meeting to approve a contract for Randy Wilkes to serve as the new city school system's first superintendent. It was unanimously approved by all members at the meeting. 

The teary-eyed motion was completely understandable as it was the culmination of 12 weeks of an unprecedently fast and intense process to guarantee separation from the Baldwin County Public School System on July 1st. From the City Council's vote to break away from the county system on March 15th to appointing board members on April 5th to Dr. Robbie Smith stepping up to serve as acting superintendent on April 12th to amazingly smooth negotiations with the county - leading to the final signing of the separation agreement on May 23rd, and finally to Wilkes signing his contract along with Stuart on Tuesday, the future continues to get brighter for Mako Nation thanks to countless hours of hard work and dedication to the children of Orange Beach. 

There are many people to thank for making Orange Beach City Schools a reality so quickly and they include: Mayor Tony Kennon and City Council members Jeff Boyd, Annette Mitchell, Joni Blalock, Jeff Silvers and Jerry Johnson; school board members Robert Stuart, Nelson Bauer, Shannon Robinson, Tracie Stark and Randy McKinney; acting superintendent Dr. Robbie Smith, school board attorney Nash Campbell and chief school financial officer Ford Handley; Baldwin County Superintendent Eddie Tyler and the county school board; and the support by city staff and the entire community of Orange Beach. Go Makos!

After the school board's unanimous vote, Wilkes shared the following: 

"Thank you so much, board members, for the trust and confidence that you are placing within me and really within this entire district. You are going to find that participatory leadership is my style. I like to gather a lot of input from all of the stakeholders so I look forward to meeting people and greeting people and getting things underway here. I also want to thank Dr. Smith. She has done a fantastic job. I’ve been able to talk to her several times, and I don’t know if you’re the type of people to give a round of applause, but I really think she deserves that this evening. 

"So thank you for what you’ve done and mayor, sir, and city council, I’ve been watching from a distance and I said to a certain realtor in town who is working with my family now currently. Two years ago, I said I’d love to be your superintendent one day. And very little did I know that I would be standing in front of you. 

"So for the vision to create this wonderful school system, kudos. And for the pace with which you did that and the rigor it’s taken to do that, I’m glad it’s fast paced. I really appreciate that guys. Congratulations. Thank you so much. 

"So I will just say a couple of things. You gave me a mic so I may just talk a little while. Cut the air off and I’m finished though. So keep the air going. 

"I want to just say that a priority with me, first and foremost, would be that of safety. I know that’s on the frontal lobe and Dr. Smith has a lot of great ideas and I know you guys have probably talked about that. But we are certainly going to incorporate that in everything that we do. 

"That’s first and foremost. After that every decision that we make will be based upon what’s best for students, what’s best for the children. 

"Second, we're going to look at evidence, we’re going to look at best practices, and we’re going to look at research. And third, and I’ve learned in 33 years of being in education and 11-plus of being superintendent, the importance of being good stewards of the public’s money. So we will absolutely be frugal with what we do. It is a beautiful city because of the people, first and foremost, and there are tremendous resources here but I promise, mayor and city council, board, taxpayers, I will be absolutely frugal with what is given to us. And I’m just really, really excited; my family is. We look forward to coming down and getting involved in the very near future. ... But, again, thank you so very much." 

Wilkes will officially take the helm on July 1st but will serve as a consultant, working with the board and Dr. Smith, until that time. 

Stuart said Wilkes rose to the top of the candidate pool. 

"It was clear to us, after our interviews, that we had found our person and it’s only been confirmed to me through our discussions here in the last couple of days in talking with Dr. Smith," Stuart said.  "We are ready to make this happen. I call them 'foxhole friends' and I feel like we’re now all foxhole friends. We’re ready to go to battle for the kids of Orange Beach and we thank you, again." 

Wilkes comes from Phenix City Schools, where he served as superintendent since 2014. His resignation from Phenix City Schools will be effective June 30th. Prior to Phenix City he was superintendent of Crenshaw County Schools from 2011 to 2014. While Orange Beach is projected to have just over 1,000 students among its elementary school and middle/high school this coming year, Phenix City’s enrollment was 7,067 this past school year with its 13 schools, including one high school and a freshman academy.

Wilkes earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree (mathematics and history education) from Troy State University in 1989. In 1993, he earned a Master of Science degree (mathematics education) from Troy. In 1996, he earned a Education Specialist degree in educational leadership from Auburn University of Montgomery. 

Additionally, from 2003 to 2010 Wilkes served as supervisor of Crenshaw County Public Schools in Luverne; from 1996 to 2003 he served as principal of Highland Home School in Highland Home and he served as assistant principal there from 1995 to 1996; from 1993 to 1995 he was a teacher at Luverne High School in Luverne (taught applied physics and physics, and defensive coordinator for varsity football); also from 1993 to 1995 he served as an adjunct instructor at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Greenville, where he taught Algebra I;  in 1993 he was an adjunct instructor at Faulkner University in Enterprise, where he taught Algebra I; and from 1989 to 1993 he was a teacher at Charles Henderson Middle and High Schools in Troy (taught geometry, math and Algebra I and served as offensive and defensive line coach for the varsity football team and served as the girl's varsity basketball head coach.)

In the photo below, from left, are school board member Shannon Robinson, Board President Robert Stuart, Superintendent Randy Wilkes, Board Secretary Tracie Stark, and Board Vice President Nelson Bauer.

Original source can be found here.