ORANGE BEACH—The Alabama Community Education Association recently held its annual conference at Perdido Beach Resort. There were 330 who registered for the conference. The conference provided training, professional development and enrichment opportunities for community education coordinators and professionals, 21st Century Community Learning Center grantees, Learn & Serve grantees, and Dependent Care grantees. There were 60 presenters and 25 vendors who participated in the conference.

Baldwin County received honors in two categories: 

Cherry Penn, president-elect, was responsible for arranging the conference in Baldwin County.

She said, “I may have brought it to Baldwin County but it took the support I received from Dr. Pam Henson, director of Instructional Support; Cindy Chandler, federal programs coordinator; and my team to make it happen.” 

The team was the 21st Century Community Learning Center site supervisors, Sandy Johnson, Delta Elementary; Amy Trombley, Elberta Elementary; Sheila Lewis, Summerdale Elementary; Carmen Williams, Perdido; Sherry McDill, Bay Minette Elementary; Brenda Moss, 21st CCLC facilitator for Pine Grove and Magnolia schools; Cassie Harris, STI Support for After School Programs; April Johnson, 21st CCLC bookkeeper; Jacque Johnson, administrative assistant, after school programs; Cynthia Lee, STIPD; Sandra Hayes, career/tech secretary; and Beth Henson, media resources.

USS Alabama Crew mates and Baldwin County’s Junior Miss Lauren Lewis were on hand to greet attendees as they arrived. Miss Alabama, Amanda Tapley, was the featured speaker at the awards luncheon.

Sandy Johnson, of Delta Elementary, was the speaker during the general session. Her presentation was focused on her creation of center pieces for the tables and compared the creation to the impact we can have on students. New association officers were installed from Baldwin County: Cherry Penn, president; and Jacque Johnson, secretary. Christine Groccia, president-elect, is from Auburn University Truman Pierce Institute.