DAPHNE, Ala. — Congratulations filled the Daphne Civic Center on Monday as educators, sponsors and public relations professionals, among others, received recognition, awards and lunch.

The facility was filled to the brim as the education community joined to celebrate excellence.

Two of Daphne’s own public relations professionals — Kelly Smith of Daphne Elementary and Blair Heald of W.J. Carroll Intermediate — accepted awards for their efforts in news and information extensions.

“The Daphne Elementary School public relations committee has worked very hard to inform the community of all the great things going on a Daphne Elementary School,” Smith said. “We are so proud of our students, faculty and staff.

“The Spotlight of Excellence award is just a bonus for the success that we see in the continued development of our students and the growth of our school.”

“One of the benefits of being a publicity representative for a school is sharing all of the good things that happen at our school,” Heald said. “I look for every chance to send out photos and news about our school so this award is a reflection of our school, our faculty and staff, our students and the community.

“It is an honor to be recognized for the efforts in publicizing W.J. Carroll Intermediate School.”

Also during the ceremony, United Way’s Brenda Lee complemented Baldwin County Schools for their fundraising efforts. A total of $125,000 had been raised for the United Way, an international organization with 1,300 U.S. chapters that promote health, financial independence and children’s and teens’ potential, according to its Web site.

Baldwin County schools Superintendent Faron Hollinger addressed the crowd with the schools’ successes.

He said that No Child Left Behind — a federal program to target all students and keep them progressing similarly — is challenging but positive.

“In 2005, 17 schools needed improvement because we were … missing those target groups within the larger group,” he said. “In 2006 we were down to two schools and in 2007, one school. It’s all about the process.

“We’re making an investment in learning, and ladies and gentlemen, it’s paying off.”

He said the Baldwin County Board of Education continues to try to keep the student-teacher ratio low.

The countywide student-teacher ratio is 14:1, according to Terry Wilhite, the school board’s communications director. The total number of teachers is divided by the total number of students to reach the figure.

The board has 762,141 square feet of school additions currently under construction and has improved 1.3 million square feet since 2005 — it all comes to about 608 classrooms.

“If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time,” Hollinger said. “We’re aiming at strategic planning.”