BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Baldwin County Board of Education voted 5-2 Thursday to name longtime district administrator Marty McRae superintendent of Baldwin County Public Schools.
McRae, who had been serving as interim superintendent, and Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District Superintendent Tony McGee were the two finalists interviewed by the board July 14.
The board also authorized its attorney, Nash Campbell, and the board president to negotiate a contract with McRae. Contract terms and salary were not discussed during the meeting.
McRae takes over just weeks before the start of the school year. Teachers return Aug. 3, and students return Aug. 12.
He will lead Alabama’s third-largest school district, which enrolled 30,780 students during the 2025-26 school year. The district employs about 4,500 people.
McRae succeeds Eddie Tyler, who announced his retirement in March after leading the district since September 2015. Tyler retired effective June 30.
“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve as superintendent of Baldwin County Public Schools,” McRae said in a statement released by the district.
He said district officials are developing goals that will be shared with employees and parents in the coming weeks.
“I cannot do this without our communities’ buy-in and without our parents’ buy-in,” McRae said. “I hope they will join me and partner with me on keeping this system at a level we all expect and deserve.”
Before becoming interim superintendent, McRae served as assistant superintendent of Prevention and Support/Student Services, overseeing transportation, child nutrition, attendance, alternative education, after-school programs, counseling and health services.
He previously served as assistant superintendent of Secondary Education from 2015 to 2022 and has served as Baldwin County athletic director since 2015. He was principal of Spanish Fort High School from 2010 to 2015 and assistant principal of Fairhope High School from 2004 to 2010.
McRae began his career as a mathematics teacher and coach at Fairhope High School.
Baldwin County’s enrollment has continued to grow despite losing about 3,500 students when Gulf Shores and Orange Beach formed separate city school systems.
Gulf Shores began operating independently in the 2019-20 school year, followed by Orange Beach in 2022-23. Baldwin County’s enrollment has since returned to its pre-separation level.