Local Educators Awarded Grants for Innovative Projects through Bright Ideas
Seventeen dedicated educators from 14 local schools across six counties have been awarded grants to implement innovative projects aimed at enhancing student learning and engagement. Below are the details of the selected projects:
Alexandria Clark – Upson Lee High School, $1,000
Project Title: Art Student Artwork Exhibit
Description: High school art students will organize a collaborative art exhibit, fostering teamwork and community engagement.
Nicole Channin – Upson Lee Elementary School, $1,000
Project Title: Escaping Traditional "Schooling"
Description: Students will utilize grade-level content in three different Escape Rooms to solve puzzles and engage in learning.
Kimberly Driskell – T.G. Scott Elementary School, $1,000
Project Title: Unlocking Literacy for Struggling Readers
Description: Focusing on 3rd through 5th graders, this initiative aims to enhance reading abilities through targeted small-group instruction.
Laurie Eurich – Lamar County High School, $1,000
Project Title: Large Scale Acrylic Paintings
Description: Advanced art students will create visual interpretations of various subjects, collaborating in pairs.
Cara Fields – Unity Elementary School, $988
Project Title: Stellar Learning: Exploring the Earth, Moon, and Sun
Description: 2nd graders will visit a planetarium to learn about celestial bodies, culminating in a collaborative art project.
Stacie Hart – Covenant Academy, $593
Project Title: Nature Science- Botany
Description: 6th-grade students will work together to build garden beds and connect with nature, taking responsibility for the garden’s care and maintenance.
Cody Helms – Pike County High School, $943
Project Title: Collaborating with Technology and Science
Description: Students will have access to state-of-the-art technology to relate graphs to object motion in physics.
Elizabeth Holloway – Mary Persons High School, $1,000
Project Title: Engaged-Empowered-Employed
Description: Students will sell school supplies and spirit items using a mobile cart, building academic, employment, communication, and social skills through real-life experiences.
Tressie Hopkins – Upson Lee AIM Program, $1,000
Project Title: Yoga for Regulation and Learning
Description: This project aims to equip teachers to incorporate yoga into social emotional learning for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities.
Jessi Juhan – Manchester Middle School, $735
Project Title: Bioplastic Breakthrough
Description: Students will design bioplastics to address plastic pollution, integrating science and environmental studies.
Sarah McLane – Upson Lee Primary School, $979
Project Title: Wildlife Wonders: Building Habitats
Description: Students will research animals and create habitats using technology, integrating science, technology, and art.
Tiffany Peoples – Upson Lee Middle School, $979
Project Title: Help Us Find Our Focus
Description: The photography club offers students opportunities to develop technical and creative skills through hands-on workshops.
Lauren Rush – Lamar County Middle School, $766
Project Title: Microorganism Investigation
Description: Students will apply safe lab practices to observe the growth of microorganisms from swab samples taken around the school.
Jennifer Shepherd – Pike County High School, $650
Project Title: Workforce Ready Podcast
Description: A podcast interviewing local business partners will expose high school students to career opportunities in the community.
Heather Smith – Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School, $919
Project Title: From Seed to Feed
Description: 3rd graders will grow vegetables for their school’s chickens, teaching plant growth and animal nutrition.
Sallie Speir – Samuel Hubbard Elementary School, $974
Project Title: Sparking Our Knowledge
Description: Snap Circuits educational kits will teach students principles of electronics through hands-on projects, fostering STEM education.
Ashton Watts – T.G. Scott Elementary School, $1,000
Project Title: Printing a Path to Progress
Description: Gifted students will utilize a 3-D printer to bring their innovative ideas to life, enhancing their skills and preparing them for the future.