Teachers at four middle schools in Hall County and Gainesville were awarded $11,655 in Bright Ideas grants from the Jackson Electric Membership Corporation. These grants will be used to fund eight innovative classroom projects across the county.
Three teachers from Chestatee Academy won Bright Ideas grants: Dawn Hudgins received a $1,900 grant to fund a social studies project called “Fighting for the Lives and Rights of Others,” Glen Lawson was awarded $1,590 to fund a combined English and physical science program called “Scientists Read Here” and Jeanne Rountree received $2,000 to fund her “Adventure VR” geography and technology program.
Stacy Loverde from Cherokee Bluff Middle School also received a Bright Ideas grant of $294, which will help fund her flexible engagement program for special needs learners, and Sara Atwill of the DaVinci Academy at South Hall was granted $1,533 for her “Interconnected Underwater World” project, which allows seventh graders to learn about live marine ecosystems.
At Gainesville Middle School, Linda Kennedy-Murray received $558 for her “Garden Access for Everyone” project. In addition, Dory Moore was awarded $1,800 for a music theory program that can be used by both in-person and digital students and Jane Reed was granted $1,980 to fund portable science lab stations that can be used in classrooms, outside or remotely.
The Bright Ideas initiative awards up to $2,000 annually to middle school teachers in Jackson EMC’s service area to fund innovative classroom projects that would go unfunded otherwise. Applications are evaluated on measurable goals and objectives, innovation, student involvement and implementation plans.
To learn more about the Bright Ideas grant program, click here.
