HANDS-ON LEARNING CEC awards more than $22,000 in Bright Ideas grants

Sometimes in education, there are more good ideas than money to go around. Covington Electric Cooperative is working to bridge that gap.

CEC created the Bright Ideas grant program to help educators with learning initiatives not covered by traditional funding. Each year, the program is available to pre-K-12 teachers at schools served by CEC. Individual teachers can apply for grants from $250-$750, while teams of teachers are eligible to apply for a maximum of $1,500.

“The hardworking teachers in our area are an incredible asset to the community,” CEC President and CEO Mark Parker says. “We’re proud to support our educators so they can continue to provide top-notch lessons and activities for students.”

CEC recently awarded more than $22,000 in grants to teachers at schools served by the cooperative. The grants will help teach- ers implement exciting projects in their classrooms that might not otherwise be possible.

“It’s exciting to think about what students will learn because of the Bright Ideas grant program,” Parker says. “We’re grateful for everything our teachers do to help educate our children, and this is one small way we can give back and show our appreciation.”

This year, CEC fulfilled 19 grant requests from local teachers, who represent eight different schools and six different school systems. The projects funded through this program will benefit more than 2,350 students.

Grant recipients

Teachers at Pleasant Home School were given $3,750 for three projects. The grants will help pre-K through second grade special needs students with diverse learning needs, social and emotional learning resources, and virtual reality systems to take students on a journey regular field trips cannot.

Teachers at Kinston School received a $1,500 grant to construct four raised planting beds. Once available, the school will offer the fresh produce to community members through a Facebook page.

A Samson Elementary teacher was awarded a $750 grant to help maximize instruction time with kindergarten students and differentiate the instruction provided to enhance the overall learning experience. These resources will allow the teacher to spend less time arranging supplies and students and more time actually working with the kindergartners.

Teachers at Straughn Elementary School received more than $4,300 for three grants. Through the Bright Ideas program, students will have access to more flexible seating to complete homework in the after-school program. Because many students are too sedentary, a second grant will provide equipment for a unit on ways to improve balance, coordination, stamina and core strength. A third grant will fund STEM kits to build science, technology, engineering and math skills and sensory bins to develop and improve motor skills.

Teachers at Straughn Middle School received a $1,500 grant to create a sensory space for dedicated therapy and exercise to better serve students with severe special needs.

Straughn High School teachers were awarded four grants totaling $4,500. Some of the money will be used to create a calming space in the counselor’s office, which will give students a quiet, safe place to sit and decompress before returning to the classroom. Another grant will be used to provide supplies for teachers to help incorporate art into their curriculum. A third grant will assist with the purchase of a 3D printer and software. The final grant will be used to introduce students to basic cooking techniques and kitchen tools.

A $500 grant for Fleeta School will allow a teacher to better link the content of library books on STEM topics with hands-on experiences related to the text, such as connecting construction books with building opportunities.

Teachers at Red Level School received $5,250 across five different grants. One grant will help students better adapt to the new reading curriculum and provide more interactive learning opportunities. A second grant is also tied to the purchase of resources and materials to integrate more reading activities into the classroom. Another grant will help teach history through the use of art and engaging videos. EJ, a pet rabbit, will receive a new home through the fourth grant. Students will use natural and man-made resources to design and create an enclosure and toys, as well as learn new ways to care for animals. A final project is focused on alternative farming to grow plants without soil using hydroponics. Students in grades nine through 12 will use math, science and other hands-on skills to see firsthand how plants grow and observe the stages of plant development.