Gwinnett Teachers Receive Jackson EMC ‘Bright Ideas’ Grants
Twenty-one teachers from Gwinnett County Public Schools received a total of $32,091 in grants from the Jackson EMC Bright Ideas initiative to support innovative classroom projects. The funding will benefit 10 middle schools across the district.
The Bright Ideas grants are awarded to teachers who propose creative projects aimed at enhancing students’ learning experiences, according to Gwinnett County Public Schools.
Sheryl Patrick, a teacher at Lilburn Middle School, expressed her excitement about her awarded project, which uses a podcasting approach to engage students with academic texts. “Innovation in the classroom means creating engaging lessons that improve student outcomes,” Patrick said. “I’m very thankful for Jackson EMC’s support in preparing students for the ever-changing world.”
The grant recipients and their projects include:
– Coleman Middle School – Wayne Dail: $1,850 for Databot Science – Kayoung Mullins: $196 and six iPads for Coding Robotic Dogs – Brad Zickefoose: $1,975 for Wind Energy Blade Design
– Creekland Middle School – Everett Paulk: $1,965 for Building Leaders Through STEM: Lego Innovation Lab – Yolanda Rivera-Suarez: $2,000 for Tracking Motion, Powering Minds – Natosha Rucker: $1,520 for STEM Lab for Success: Building Future Scientists
– Dacula Middle School – Hanna Carter: $1,945 for Turning Problems into Possibilities Lab – Celisa Edwards: $1,010 for Growing Science: A Classroom Hydroponics Lab
– Duluth Middle School – Deepa Pendalwar: $1,835 for Science in Motion: Projects and Possibilities – Diane Rice: $2,000 for For the Love of Reading
– Hull Middle School – Celia Ayenesazan: $2,000 for AgTech Innovation: From Earth to Space – Aimée Burgamy: $828 for Chomping Creativity – Cameron McDonald: $2,000 for Current Connections – Michelle Morgan: $2,000 for Physics in the Fast Lane
– Jones Middle School – Hillary Jones: $1,620 for Adaptive Music Instruments – Gerardo Serrano: $1,192 for Digital Clash: Adaptive Adventures
– Jordan Middle School – Stacey Edison-Bryson: $1,760 for ALL a BOT Computer Science
– Lilburn Middle School – Naveed Khan: $1,000 for Mustang Makerspace: Sparking Success in STEAM – Sheryl Patrick: $360 for Podcasting Perspectives: Student Voices
– Northbrook Middle School – Tashana Gayle: $1,400 and 10 iPads for Voices Beyond Words: Empowering Non-Verbal Students
– Twin Rivers Middle School – Yolanda Letman: $1,635 for Mission to the Moon
Diane Rice from Duluth Middle School emphasized the importance of her project, which aims to update the school’s library collection with high-interest nonfiction and social-emotional learning titles. “Reading supports not only academic growth but also confidence and emotional well-being,” Rice said.
Jackson EMC reports that it has awarded more than $80,000 in Bright Ideas grants to 59 teachers at 29 middle schools this year. Since 2015, the company has provided over $700,000 in funding to local educators.
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