CCSD Schools Earn $10K In Bright Ideas Grants

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — Cherokee County School District schools have earned more than $10,000 in this fall’s Bright Ideas Grants.

The competitive Bright Ideas Grants are awarded by Amicalola EMC to the most innovative ideas from schools in their service area. Fifteen CCSD projects won a total of $10,841 in this season’s cycle of funding, which was presented to recipients this month.

Classroom projects, which can each earn as much as $1,000 in funding, must propose a “creative learning experience for students, benefit and directly involve students, contain a clearly defined plan of implementation and encourage teamwork among students” to be eligible for the grant program.

“We’re so proud of our teachers for their dedication to continuously improving teaching and learning. Congratulations to these recipients — their success in earning these grants for their creative projects is another testament to their great care for students,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “We’re also very grateful to Amicalola EMC for this funding and its longtime support of our schools and community.”

The winning CCSD schools, teachers and projects are:

• Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy: Julie Miles for “Night Night, Sweet Student”
• Cherokee High School: Jon Gustin, “Green Roof”; Dawn Small, “Project Clean Shelf”; Anastasia Teasley, “Photographers, Journalists, Creators: Cameras for a Cause”
• Clayton Elementary School: Anne Cross, “Every 'Body' Counts”; Cheryl Gazaway, “All Hands-on Deck for Math!”; Andrea Ingham “Needs for Students with Disabilities”; Jessica Wimpey, “Weather Station”
• Creekview High School: Ashley Kelsey, “Amplifying Student Voices”
• Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy: Dr. Rita Frady, “Color My World - Rhythms of Life”; Melissa Manley, “Florescent Light Filters for Sensory Needs”
• R.M. Moore Elementary School STEM Academy: Whitney Oliver, “Social Distancing Read Alouds”
• Teasley Middle School: Don Deaton, “Ultra Fit”; Christy Furnish, “Weather Station”; Malinda Lipscomb, “360 Classroom”