Hands-on activities that help students develop critical thinking and math skills, interactive explorations of biological systems and dedicated reading time that encourages students to unplug from devices are just a few of the opportunities made possible through Central Alabama Electric Cooperative’s (CAEC) Bright Ideas Grant Program in 2026.
The Bright Ideas Grant Program was introduced almost 30 years ago with the goal of supporting innovative, interesting and effective initiatives that traditional school funding does not typically cover. Grants help enhance teachers’ efforts and are awarded to individuals or teams in public, private and home schools within CAEC’s service area.
Applications were reviewed by a panel of judges from local community associations. They awarded $24,000 in grants to 28 projects across 21 different schools, benefiting almost 8,000 students within four counties in CAEC’s service area.
“Generations of people go through these schools, and it’s great when teachers encourage students and take on something innovative, like a lot of these projects are, and show students that you have to think outside of the box sometimes,” said CAEC President and CEO Tom Stackhouse. “In the real world, that’s going to pay off for them because you have to have that flexibility, and we appreciate the fact that these teachers are instilling that.”
To date, CAEC has awarded over $400,000 to local schools through the program, benefiting more than 135,000 students across all grade levels and content areas. The application process for the 2027 Bright Ideas Grants will begin this September.
The 2026 recipients are:
Autauga County: Danielle Allen: Prattville Elementary School; Rachel Folmer: Autauga Virtual Academy; Tiffany Gates: Marbury Middle School; Rebecca Gray: Pine Level Elementary School; Dana O’Brian: Prattville Elementary School; Misty Scott: Prattville High School; Tammie Stamm: Autauga County Technical Center; Logan Strock: Billingsley High School; Amy Turner: Pine Level Elementary School; and Amber Williamson: Prattville Elementary School.
Chilton County: Heather Bryant: Verbena High School; Haley Davis: Jemison Elementary School; Valerie Hughes: Chilton County High School; Julie Lawrence: Jemison Intermediate School; and Angela Tignor: Clanton Middle School.
Coosa County: Karen Hayes, Jacques Mitchell, Alicia Thompson and Mary White: Central High School.
Elmore County: Carrie Courreges: Holtville Elementary School; Shannon Hughes: Wetumpka Elementary School; Micheal Miller: Elmore County Technical Center; Jessica Quinn: Eclectic Elementary School; Laurie Weldon: Wetumpka Elementary School; JaJuan Wilson: Eclectic Elementary School; and Kelli Wilson: Holtville Middle School.
Talladega County: Mary Ella Pearson: C.L. Salter Elementary School; and Savannah Rainwater: Sycamore Elementary School.