Enhancing education through a therapeutic garden, understanding blood typing, typing in today’s world and equitable cross-curricular STEM learning are just some of the many opportunities offered to area students through projects funded by CAEC’s Bright Ideas Grant Program in 2025.
The Bright Ideas Grant Program was introduced more than 20 years ago with a goal of supporting innovative, interesting and effective initiatives that school funding does not usually 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 27 projects across 17 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 2026 Bright Ideas Grants will begin this September.
The 2025 recipients are:
Autauga County: Gylendora Davis, Billingsley High School; Logan Strock, Billingsley High School; Tiffany Gates, Billingsley High School; DaMarcus Kendrick, Autauga County Tech Center; Audrey Casey, Eclectic Elementary School; Dana O’Brian, Marbury Middle School; Andrea Hammock, Prattville High School; Melissa Bishop, Billingsley High School; Teresa Calhoun, Autauga County Tech Center; Danielle Allen, Pine Level Elementary School; and Kayla Herrington, Prattville Christian School.
Chilton County: Cindy Hurst, Isabella High School; Bridgett Sullivan, Chilton Christian Academy; Kacy Grey, Clanton Middle School; JoAnna Jones, Isabella High School; Aimee Dobbs, Clanton Intermediate School; and Macey Gentry, Jemison Elementary School.
Coosa County: Jacques Mitchell, Central High School; Alicia Thompson, Central High School; and Mary White, Central High School.
Elmore County: Will Boartfield, Stanhope Elmore High School; Jessica Quinn, Eclectic Elementary School; Sandy Barfoot, Stanhope Elmore High School; Taylor Sculley, Millbrook Middle School; Shannon Hughes, Wetumpka Elementary School; and Kay McCollough, Eclectic Elementary School.