The Bright Ideas Grant Program supports innovative and effective classroom education curriculum that cannot be covered by traditional school financing. Individual teachers can apply for grants from $250 to $750, while teams of teachers are eligible for grants up to $1,500.
Since its inception in 1998, more than $352,000 in grants have been awarded, impacting over 124,000 students throughout our service territory.
Teachers in public and private schools, K-12 and home school associations in CAEC’s service area are eligible to participate. Grants are awarded for projects in any discipline and are intended to help teachers within CAEC’s service area produce a better-educated workforce. The grants are designed to help teachers introduce innovative teaching methods.
Grant applications are available each September and are awarded in January after a competitive evaluation process.
For more information, call (334) 351-2125 or e-mail communications@coop.caec.com.
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.