Bright Minds is pleased to announce that we have awarded 21 Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) educators with over $25,000 in grants from Bright Minds that will fund classroom and instructional projects focused on student achievement, engagement, and wellbeing during the 2023-2024 school year. Projects will be delivered in more than 40 HCPSS schools and reach thousands of students.
These grants are offered in recognition of HCPSS educators as incredible resources to identify innovative instructional approaches that address unique community or classroom needs and enhance student learning. Bright Minds Classroom Innovation Project grants seek to support student success, enrich teaching practices, strengthen school communities, and pilot important classroom and school projects. This year’s grants are made possible by generous funding received by Bright Minds from Sheehy Toyota of Laurel and The Kahlert Foundation.
The 2023 grant recipients and their projects are:
- Kristen Bennett, Lisbon Elementary School, Micro:bits and Makey Makeys: Oh My!
- Niklas Berry, Oakland Mills High School, Welcome hOMe
- Shayla Bright and Deborah Legowski, Longfellow Elementary School, Healthy Foods 4 Healthy Kids
- Alyson Donoghue, Applications Research Laboratory, Isolation of Carotenoids from Yeast in Microbiomes of Flowering Plants
- Danielle DuPuis, HCPSS middle and high schools, Each One, Reach One
- Michael Glennon, Glenwood Middle School, Middle School: Decoded
- Stephanie Hastings, Lisbon Elementary School, Hands on Cryptography
- Bonnie Henry, Rockburn Elementary School, Yoga and Wellness for All
- Deandre Ingram, Harper’s Choice Middle School, HCMS Cooking Club
- Laura Kooyman, Mayfield Woods Middle School, The Creative Side of MWMS Bulldogs
- Alex Leisawitz, Ducketts Lane Elementary School, Recess Supplies
- Emily Peterson, Steven’s Forest Elementary School, El español es mi superpoder / Spanish is My Superpower
- Eric Posner, Atholton High School, Harriet Tubman High School Alma Mater
- Sarah Rawlings, Illchester Elementary School, Math Intervention for Diverse Learners
- Brittany Robey, Homewood School, Homewood for Horses
- Dallas Rosenthal, Cedar Lane School and others, Growing Together Greenhouse-Plant Projects
- Chris Ryals, Lime Kiln and Ellicott Mills Middle Schools, A Learning Space for All
- Tahesha Todd and Ashley Riley, Lake Elkhorn Middle School, Making Connections and Promoting Engagement through Self-Love
- Cindy Waugh, Innovative Pathways Program, Promoting Community Building, Student Engagement and Wellbeing
- Mary Weaver, Cradlerock Elementary School, Clean Clothes, Focused Minds
- Michael Zoltoski, Applications Research Laboratory, Civil Engineering – Concrete Canoe
Grant recipients were recognized at a Howard County Board of Education meeting on September 21, 2023.
About Bright Minds staff and teacher grants:
Since 2009, Bright Minds has provided over $186,000 to staff and teacher grants in support of classroom innovation projects. These projects have focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); diversity and inclusion; business and entrepreneurship; civic awareness; fine arts; and other topics. Learn more about our staff and teacher grants program.
Contributions to the staff and teacher grant program can be made HERE.
About Bright Minds
Bright Minds Foundation works to ensure that each student has access to the education, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed at school and in life. We bring together community support for programs and initiatives that increase education access, equity, and innovation. Bright Minds programs respond to urgent and ongoing needs of students in four key areas: literacy and school readiness; digital inclusion and access to learning; education innovation and teacher support; and college access. Learn more about Bright Minds.
