To All Breakfast with the Superintendent & HCPSS Showcase Participants and Sponsors,
On behalf of the entire Bright Minds team, we share our heartfelt thanks for participating in the Breakfast with the Superintendent & HCPSS Showcase event on February 4, 2026! Each of you helped make the morning truly special, and we are grateful for the energy, enthusiasm, and commitment you bring to supporting Howard County students and educators. Thank you to everyone who shared kind feedback with our team after the event — it truly means so much to us. View event photos.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Superintendent Bill Barnes for sharing current priorities and for moderating an inspiring panel with HCPSS educators who received Bright Minds classroom grants. Thank you to panelists Morgan Foos, William Perez, Lori Rudolph, Jennifer Vining, and Mike Zoltoski for bringing your ideas, creativity, and passion for serving students to life; and to Student Member of the Board of Education Erin Alistar for offering a powerful student perspective and reminder of the impact we can make together.
Hearing directly from educators about the innovative projects they have launched — and the real stories of students whose lives have been positively impacted — was a meaningful reminder of how community support translates into transformative classroom experiences. By attending this event, you helped make these opportunities possible — and you can continue that impact.
Bright Minds is currently accepting classroom grant applications from HCPSS educators, and we will be selecting next year’s innovative projects this spring. Now is the moment when community support makes the greatest difference. If you were inspired by what you heard, we invite you to consider making a gift to help fund the next generation of classroom innovation and student opportunity.
Help Fund the Next Classroom Grant
Your support makes Bright Minds’ work possible. Together, we are addressing critical resource and opportunity gaps faced by students and educators across our community. With special thanks to our event sponsors listed below, including Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, Sheehy Toyota of Laurel, SECU, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, and American College of Education.
Thank you also to the many HCPSS educators who attended, representing Applications & Research Laboratory (ARL), Pupil Personnel Services / Homeless Assistance, Beyond School Hours & Summer Programs, Office of Title I and Community School, Dual Enrollment & Digital Education, Apprenticeship Maryland, and Partnerships and Grants.
Thank you again for your partnership and support!
With very special thanks to our event sponsors:
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.®, Iota Lambda Omega Chapter
American College of Education
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Educational Systems Federal Credit Union
Howard County Center of African American Culture
Howard County Education Federal Credit Union
Kiwanis Club of Ellicott City
SECU
Sheehy Toyota of Laurel
Visual Sound
Voya Financial Advisors
Aprio
Offit Kurman
Prepare for Success
Ellen Flynn Giles
The Drasin Family
Mary Brzezinski
Suzi Padgett
Christie Lassen
April Perry
Anne Santos
