Staff & Teacher Grants

HCPSS educators are incredible resources to identify innovative approaches to support student success and enhance learning outcomes

Bright Minds began offering competitive teacher grants in 2009 to help educators support student success, improve school communities, enhance teaching practices, and pilot projects that can be considered for broader implementation.

Competitive annual grants are open to all teachers and staff, and projects have focused on STEM; diversity and inclusion; business and entrepreneurship; civic awareness; fine arts; and other topics. Classroom Project Grant not only support student success, but also enrich teaching practices, strengthen school communities, and pilot important classroom projects.

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2026 Bright Minds Classroom Grants

Educator(s) School/Office Project Title Project Description
Jessica Palad Bellows Spring Elementary School Kindergarten Literacy Enhancement Wonderbooks allow students to read a book as they listen to the story at the same time. This project will allow for audio books to be purchased so that students can listen to reading/ read along with a book to enhance the literacy rotations that are required in the HCPSS ELA block of time.
Jeeeun Seymour Bonnie Branch Elementary School The ALS Greenhouse:Growing Skills and Small Business This grant will create an indoor horticulture station where ALS students grow plants from seed through harvest and a community plant sale. The project will provide hands-on opportunities to develop life skills, vocational experience, and financial literacy.
Dallas Rosenthal Cedar Lane School TLETTUCE Talk About Hydroponics! This grant will expand horticulture and agriculture learning opportunities for students with moderate to severe special needs, particularly wheelchair users and students with limited mobility who cannot easily access the school’s greenhouse and garden spaces. The project will create more inclusive hands-on learning experiences that benefit students throughout the school.
David Riddler Centennial High School Building Future-ready and Globally-Competent Students Through Crisis Simulations and Cross-School Collaboration This grant will support interactive online and in-person crisis simulations for AP Comparative Government & Politics and AP Human Geography students. Through role-based simulations developed by the University of Maryland and collaboration with partner schools, students will build global competence by exploring different perspectives, practicing negotiation and communication, and applying their learning to real-world challenges.
Kelly Baker Dayton Oaks Elementary School Nature-Based SEL A nature-based regulation station will be created for recess while integrating environmental education with social-emotional learning. Through hands-on mindfulness and nature activities, students will strengthen skills such as collaboration, responsibility, and self-awareness while supporting academic engagement and positive peer relationships.
Joanna Pauley Deep Run Elementary School Scan to Understand- WorldPenScan Go Reading Pen WorldPenScan Go Reading Pens will be provided to support multilingual learners and struggling readers in grades 3–5. The pens allow students to scan and hear text read aloud and translate text into 57 languages, promoting greater independence and access to classroom learning.
Dan Blue Dunloggin Middle School Monarch Mission: Monarch Butterfly Restoration Project Students will support monarch butterfly conservation by creating and protecting habitat on school grounds. Students will plant native milkweed and nectar-rich wildflowers to provide food and breeding areas while learning about pollinators, conservation, and the importance of protecting migratory species.
Paul Klink Lime Kiln Middle School Safe Prototyping Lab: Expanding Hands-On Engineering with Cardboard Fabrication Tools Students will have access to specialized cardboard fabrication tools that allow them to safely and independently create prototypes in Technology Education and Foundations of Technology classes. By making prototyping faster and easier, the tools will give students more opportunities to brainstorm, test, redesign, and collaborate while strengthening hands-on STEM and engineering skills.
Kelly Storr Glenwood Middle School Seeds of Change: Students Cultivating Science, Sustainability, and Community This project will revitalize the school’s outdoor classroom to provide hands-on learning in environmental science, sustainability, and STEM. Students will build garden beds and pathways, plant native gardens, explore hydroponics, and contribute produce to the school cafeteria and local food bank, connecting classroom learning with meaningful community service.
Kerri Shepet Gorman Crossing Elementary School Listening to Reading with Wonderbook Students will have the opportunity to listen to and read along with Wonderbooks - printed books with embedded ready-to-play audio. Students will follow along as they listen to stories, activating both decoding and encoding skills as part of a balanced literacy program.
Robin Few Gorman Crossing Elementary School Enhancing Access and Participation in the GCES OT Motor Room Students will have access to essential equipment and adaptive supplies for the OT Motor Room at Gorman Crossing Elementary School. The new resources will support students from preschool through 5th grade with diverse sensory, motor, and developmental needs, promoting safe, inclusive opportunities for engagement, self-regulation, and greater independence.
Nena Hupp Hanover Hills Elementary School AI Literacy and Mathematical Reasoning Lab: Providing Easier Opportunities for Everyone to Access Advanced STEM Learning There will be an AI Literacy and Mathematical Reasoning Lab created where students analyze and improve AI-generated math explanations rather than simply using AI for answers. The project will strengthen mathematical reasoning, communication, and critical thinking while building responsible AI literacy and digital citizenship skills.
Ayla Safren Hanover Hills Elementary School Planting Words, Growing Voices Students who are multilingual learners will be provided with hands-on materials and structured speaking activities to strengthen oral language, phonological awareness, and academic vocabulary. By connecting real-world experiences with ACCESS-aligned content, students will build confidence and skills for meaningful academic communication.
Lori Rudolph HCPSS Vision Services, Ascend One Meet Me in the Middle This project will empower blind and low vision middle school students with authentic opportunities to develop social and independent living skills emphasizing skills, in the expanded core curriculum (ECC). Skills will be introduced in an interactive and fun environment alongside peers, mentors and teachers to develop building blocks to live full, productive, and independent lives.
Molly Milani & Tara Terry & Meredith Gregoire-Cope Marriotts Ridge HS The Unified Kitchen Project: Adaptive Tools for Life Skill Independence Students at Marriotts Ridge High School will have access to adaptive kitchen tools, giving students with disabilities greater access to culinary instruction and hands-on opportunities to build independence and essential life skills. The project will create a more inclusive kitchen environment where all students can participate meaningfully and prepare for success beyond the classroom.
Nina Diehl Murray Hill Middle School Flow of Genetic InformationCreating Together: Building Community and Self-Confidence Through Art DEN teachers will be provided with supplies for whole-school art projects that build community and self-confidence while strengthening social-emotional skills such as teamwork and empathy. These collaborative projects will give students meaningful opportunities to create, connect, and learn together.
Kristin Anderson-Little Oakland Mills High School Stronger Together: Early Peer Intervention for Student Mental Health Success Oakland Mills High School students will be trained as peer mental health ambassadors using the A.S.K. framework. These student leaders will work with 8th graders from feeder schools to build connections, share healthy coping strategies, and provide mental health resources that support a positive transition to high school.
Simone Smith & Megan Milholland Passages Program Passages Supports the Passages Proposal, a 12-week trauma-informed program for justice-involved youth focused on strengthening social-emotional skills and academic engagement. Through hands-on activities such as mindfulness, cooking, and team-building, students will develop emotional regulation, empathy, and positive decision-making skills.
Suzanne Hughes Reservoir High School Heat Mapping the Reservoir High School Campus Biology GT and AP Environmental Science students will have hands-on experience collecting and analyzing temperature data across their school campus.
Caroline Evans & Lisa Goldberg Running Brook Elementary School 4 Houses 1 Family Running Brook ES will continue its Ron Clark-inspired House system to foster belonging, connection, and positive school culture for all students, while increasing family engagement.
Kathleen Borden Running Brook Elementary School Let's Get Reading! Will expand literacy resources for emergent and reluctant readers at Running Brook by providing early-reader books and Wonderbooks/Playaways.
Sheila Jones-Wagner & Rochelle Chauncey Thomas Viaduct Middle School Crown Collective: Mentorship at the Viaduct Through mentorship circles, cross-grade activities, guest speakers, and enrichment opportunities, students—especially girls of color—will build their voices, leadership skills, and connections with peers and mentors.

Other Bright Minds Projects