During the 2023-2024 school year, Bright Minds supported 21 Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) educators with over $25,000 in grants to fund classroom and instructional projects focused on student achievement, engagement, and wellbeing. Projects were delivered in more than 40 HCPSS schools and reached thousands of students. Hear directly from the fantastic group of educators who received grants about how these projects are making a difference in the lives of students.

Civil Engineering: Concrete Canoe Challenge

“The Bright Minds grant allowed our diverse group of students to explore and more importantly accomplish something that they will remember for the rest of their lives. The grant made a difference.”
Michael Zoltoski, ARL Civil Engineering teacher

“This is the only class where I go home and think about the challenges, and even discuss the project with my parents.”
HCPSS Civil Engineering student

“Wow! I wished that my high school offered us the opportunity to build a concrete canoe! I could have learned so much from that experience as a high school student.
Drexel University student at the American Society of Civil Engineering Student Symposium held at University of Maryland on April 6-7 after hearing about the project.

“The camaraderie in your class is something to behold. I was so impressed by their excitement and ability to answer my questions.””
Karl Schindler, HCPSS Applications & Research Laboratory Principal, to Michael Zoltoski

Concrete Canoe project video (student produced) / Concrete Canoe new post

Middle School: Decoded

“I loved how free and open it was, and how creative it lets you be.”
“I liked finishing the coding and feeling good about my code. I also liked making the robot’s shell.”
“…I got to play around and create my own code.”
Students of Michael Glennon, Glenwood Middle School

Micro:bits and Makey Makeys

“The grant from Bright Minds allowed me to purchase computational thinking materials to supplement our Technology curriculum and to provide access to ALL students in the class, instead of only a few at a time. With our Micro:bits, students have been able to program code on their computer, and then transfer their code to a mini-computer. This allows them to see how coding can create actual programs that can be used. We’ve created flashlights that light up based on the lighting and learned how to create and send messages to each other using the radio feature, among many other projects. Without the grant from Bright Minds, we would be limited in our use with Micro:bits in the classroom. We are extremely grateful to have received the grant last year. This project will be implemented for years to come and will impact many, many students!”
Kristen Bennett, Technology Teacher, Lisbon Elementary

Growing Together Greenhouse / Plant Project

“The grant award I received from Bright Minds Foundation provided funding for soil and supplies at The Growing Together Greenhouse, the greenhouse at Cedar Lane School. The soil has provided my students with various special needs opportunities for therapeutic gardening and job skill development. Opportunities to participate in adapted horticulture and agricultural activities help my students feel valued, supported, and engaged. Thank you Bright Minds and community donors for choosing to support students and educators across Howard County!”
Dallas Rosenthal, Educator, Cedar Lane School

Isolation and extraction of Carotenoids from yeasts that exist in the Microbiomes of Flowers – Applications & Research Laboratory

“Students collected flowers and cultured the “nectar” from the nectaries of flowers and from internal flower petals. The goal was to culture yeasts that are ubiquitous and are deposited from pollinators. This microbiome is an important ecosystem to find unique yeasts that produce carotenoids. The yeasts, once grown, are extracted for DNA and pigments. The DNA is used to determine what yeasts they are and the pigments extracted to determine what pigments they are. The pigments have various functions in the biotechnology and medical world.

The cost to sequence the DNA and have available the equipment necessary to do these analysis is high. The Bright Minds grant allowed me to purchase 2 mini spectrophotometers that are used to determine pigment type and concentration of extracted pigments. It is also used to determine DNA concentration and quality. The grant also allowed me to purchase chemicals needed to conduct PCR analysis of the DNA. I am very grateful for the opportunity to receive this grant and enable our seniors the chance to be a part of this highly technical and advanced scientific research.”
Alyson M. Donoghue, M.S., Biotechnology Instructor, ARL

Math Intervention for Diverse Learners

“As a special educator, it is clear to me that our classrooms contain exceptional, bright children who are excited about learning. However, not all minds work in the same way- especially when it comes to math instruction with neurodivergent students. While computer-based interventions can support learning for some of our students, they were not designed with neurodivergent learners in mind. Additionally, teachers are still managing the impact of gaps in learning due to the pandemic and virtual learning. Bright Minds supported our school in funding an evidence-based math intervention curriculum designed to supplement math instruction with hands-on, multisensory, structured lessons backed by research. Not only can our Tier 3 students with significant educational needs benefit from structured math instruction designed for all learners, but our teachers will also be able to utilize the program for targeted instruction for Tier 1 and 2 students with gaps in their learning. My students have never enjoyed our small group math instruction more, they feel successful and are making strong gains toward their goals and objectives.”
Sarah Rawlings, Special Educator, Ilchester Elementary

Spanish is My Superpower

“HCPSS often provides language services and interpreters to ensure families receive communication in their native language, but how often do they experience family programs fully in their native language? Thanks to Bright Minds, I’ve been able to run an after-school program in Spanish that provides monthly opportunities for community building as well as lessons, read-alouds, and games with take-home resources for math, literacy, and social emotional learning (SEL)! It’s increased Spanish-speaking family involvement and sense of belonging, and the students ask me weekly when our next math or sight word lotería (bingo) competition will be!”
Emily Petersen, Teacher / Instructional Team Lead / Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Liaison

Diverse Recess Opportunities

“Our students at Ducketts Lane Elementary have many great staff members supporting their academic and social growth and welfare each day. However, resources are sometimes limited and that can extend to the types of items they have access to during recess, an integral part of their day that provides free time for students to clear their minds and reset as they prepare to continue their learning upon returning to their classrooms. With the support of the Bright Minds grant funds we are able to purchase additional supplies and games to diversify the options students have at recess and allow more students to access games or activities that they can enjoy.”
Alex Leisawitz, School Counselor, Ducketts Lane ES

Welcome Home

“Bright Minds Foundation provided our Welcome hOMe event at OMHS with funds we needed to bring the event to the next level so that we can reach even more students. We’ve been able to train four new facilitators, purchase materials for our events, and develop a Welcome hOMe 2 event focused on building belonging in our school community.”
Niklas Berry, Social Studies Department Chair, Oakland Mills HS

A Learning Space for All

“The funds I received from Bright Minds were used to create a pullout space at each of my two schools for special educators, interventionists, and other service providers to use. In the past, finding a space to provide students with the support they need was exhausting and sometimes impossible. Working with my schools, I was able to get a small classroom designated for this purpose, but it was lacking in resources. The Bright Minds funding was used to ensure functional board space for instruction, alternative seating options to meet the needs of students, and other instructional resources necessary to provide support to students. This has made a positive impact at both schools to students, teachers, and staff.”
Chris Ryals, Middle School Math Specialist, Lime Kiln MS / Ellicott Mills MS

Innovative Pathways Program

HCPSS students participating in the program:
“These community events were beneficial to me and my family because they allowed me to see the other students in my program in-person, and it was a lot of fun playing bingo and other games. It was also nice seeing the teachers in-person too, and I would want these community events to have the chance to continue.”
“The community events helped me connect with people better. I usually don’t like social outings, but it was nice to meet my teachers and see my peers. I went to two community events and had lots of fun! Everyone was friendly and welcoming. I met new people and made friends. These events impacted me positively and I hope that I get to go to another one.”
“I really like the community events because it was a way to meet my teachers and see some of the kids at my school.”
“The community events were fun and it gave us a chance to connect with people in person instead of through a screen. I hope that if this program continues next year we’ll have many more community events.”
“They gave us a chance to get out the house and talk and meet with new people, plus the games are always fun to play.”
“The community events were really helpful for me since I’m home schooled, I don’t really interact with many peers my age outside of classes. It’s also really nice to talk to my teachers in person and to exchange contact information with friends/classmates.”

Innovative Pathways staff members:
“The in-person opportunity to build connections with my students was really valuable. I was able to experience a different side of them – competitiveness with the hula hoop challenge, creativeness with the stress bottle activity, and vulnerability and perseverance with the game night. The event helped to build a deeper relationship between staff, students and families and create a stronger sense of belonging.”
Cindy Waugh, Innovative Pathways, ARL

Harper’s Choice Cooking Club

“Our school’s cooking club has had a positive impact on the students at Harper’s Choice because it has taught them practical life skills that go beyond cooking, such as following recipes, kitchen safety and teamwork. Students have learned how to make easy, inexpensive meals at home and were encouraged to try new foods and flavors. My hope is that students use the skills learned from our cooking club to gain independence with food choices and preparation. Overall, Harper’s Choice’s cooking club offered a comprehensive learning experience that benefits students in and out of the kitchen.”
Deandre Ingram, Harpers Choice Middle School

Harriett Tubman High School Alma Mater

“The Bright Minds Grant allowed us to honor the students of Harriett Tubman Junior-Senior High School. When the school was closed in 1966 to integrate HCPSS, students’ legacy, experiences, and traditions went unnoticed. With the reopening of The Harriett Tubman Cultural Center the students’ lives and legacies were revitalized and one way we hope to keep their traditions alive is through the performance of their Alma Mater for years to come. Ms. Bessie Bordanave provided a copy of the piano part and composer Adrian Sims wrote out the Alma Mater for choir and band. This will positively impact current students in the HCPSS each year as we strive to educate them about the Harriett Tubman Junior-Senior High School, its historical importance in Howard County, and about the people who attended. When you walk the halls of The Harriett Tubman Cultural Center and see pictures of the students in activities, like music and band, everything comes alive. Legacy is something that people leave behind and becomes the responsibility of others to carry on; it’s our responsibility and this is one small way to keep their traditions alive.”
Eric Posner, Band Director, Guilford Park High School

Healthy Foods 4 Healthy Kids

The third grader shyly asked for more salad that he could take home and show his mom. We had roasted carrot chips in our new air fryer and had added a rainbow of colors: green, yellow, orange, red and purple. We learned about the parts of the plant that contributed to our finished creation: the broccoli flowers, the snap pea seeds, the tomato and pepper fruits, the celery stems, the spinach and red cabbage leaves, and our bright orange carrot roots. The students had cut, peeled, and chopped the vegetables, seasoned and roasted the carrots. They finished that salad, so unfortunately there were no leftovers to take home.

This past school year it has been my privilege to teach a weekly cooking class to second, third, and fourth graders involved in the Bridges after-school program at Longfellow Elementary. Thanks to the generous grant from the Bright Minds Foundation we have been able to purchase kid-safe knives and choppers, baking pans, mixing spoons, and we received the air fryer. The grant has allowed me to purchase the healthy food that we use as we learn lessons about the importance of a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables along with lean proteins, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.

We expanded our adjectives as we tasted apple varieties and then made applesauce. We had mini-math lessons as we doubled fractions while baking whole-wheat corn muffins. Food became edible art as we decorated flat-bread with vegetable faces. We culminated our culinary year with a special two-hour cooking class and invited some distinguished guests from Bright Minds as we sat down to penne pasta, french bread with olive oil dipping sauce, sparkling juice, and yogurt berry parfaits. The next night at the end-of-year party for all the Bridges classes I served the leftovers from our formal dinner. My cooks beamed with pride as they told the others, “I made that!” And there was a little leftover to take home to Mom.

Thank you, Bright Minds, for your generous support of our program at Longfellow. I believe that you have helped to plant and nurture some seeds, from which some wonderful cooks will grow.

With heartfelt thanks,
Deborah Legowski & Longfellow ES students

Cryptography

“I write this with a grateful heart to support the Bright Minds Foundation, and their important role in supporting educators and awarding grants to innovative educational initiatives in Howard County. I was fortunate enough to apply for a Bright Minds grant last school year and was honored to receive a grant that allowed me to enrich and extend a Fifth Grade Cryptography research unit. I was able to infuse MSDE social studies standards, NGSS science standards, and HCPSS science, social studies and library media goals and objectives in a hands-on way; my students were thoroughly engaged in this extended unit and each class came into my library media center ready to learn, not wanting to waste class time to ensure that they would have an abundance of time and opportunity to learn about and apply hands-on practice of various codes and ciphers throughout history.

This Cryptography unit is good, as written in our county curriculum, and by being awarded a Bright Minds grant I was able to enrich students while teaching cross-curricular skills; the grant enabled me to purchase non-consumable spy kits, wheel ciphers, Jefferson cipher models, as well as Enigma models. Students were able to tie in science with invisible ink and how the Culper Spy Ring would have worked during the Revolutionary War. They were able to build ciphers as well and were able to use these ciphers in class as well as at home. Students shared in and out of class how excited they were each week to learn what new cryptography lesson they would engage in, and the grant has enabled students to experience hands-on skills that they could use in their future, should they choose to enter the field of Cryptography and work for NSA or another agency.

I could sing the praises of the Bright Minds Foundation myself, as they have been vital to my students experiencing a true joy of learning in these last few weeks of school when many students are burnt out and often disengaged from learning; students taking part in this unit are thriving, engaged, and eager to come to class to learn. Please take a moment and read some of their reflections on how this grant has enriched their learning:

Stephanie Hastings, Media Specialist, Lisbon Elementary

Notes from Lisbon Elementary School kids: