Flint Energies and its philanthropic arm, the Flint Energies Foundation, awarded a total of $25,000 to 28 teachers for creative and innovative lesson plans in the thirteenth year of the Co-op’s Bright Ideas program.

Winning teachers were surprised in their classrooms by Bright Ideas Prize Brigade representatives from Flint Energies with flowers, balloons, gift bags and “big” checks October 29-30. The Bright Ideas program distributes grants of up to $1,000 for teachers to implement creative, innovative projects or lessons with students. The grants are not available for professional development, SmartBoard, iPad or subscription service requests.

This year $25,000 in Bright Ideas grants were given to winning teachers and their team members at schools in Crawford, Harris, Houston, Muscogee, Peach, Macon, Sumter, Talbot and Taylor counties.

“Flint Energies supports education through the Bright Ideas program by providing much needed funds to well-deserving educators. It’s their bright ideas that make learning fun for the next generation,” says Jennifer Morton, Community Connections Specialist.

Earlier this year, Flint Energies and the Foundation invited teachers of grades Pre-K through 12 at public or private schools located in the Co-op’s service territory to apply for the grant. Flint Energies service area encompasses parts of Bibb, Chattahoochee, Crawford, Dooly, Harris, Houston, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Muscogee, Peach, Schley, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Twiggs and Upson counties. In September, the Cooperative received 75 grant applications, totaling more than $77,000 from teachers. A panel of retired educators served as judges and reviewed the applications. The top scoring lesson plan ideas were funded.

2019 Bright Ideas grant winners:

Lisa Duke, Canning/Preserving – A Lost Art, Feagin Mill Middle School, Warner Robins, $1,000

Lilyanne Tyler, Spreading a Love for Learning, Warner Robins Middle School, Warner Robins, $696.99

Marcie Pietrofere, Making Learning Virtual, Langston Road Elementary School, Perry, $919.60

Carrie Green, Munching and Making Math Magical, Crawford County Eagle’s Nest, Roberta, $665.59

Alisha Hall, Financial Fitness, Perry Middle School, Perry, $1,000

Keturia Williams, The Game of LIFE: Investigating Science Concepts, David Perdue Elementary School, Warner Robins, $944.00

Scott Chandler, Take a Trip to the Moon from Your Living Room, St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School, Columbus, $1,000

Stephanie Justen, Autism Cooking and Cleaning in the Classroom, Houston County High School, Warner Robins, $1,000

Cheralyn Keily, Growing Healthy Minds, Bodies and Communities, Bonaire Middle School, Bonaire, $1,000

Cameron Barronton, Coding in the Classroom, Lake Joy Primary School, Warner Robins, $1000

Terra McMillan, Aesthetic Rockets, Thomson Middle School, Centerville, $1,000

Stanley Kimble, Go Solar!, Taylor County High School, Butler, $992.70

Tara Barton, Moving to the Beat, Byron Elementary School, Byron, $860

Diane Madore, Using Art in World Geography, Taylor County High School, Butler, $520.38

Becky Schabeck, Osmo Reflective Artificial Intelligence, Sumter County Elementary School, Americus, $998

Victoria Mendoza, Lighting Up Our Learning, Tucker Elementary School, Perry, $630

Louis Leskosky, From the Mists of the Past, Warner Robins High School, Warner Robins, $754.13

Amanda Hayes, Sew Fabulous, Warner Robins Middle School, Warner Robins, $1,000

Stephanie King, VIRTUALLY Everything Revolves Around Reading, Eagle Springs Elementary School, Centerville, $1,000

Bergen Poole, Shooting for the Stars, Kay Road Elementary School, Byron, $793

Phyllis Grane, Sun-Powered Race Cars, Thomson Middle School, Centerville, $750

Rosemary Satterfield, Erosion and Deposition, Crawford County Elementary School, Roberta, $1,000

Kimberly Hatcher, Business Conversations & Market Day, Central of Talbotton Middle/High School, Talbotton, $1,000

Leshan Ferguson, WIND & Energy Transformation: Increasing Power Through the Engineering Design Process, Thomson Middle School, Centerville, $1,000

Jill Morrison, A Mile in Their Shoes, Taylor County High School, Butler, $978.80

Tenille King, 3 Things EVERY Special Education Classroom Must Have, Northside High School, Warner Robins, $650

Julie Greene, Book Clubs for Diverse Learners, Macon County Elementary School, Oglethorpe, $996.81

Jennifer Lean, Georgia: Here We Grow, Park Elementary School, Hamilton, $850

Ginger Caldwell, a teacher at Bonaire Middle School in Bonaire, won an iPad mini for her classroom in the early bird drawing.