The 2011 application process had ended. We will begin accepting 2012 applications in April.
The Bright Ideas Grant Program was established by the state's electric cooperatives in 1994 to support innovative, creative and effective classroom initiatives that are not covered by traditional school funding. Since that time, the cooperatives have distributed over $7 million in funding across the Tarheel state.
Individual teachers or a team of teachers can compete for grants up to $2,000. All teachers and principals in both public and private schools grades K-12 are eligible to apply for a Bright Ideas Grant from Roanoke EMC. Applications will be accepted for projects in any discipline (multi-discipline projects are encouraged).
To learn more or apply online visit the Bright Ideas web site. Awards are presented in the fall of each year at a banquet in Greenville, NC hosted by the Electric Cooperatives of Eastern Carolina.
Roanoke Electric Cooperative awarded $8,000 in grants to area teachers for the 2011 Bright Ideas Program. Judges from each school district in Roanoke Electric's service territory were represented, including Halifax, Bertie, Hertford, Gates, and Northampton counties, to determine this year's winners. Area teachers submitted applications detailing innovative classroom/school wide projects that are typically not able to be funded by school systems.
2011 Bright Ideas Grant Recipients
- Jan Wicker, Weldon City Schools: Weldon, NC; $1,970 for “A is for Animals.”
- Dawn Leseney, Central Elementary School: Jackson, NC; $750 for “Take a Veteran to School.”
- Ralph Graham, Northampton Alternative School: Seaboard, NC; $1,462.20 for “Read to Achieve.”
- Korey Lawlis, Gatesville Elementary, Gatesville, NC; $1,500 for “We’ve got the Whole World in our Hands.”
- Karen Greene, Central Middle School: Gatesville, NC, $1,681.90 for “Viking Videos.”
- Pamela Baker, Bertie Middle School: Windsor, NC; $990 for “Power Beyond the Bookshelf.”
General Information
Roanoke Electric Cooperative has awarded more than 70 Bright Ideas Grants since 1994 totaling more than $60,000.00. Across the state Bright Ideas have shown to improve classroom instruction and encouraged innovative teaching techniques benefiting over 500,000 students.
The funds go to North Carolina teachers and principals serving grades K-12. They are awarded for projects in any discipline as long as they use creative teaching techniques to improve instruction. Projects are eligible for grants of up to $2,000.
Since the inception of this program Roanoke Electric Cooperative and the North Carolina Electric Cooperatives have presented over $1.5 million to Tar Heel educators. The statewide Bright Ideas Grant Program was launched in October 1994 by North Carolina's electric cooperatives and the Carolina Electric Cooperatives network, and has been very instrumental in assisting teachers and principals with programs that they cannot fund through traditional school financing.
The judges that are selected to review the applications are located throughout the cooperative's service area, and include educators and community leaders.
To learn more go to www.ncbrightideas.com.
ONLY ON-LINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR 2011.
For more information about the grant program, email Robin M. Phillips, Coordinator of Communications and Public Relations at rphillips@roanokeelectric.com or call 252-209-2259 or 1-800-433-2236, ext. 259.