Lexington, South Carolina, October 17, 2025
News Summary
Five educators from Lexington School District Two have been awarded over $19,000 in Bright Ideas grants from Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative. These grants are dedicated to innovative classroom projects that enhance learning experiences for students. Projects include a student-run coffee shop, an aquarium for ecosystem studies, and more, fostering creativity and real-world skills in various disciplines. The grant recipients will be honored at a luncheon, highlighting the importance of supporting innovative teaching methods in local education.
Lexington, South Carolina
Five educators from Lexington School District Two have been awarded Bright Ideas grants from Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative for innovative classroom projects. The total amount of the grants exceeds $19,000, aimed at supporting local educators and enriching their students’ learning experiences through creative project work.
Awardees and Their Projects
Amanda Altman, a science teacher at Airport High School, received $1,000 for her project “Data At Their Fingertips: Modern Tools for Future Scientists.” The grant will fund wireless chemistry starter bundle probes for her Chemistry I and AP Chemistry classes, enhancing data collection and visualization during laboratory work.
Kimberly Hardin, a science teacher at Brookland-Cayce High School, was awarded $1,000 for her project “From Ecosystem to Inquiry: An Aquatic Learning Lab for STEM and Environmental Literacy.” This grant will help establish a classroom aquarium where students can study ecosystems, water quality, and nutrient cycles, fostering engagement in biology, chemistry, and environmental science.
Ryann Gaffney, a special education teacher at Busbee Creative Arts Academy, received $800 for her project “Pouring Possibilities: A Coffee and Soda Experience.” This initiative involves a student-run coffee and soda shop, offering hands-on experience in job readiness skills for students with intellectual disabilities.
Brooke Jones, a fourth-grade teacher at Riverbank Elementary School, was awarded $999.70 for her project “Roller Coaster Engineering.” The funding will allow students to engage with roller coaster engineering kits, which promote hands-on learning about force, motion, and energy through the design and testing of working models.
Finally, Olivia Loynes, an ELA teacher at Northside Middle School, secured $800 for her project “Hear Us Out: Amplifying Middle School Voices Through Podcasting.” The grant will provide equipment for a podcast studio, enabling students to write, record, and share podcasts, enhancing their literacy and teamwork skills.
Recognition and Impact
Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative will honor the grant recipients at a luncheon later this month, celebrating their contributions to innovative teaching methods within the district. Previous grants have also been awarded to educators in Lexington School District Two, reinforcing a tradition of supporting creative and effective approaches to education.
The Bright Ideas grants are designed to foster creativity, inquiry-based learning, and real-world skills among students across various disciplines in the district. As these projects take shape, they promise to enhance the educational landscape of Lexington School District Two, providing students with unique opportunities to explore, engage, and excel.
Conclusion
The awarded grants underscore a commitment to innovation in education, ultimately benefiting both students and educators alike. With the support of local organizations, teachers can implement projects that make learning more interactive and impactful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Bright Ideas grants?
The Bright Ideas grants are aimed at supporting local educators and enriching students’ learning experiences through creative project work.
How much money was awarded in total for this year’s grants?
The total amount of the grants exceeds $19,000.
Who are some of the educators that received grants, and what are their projects?
Recipients include Amanda Altman, who received $1,000 for a science project; Kimberly Hardin, who received $1,000 for an aquatic learning lab; Ryann Gaffney, awarded $800 for a coffee shop project; Brooke Jones, who received $999.70 for roller coaster engineering; and Olivia Loynes, who secured $800 for a podcasting project.
When will the award recipients be recognized?
Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative will honor the grant recipients at a luncheon later this month.
Summary of Grant Recipients and Projects
| Educator | School | Project Title | Grant Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amanda Altman | Airport High School | Data At Their Fingertips: Modern Tools for Future Scientists | $1,000 |
| Kimberly Hardin | Brookland-Cayce High School | From Ecosystem to Inquiry: An Aquatic Learning Lab for STEM and Environmental Literacy | $1,000 |
| Ryann Gaffney | Busbee Creative Arts Academy | Pouring Possibilities: A Coffee and Soda Experience | $800 |
| Brooke Jones | Riverbank Elementary School | Roller Coaster Engineering | $999.70 |
| Olivia Loynes | Northside Middle School | Hear Us Out: Amplifying Middle School Voices Through Podcasting | $800 |
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Additional Resources
- Post and Courier: West Columbia District Names Former Superintendent as Brookland-Cayce High Principal
- WLTX: Cayce Elementary School Remote Learning Due to COVID-19
- The State: Brookland-Cayce High School Hires Permanent Principal
- NBC News: School Day Assembly Line
- Lexington Chronicle: Brookland-Cayce High Hires Permanent Principal
- Wikipedia: Education in the United States
- Google Search: Lexington School District Two
- Google Scholar: Innovative Education Projects
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Google News: Brookland-Cayce High School
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
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