September 27, 2024 – The Fayette Education Foundation announced close to $55,000 in Bright Ideas Grants for 29 projects in classrooms across Fayette County Public Schools. Since inception, more than $158,000 has been awarded to 86 projects across the district.

“Thanks to these investments from civic-minded companies and other organizations in Lexington, classrooms across the community will be able to provide additional experiences that excite young minds and stimulate learning beyond what some school budgets allow,” said Carrie Boling, executive director of the Fayette Education Foundation.

The announcement was made with a check presentation to Superintendent Demetrus Liggins from representatives from The Fayette Education Foundation at the John D. Price Administration Building at 450 Park Place.

More than 90% of teachers spend their own money on school supplies and other necessities for their students every year, according to the National Education Association, the largest teachers’ union in the country.

“There is an unstated expectation that educators will spend their own money on supplies and equipment. That is absolutely a factor that drives teachers away from the profession during a time when Kentucky teachers are leaving their jobs at an increasing pace and fewer people are applying for teaching jobs and entering teacher training programs,” said Boling.

Featured projects include:

  • collaboration between the Tates Creek High School Orchestra and the Lexington Philharmonic to provide students with a unique, immersive musical experience masterclasses, joint performances, and mentorship opportunities;
  • purchase of Bamboo Lab P1S 3D printer, cardboard automata boxes, and Databot sensor, so Leestown Middle Schools students can delve into the realms of engineering, design, and data analysis while fostering creativity and problem-solving skills;
  • enhancement of Mary Todd Elementary’s outdoor classroom to create specific gardening spaces where students can plant, monitor, care for, and harvest a variety of vegetables and flowers.

“The Fayette Education Foundation’s Bright Ideas Grant has been one of the largest impacts for increased student engagement in my STEM and science classrooms. Through their initiative to fund teacher passion projects, I have been able to bring four different 3-D printers, filament, coding projects, as well as mechanical automation into my middle school Title 1 classroom,” stated Jenny McCall, 7th Science and 6th/7th STEM teacher at Leestown Middle School. “Students are innovative and creative! They love using the engineering design process to solve a human need. Their solution is ideated, designed, prototyped, tested, and presented until a successful solution is found. These are all transferable skills to real world careers and future academic pathways.” McCall’s innovative teaching methods have been rewarded with a Bright Ideas Grant three years in a row.

In addition to a variety of individuals, funding for this year’s Bright Ideas Grants was made possible by these community partners: APS Communications, Blue Grass Community Foundation, Central Bank, Independence Bank, LG&E/KU, Lexmark, Snowy Owl Foundation and WesBanco.

“The projects made possible under the Bright Ideas Grants program embody WesBanco’s ongoing commitment to the communities we serve,” said Abdul Muhammad, WesBanco’s Central Kentucky market president and current board chair of The Fayette Education Foundation. “We are thrilled to support these initiatives that will no doubt enrich the lives of all participants and in turn, the greater community.”

For the full list of grants, visit https://fayettefoundation.org/bright-ideas-grants-program/