Havelock teachers get early Christmas gifts

Some area teachers received early Christmas presents in the form of Bright Ideas grants from Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative.

The grants totaled $19,316 and went to teachers at 15 schools in Carteret and Craven counties.

"The grants help purchase supplies that are not affordable through normal school budgets and fund innovative projects that will have significant benefit on students, both in the current school year and beyond," said Bill Ward, director of community relations with Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative.

Recipients of grants this year will use funds for everything from raising chickens to the study of aeronautical engineering. The projects will have a direct impact on 3,757 students, according to the cooperative.

"If you do the math, you can see that a little money goes a long way," Ward said. "The value per student is about $5.15, but the learning opportunities are priceless."

In the Havelock area, Ashley Alicea of Gurganus Elementary School received a $1,000 grant for a cooperative learning project with iPads. Also at Gurganus, Jessica Griffee received $409 for a project called Mastering Math with Manipulatives.

At Graham A. Barden Elementary School, Amy Bowman received $998 for a project called We Got the Power.

At Havelock Middle School, Rosemary Steinman received $935 for a project on 21st century learning.

Three teachers at Havelock High School received grants.

Matthew Stevenson received $800 for a Floating on Technology program. Kayla Harris received $881 as part of the high school’s effort to raise chickens as part of its agriculture education program. Bailey Graham received $713 for a special education program called HHS Rams Rockin’ Clubhouse.

At Early College East in Havelock, Karyn Suggs received $595 for an aeronautical engineering design project.

The money for the grants comes from the Carteret-Craven Electric Foundation, which funded 31 projects during this year’s grant cycle.

Overall since the Bright Ideas grant program began in 1994, the foundation has provided $280,000 in grants for projects that have impacted more than 56,000 students in the area.