Jackson EMC (JEMC) recently awarded $82,144 in 2026 Bright Ideas grants to 59 teachers at 29 middle schools across its service area, including 12 Gainesville/Hall County teachers, bringing hands-on learning to thousands of students. Since 2015, Jackson EMC has invested more than $700,000 in supporting classroom projects that wouldn’t be funded otherwise. See the full list of the 2025-2026 Bright Ideas grant winners here.
Jan Ewing is one of the Hall County teachers who are recipients this year. Her 30 years of theatre experience in set design and production helped bring her eighth graders’ ideas to life at Da Vinci Academy at South Hall Middle School.
Ewing’s eighth-grade students created museum-style exhibits focused on water features across Georgia, including Lake Lanier. Students didn’t just complete a project – they became researchers, designers and guides, leading more than 3,600 elementary and middle school students, along with parents and community leaders, through an exhibit that highlighted the many uses of water in Georgia and beyond.
“The Bright Ideas grant allowed my students to explore a variety of water-related topics through guided research and the inquiry process”, said Ewing. “Bright Ideas grants help transform students from passive learners into active creators, thinkers and problem-solvers.”
Learn more at jacksonemc.com/brightideas.