Several Pender County Schools teachers have received Bright Ideas Grant funding for the 2025–26 school year through Four County Electric Membership Corporation. In total, Pender County Schools was awarded $9,724.52 to support classroom projects that are not typically covered by school or district budgets.
The Bright Ideas Grant program provides up to $2,000 for innovative instructional projects. It is available to teachers across North Carolina through the state’s 26 electric cooperatives. Four County Electric has participated in the program since 1994 and has awarded more than $618,000 to teachers in the communities it serves. In 2025, the cooperative awarded more than $40,000 in Bright Ideas funding overall.
Four County Electric serves more than 35,000 members in Bladen, Duplin, Pender, Sampson, Columbus, and Onslow counties.
The following Pender County Schools educators received Bright Ideas grants this school year:
Cape Fear Middle School
Paul Odom — $1,700Heide Trask High School
Bailey Graham — $827.86
James Dawson — $1,998.84
Penny Wolff — $2,000Penderlea School
Lola Brooks — $736.12Rocky Point Elementary School
Laura Black — $1,000West Pender Middle School
Kayla Cliffe — $1,461.70
These grants will be used to support hands-on learning opportunities and classroom resources that directly benefit students.
Pender County Schools appreciates the continued support of Four County Electric and the Bright Ideas program, as well as the work of our teachers who take the time to apply for funding to support their classrooms.