By Tracy McCormick-Dishman
Nassau County teachers stepped into the spotlight Dec. 4 at Shark Grant Night, a high-energy pitch competition inspired by a popular television investment show, where six innovative classroom ideas earned funding totaling $60,000 from a panel of local business leaders.
The Nassau Education Foundation hosted the event at Mocama Beer Company, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s mission to support public school educators. The foundation reached $1 million in total grant funding last year and created Shark Grant Night as part of its “Thanks a Million” celebration.
“We decided this year we would do something different and add a new opportunity,” said Susan DeVane, executive director of the Nassau Education Foundation. “We do believe our business leaders have a stake in our education system, have a passion for education, and they also have know-how to pick a good idea.”
The foundation typically awards classroom grants up to $1,200 each through its annual program, with a budget between $50,000 and $70,000 per year. The shark grants offered significantly larger awards — up to $10,000 each — for projects that would reach beyond a single classroom to involve multiple schools or disciplines.
Baptist Health Nassau contributed additional funding to the initiative, including support for “calm/cool classroom” environments in elementary schools across the district.
Eighteen teachers applied for shark grants. A panel of four local business leaders — the “sharks” — joined board members and educators to evaluate applications using a scoring rubric. The six highest-scoring proposals advanced to the presentation round.
The shark panel included Michael Brooks with First Port City Bank, Jenny Schaffer, owner of Summer House Realty, Cezar Gonzalez, former director of the local YMCA, and Tara Beth Anderson, president of Baptist Health Nassau. Additional evaluators were Donna Martin and Tanya Williams, both board members and former teachers, along with DeVane.
At Shark Grant Night, teachers presented their ideas using videos, slides and team presentations while the sharks deliberated. All six finalists received funding.
Funded projects include Rhian Smith’s Reef Ball Grant at Yulee High School, where marine biology students will create an actual reef; Ashley Mitchell’s Virtual Algebra Grant at Yulee Middle School using VR headsets for real-life applications; Samantha Waite’s Southside Sensory Rooms Grant at Southside Elementary; Renee Thompson’s Outdoor Collaboration Lab Grant at Fernandina Beach Middle School; Erin Schreiber’s Celebrate America Grant at Hilliard Middle Senior High School, featuring dramatic productions inspired by “Schoolhouse Rock” and “Hamilton” to mark the country’s 250th birthday; and Elizabeth Elder’s Resiliency Day Challenge Grant at Yulee High School.
“It was exactly what we envisioned in the middle of the night when we came up with the idea,” DeVane said. “The place was packed and it was just a fun, exciting night.”
The foundation plans to begin fundraising at its Teacher of the Year Gala on Jan. 17, 2026, to make shark grants an annual program.
The Nassau Education Foundation awards grants exclusively to Nassau County public schools. For more information, contact Susan DeVane at the Nassau Education Foundation, sdevane@nassaueducationfoundation.org or (904) 753-0299.
tdishman@nassaunewsline.net
