10/26/2026
🎭 The Chamber’s Arts in Education and Business Council of Cleveland/Bradley County (AEBC) recently celebrated this year’s grant recipients, recognizing educators and artists who are bringing creativity and meaningful arts experiences into local classrooms.
Made possible by proceeds from the popular Chair-ries Jubilee art auction, these grants help students explore theatre, music, visual arts, storytelling, and other creative learning opportunities throughout our community.
🏆 Special congratulations to Megan Martin of Candy's Creek Cherokee Elementary School, recipient of the 2026-27 Kim Currin Memorial Award, presented by Barry Currin for her project, “From Mona to Meow-na: A Renaissance Reimagining.”
We’re proud to support the educators and artists who make learning more engaging, inspire young minds, and help the arts thrive in our schools. Thank you to everyone who makes this work possible! 👏 ✨
🎉 2026-27 Arts in Education Grant Recipients:
Stacey Wielfaert – Cleveland High School – You Can't Take It With You”
Sarah Burris – Bradley County Schools – Bradley County Elementary Honor Choir 
Jami Thomason – Ocoee Middle School – Famous Houses, Tennessee Twists 
Seaton Dasher – Cleveland Middle School – CMS Choir 
Leah Hughes – Park View Elementary – Musical Theatre Initiative 
Charissa Baker – Ocoee Middle School – Spring Musical: Xanadu 
Becky Denney – Charleston Elementary STEAM Academy – High School Musical Jr. 
Brittany Strother – Candy's Creek Cherokee Elementary School – From Page to Stage: A Performance of "America Through the Tempest" 
Adam Romano – Museum & Cultural Center at 5ive Points – Ocoee Region JAM 
Megan Martin – Candy's Creek Cherokee Elementary School – From Mona to Meow-na: A Renaissance Reimagining (Kim Currin Memorial Award) 
Madison Hiddleson – Waterville Community Elementary School – A Bodhran Residency 
Dawn Puckett – Michigan Avenue Elementary School – MAS 2027 Fall Musical 
Lesley Avery – Cleveland City Schools Elementary Schools – Cleveland City Schools Honor Chorus 
Lesley Avery – Candy's Creek Cherokee Elementary School – Madagascar Kids Musical 
Matthew Mullins – Tennessee Christian Preparatory School – Just Another High School Play 
Chloe Hinchcliff – Tennessee Christian Preparatory School – Weaving Workshop 
Ashley Garner – Bradley Central High School Fine Arts Department – The Addams Family Musical: School Edition 
Sarah Burris – Prospect Elementary School – Disney's The Aristocats Kids 
Sarah Burris – Prospect Elementary School – Bodhran Residency with Andrew Kruspe 
Nicholas Shafer – Taylor Elementary School – Andy Kruspe Bodhran Residency 
Shanna Calfee Cripe – Walker Valley High School – 'Tis the Season for Clay 
Ashley Creel – Cleveland Middle School – Spring Musical Set and Scripts (High School Musical 2) 
Tracy Bremmer – Bradley Central High School – Beta Club Living Literature 
Reily Tyson – Lake Forest Middle School – Harvest Traditions in Ceramics with Art at the Square 
Megan VanBenschoten – Arnold Memorial Elementary School – Peter Pan Jr. 
Tristen Rowland – Walker Valley High School – WVHS Spring Musical (Anything Goes) 
Siema Bailey Swartzel – Arnold Memorial Elementary School – Trash Can Band: The Legacy and Rite of Passage 
Joshua Dasher – Bradley Central High School – Choir Dance Clinic 
Joshua Dasher – Bradley Central High School – Show Choir Vocal Clinic 
Lisa Wiley – CCS Denning Center for Family & Community Resources – WALKS (Wellness, Art, Literacy, Knowledge, and Stories) 
Katie Mullins – Walker Valley High School – Fall Play: The Outsiders 
Colby Pilkey – Waterville Community Elementary School – The Odyssey 
Madisson Mantooth – Bradley Central High School Art Department – Warhol Screen Art Brought into the Present Day 
Abigayle Fec – George R. Stuart Elementary School – Elementary Spring Musical 
Christana Tucker – Bradley Homeschool Beta Club – Beta Music Theater Performance and Observations ("The Lorax") 
Carley Snyder – Hopewell Elementary School – Lion King Kids Show
Dana Storey – Candy's Creek Cherokee Elementary School – From Taxes to Triumph: America's Revolutionary Journey 
Jaron Smith – Black Fox Elementary School – The Little Mermaid Kids Musical 
Cleveland Storytelling Guild – Teaching Artist School Presentations in conjunction with the Annual Ocoee Storytelling Festival
