Bryan Halsey, Big Idea Project’s chief practitioner, founding teacher and current business educator at Columbine High School, was publicly recognized by the Jefferson County School Board for his commitment to develop generous leaders at Columbine High School and beyond.
The school board’s recognition came as a response to Big Idea Project’s recent honor as the western U.S. region recipient of Chick-fil-A Foundation’s True Inspiration Award.
The Jeffco School Board President and former principal of Columbine High School, Ron Mitchell, presented the award at the February 4th open meeting. His remarks (included below) were officially added to the board records.
“In 2009, Mr. Halsey created a leadership class that included a capstone Big Idea Project.
The Big Idea Project takes service learning to the next level. First, teams of 3 to 4 students identify a social problem they care about and come up with a way to help solve it. Next, the team partners with a business mentor to create a plan of action. Students work their plan for the semester and make their Big Idea come to life. At the end of the semester, teams present their results including a video story – always a popular and well-attended event! Winning teams have the chance to win a college scholarship.
The Big Idea Project vision is to help develop our nation’s young leaders by bringing local business and school communities together. A bully intervention program, supporting refugees, supplying backpacks and school supplies, and feeding the homeless are just a few of the many projects students have tackled.
The Big Idea Project has gained traction with several schools in the state, including other Jeffco Schools: Bear Creek HS, Chatfield HS, Green Mountain HS and Pomona HS.
Littleton’s Belleview Shores Chick-fil-A operator John Barker nominated the Big Idea Project for the True Inspiration Award given by the Chick-fil-A Foundation. Winning the 2016 West Region True Inspiration award came with $75,000 that will be used to strengthen Colorado’s schools and expand the Big Idea Project nationally.
Mr. Halsey’s Big Idea Project will be honored along with other national recipients at a gala in Atlanta Georgia this spring.
Please join me in recognizing and congratulating Columbine High School teacher Bryan Halsey, a very generous leader himself, and his Big Idea Project.”
Thank you to the Jefferson County Board of Education for recognizing Big Idea Project. We are honored to have our beginnings in Jeffco’s own Columbine High School.
If you are a teacher, or know a teacher, who is interested in bringing Big Idea Project to the classroom, contact info@bigideaproject.org.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section]