đź“°BIDDEFORD | BEF Mini-Grant Illuminates Student Creativity Through Stained Glass Art
By Karen Garnett, Biddeford School Department
September 14, 2026, A new collection of student-created stained glass panels is illuminating the main office at Biddeford High School (BHS), showcasing what is possible when creative teaching, hands-on learning, and community support come together. The project, titled “Illuminating the Tiger Inside,” was funded through a $1,000 Biddeford Education Foundation (BEF) teacher mini-grant, which offers educators mini-grants to bring innovative learning experiences into their classrooms that fall outside the regular school budget.
Students in the BHS Intro to Drawing and Color class learned each step of the stained glass process, including safe glass handling, cutting, grinding, soldering, and finishing. The unfamiliar art form captured the interest of a wide range of students, including some who had been less engaged with traditional two-dimensional artwork.
“Students discovered different parts of the process that really spoke to them,”said Elizabeth Ames, Art Teacher at Biddeford High School. “Some loved cutting the glass or soldering, while others preferred different stages. The project gave students another way to see themselves as artists, and the final pieces exceeded my expectations. I am incredibly grateful to the Biddeford Education Foundation for continuing to support my ideas. This is not the first project BEF has helped me bring to life, and its investment gives me the freedom to introduce students to creative experiences that would not otherwise be possible.”
Working together, students created three stained glass panels inspired by traditional quilt patterns as a tribute to Biddeford’s textile mill history. Made with orange, clear, white, gray, and black glass, the completed artwork reflects the school’s Tiger Pride and is now permanently installed in the high school’s main office, where it welcomes students, staff, families, and visitors.
“This project is a beautiful example of why the Biddeford Education Foundation invests in our educators’ ideas,” said Shelley Kane, president of the Biddeford Education Foundation. “Our teachers know what will spark curiosity and reach students in meaningful ways. Through the generosity of our donors, we can help turn those creative ideas into experiences and lasting works of art that might not otherwise be possible within the regular school budget.”
Over the past decade, the Biddeford Education Foundation has invested $27,358 in teacher mini-grants, helping educators introduce creative and enriching opportunities for students throughout the district. These grants support projects that enhance the curriculum, encourage exploration, and give teachers the flexibility to transform promising ideas into meaningful learning experiences. Some past projects have included: Salt Water Touch Tank, Hydroponics “Where does our food come from”, A Whale of a Day, Unified Bocce Ball, Be The Yellow Tulip Project, Best Buddies, Binoculars for Birding Club, Mystery Science, Sensory Motor Path, Exploring the Outdoors (snowshoes), and more.
The stained glass project also demonstrates how the arts can combine creativity with technical skills, problem-solving, persistence, collaboration, and connections to the surrounding community.
“Meaningful learning happens when students are invited to experiment, take creative risks, and produce something with an authentic purpose,” said Dr. Mandy Cyr, Director of Curriculum and Innovation for the Biddeford School Department. “This project introduced students to a highly specialized artistic process while connecting their work to Biddeford’s history and school identity. It is the kind of experience students will remember long after they leave the classroom.”
The project will continue benefiting future art students because the grant funded the materials and equipment needed to incorporate stained glass into the high school art curriculum for years to come.
The Biddeford Education Foundation supports learning opportunities for students from PreK through Grade 12 by funding teacher mini-grants and providing resources outside the regular school budget. To learn more about the teacher mini-grant program, visit www.biddefordschools.me/page/teacher-mini-grants.
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