The Cobb Tank competition returned in 2025, offering educators across the Cobb County School District a platform to pitch innovative classroom projects for funding. The event, modeled after the television show “Shark Tank,” allowed teachers and schools to apply for up to $10,000 to implement creative ideas aimed at improving education.
This year, eight schools each presented their proposals to a panel of judges known as “sharks.” The judging panel included Adam Hill, Assistant Superintendent for Middle Schools; Debbie Broadnax, Principal at Ford Elementary School; Paul Gillihan, Principal at Campbell High School; Amanda Dillard, Special Education Teacher at Pope High School and 2025 District Teacher of the Year; Allison Carter, Director of Cobb Safety Village; and Dr. Preethi Titu, Associate Professor of Science Education at Kennesaw State University. Judges evaluated the projects based on innovation, sustainability, and their direct impact on student learning.
Dr. Adam Casey, STEM/STEAM & Innovation Supervisor for the district, said: “Cobb Tank is one of my favorite events each year because it celebrates the creativity and bold thinking of our educators. It’s inspiring to see innovative ideas come to life—from our youngest learners in elementary school to our oldest students in high school. Being able to support these projects and help turn big ideas into reality across Cobb County Schools is what innovation in education is all about and illustrates our priority in the Academic Division.”
A total of nearly $70,000 was awarded this year. Pebblebrook High School received $10,000 for its “Cells in Motion” project. This initiative will use AmScope B120 digital microscopes with advanced features such as 2500x magnification and 5MP cameras to allow ninth-grade biology students hands-on exploration of cells and biological processes. The project aims to improve understanding of cell biology, genetics, and microbiology through collaborative analysis using digital tools.
Other funded projects included South Cobb Early Learning Center’s sensory garden for young children ($10,000), Sprayberry High School’s lunar engineering challenge aligned with NASA’s Artemis Program ($8,000), Durham Middle School’s mobile STEAM carts ($7,650), South Cobb High School’s synthetic biology research team ($9,300), Pickett’s Mill Elementary’s outdoor learning trail ($10,000), Barber Middle School’s environmental technology initiative focused on Lake Acworth ($8,000), and Austell Elementary’s hydroponics garden and kitchen lab ($5,000).
These projects represent a range of educational priorities from science and engineering to environmental awareness and hands-on learning opportunities. As they are implemented in classrooms throughout the district, organizers say that Cobb Tank continues to highlight the importance of innovation within local education systems.
