The Cobb Tank competition returned in 2025, providing educators from the Cobb County School District an opportunity to secure funding for innovative classroom projects. Organized by the district’s Academic Division and coordinated by the STEM/STEAM & Innovation Department, the event allows teachers and schools to apply for up to $10,000 to bring their ideas into practice.
Modeled after the television show Shark Tank, this year’s event featured eight schools presenting their proposals to a panel of six judges from various educational backgrounds. The panel evaluated each project based on its innovation, sustainability, and impact on student learning.
“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,” said Dr. Adam Casey, STEM/STEAM & Innovation Supervisor. “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.”
Nearly $70,000 was awarded among eight projects covering areas such as science, engineering, literacy, environmental education, and sensory development.
Sprayberry High School received $8,000 for its “Engineering for the Stars” project. The initiative will engage students in designing concrete using lunar regolith as part of NASA’s Artemis Program efforts toward building sustainable structures on the moon. The funding will also support establishing a NASA Engineering Lab at Sprayberry High School for future research opportunities including FastLabs, Zero-G experiments, and NASA SEES internships.
Other winning proposals included:
– South Cobb Early Learning Center: A sensory garden designed for hands-on exploration supporting children with developmental or sensory needs.
– Durham Middle School: Portable STEAM carts aimed at making interdisciplinary learning accessible throughout classrooms.
– South Cobb High School: A synthetic biology team project targeting cancer mutations modeled in E. coli.
– Pickett’s Mill Elementary School: An outdoor wildlife observation trail with interactive stations focused on ecosystems and environmental awareness.
– Barber Middle School: Student-designed prototypes using AI technology to protect Lake Acworth.
– Austell Elementary School: A hydroponics garden and kitchen lab teaching sustainability and nutrition.
– Pebblebrook High School: Digital microscopes enhancing ninth-grade biology instruction through interactive cell exploration.
The competition’s judging panel included Adam Hill (Assistant Superintendent), Debbie Broadnax (Principal at Ford Elementary), Paul Gillihan (Principal at Campbell High), Amanda Dillard (Special Education Teacher at Pope High and 2025 District Teacher of the Year), Allison Carter (Director of Cobb Safety Village), and Dr. Preethi Titu (Associate Professor at Kennesaw State University).
Each project aims to enhance student engagement while preparing them for future challenges through practical experiences within their respective fields.
As these initiatives are implemented during the academic year, organizers note that programs like Cobb Tank reflect ongoing efforts within Cobb County Schools to foster educational innovation leading to student achievement.
