Tamisha Thompson, STEM Instructional Coach at the Raymond E. Shaw Elementary School in Millbury was one of three Massachusetts educators to receive the 2024 Bright Light Award from the Mass Learning Project. The Bright Light Award recognizes recipients’ contributions to implementing Project Lead the Way programming in the fields of engineering, computer science, or biomedical science in their schools.

Founded in 1997, Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is the leading K-12 engineering, computer science, and biomedical science curriculum and training provider in the country. PLTW provides relevant, hands-on, project-based curriculum and training focused on real-world activities, projects, and problems that help students apply knowledge and skills to everyday life.

Millbury Public Schools offers PLTW programming in grades K-12, including computer science, robotics, automation, engineering, design and modeling, and advanced manufacturing. Thompson has helped to lead the implementation of computer programming, robotics, and engineering in grades 3-6 at the Raymond E. Shaw Elementary School.