Kilbride Enrichment Center

The Benjamin William Kilbride Enrichment Center, also known as the KEC, is an integral part of each student's education at Bright. Assisting classroom teachers, their students, and our parents in maximizing their experience, the KEC supports the social, emotional, and academic growth of Bright students. These supports transform inquisitive pre-kindergarten students into confident fifth grade graduates who are ready and willing to accept the challenges of future academic settings.  We are proud and honored to offer a variety of services to our students, including instructional support and enrichment, creative writing, advanced math, and counseling. 

The center is named in memory of Ben Kilbride, who died in an accident during his sixth grade year in 2000. The support of the Kilbride family and contributions in Ben’s memory have helped Bright further realize Miss Bright’s vision that the school encourage and challenge students to develop a life-long love of learning.

Designated faculty serve grades K-5 through small group instruction within the classrooms. Our approach offers systematic instructional support and enrichment for students in language arts and math. 

The emotional well-being of children is equally as important as meeting their academic needs. Rachel Blanton, our full-time counselor, works with teachers, parents, small groups of students, and individuals to support healthy relationships. Mrs. Blanton partners with teachers in the implementation of our social emotional curriculum, Sanford Harmony.

Social emotional learning refers to acquiring the skills and necessary life habits to help an individual handle oneself and work with others successfully in a variety of relationships. Sanford Harmony is designed to build healthy relationships among students by having them engage in activities that promote understanding and respect. Students will work on skills related to diversity and inclusion, critical thinking, communication, problem solving and peer relationships. 

Recognizing that some students have an affinity for math and easily acquire math concepts, we acknowledge those students who are ready for a faster pace and more rigorous curriculum. The Math Academy offers this environment to students who meet eligibility criteria and ensures that accuracy and fluency of math skills are strengthened while students are challenged to meet their potential as mathematicians. Math Academy enhances all math instruction in third through fifth grade classrooms as it allows for all students to experience their math instruction with a reduced teacher-student ratio.