ATLANTA - Oct. 26, 2007 – Fourteen of Georgia’s best and brightest new teachers will now have some help in the classroom thanks to Georgia Power’s New Teacher Assistance Grants.  Kevin Fletcher, Georgia Power’s Vice President of Community and Economic Development, awarded each teacher a $1,000 grant during a recent awards luncheon at the company’s Atlanta headquarters.

Georgia Power began the program in 2004 as a way to encourage new teachers to stay in the profession and to provide them with much-needed funds to purchase additional classroom supplies, equipment or materials not provided by their schools.

“Teacher retention continues to be a major issue in Georgia,” said Fletcher.  “As new teachers begin their careers, we have found that offering them incentives early on in their profession encourages them to continue, especially when statistics show that 50 percent of teachers are expected to retire within the next five years.”

Teacher nominations were submitted to Georgia Power by 14 Georgia public colleges and universities that have a school of education.  To be eligible for the grant, candidates had to be in the top 25 percent of their class academically, be a first-year teacher employed by a public school in Georgia, and demonstrate a high aptitude for teaching.

“With the support of businesses, the quality of education will continue to play a significant role in Georgia’s economic viability,” said Fletcher.  “Georgia Power’s grant program reflects our support of the state’s newest teacher workforce.  We appreciate their contributions and hope that they will remain committed to the profession.”

Grant winners can use the $1,000 grant to purchase items such as books, educational CDs or DVDs, computers or projectors, or other supplies.

Invitations to the awards ceremony were extended to each teacher’s school principal, superintendent of schools and the dean of the College of Education who nominated the teacher.  Georgia Power’s region vice presidents also attended the ceremony.

Below are the names of the grant recipients, the college or university that nominated them, the location and name of the school where they teach, and the grade and subject they teach.

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity.  The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average.  Georgia Power serves 2.25 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties.

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Media Contact: Lynn Wallace, Georgia Power Corporate Communications, +1.404.506.7676 or +1.800.282.1696, corpcomm@georgiapower.com