ATLANTA, Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today that it has selected 40 new public school teachers from across Georgia to receive one of the company's annual New Teacher Assistance Grants. Since creating the grant program in 2004, Georgia Power has awarded a total of $285,000 in grants to hundreds of new teachers throughout the state. The company awards the grants to provide the state's newest teachers with much-needed funds to purchase classroom supplies and encourage them to stay in the profession.  Recipients include pre-K, elementary, middle and high school teachers.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050216/CLW066LOGO )

Teacher nominations were submitted to Georgia Power by the 20 Georgia public colleges and universities that have schools of education.  To be eligible for a grant, candidates had to be in the top 25 percent of their class, be a first-year teacher employed by a public school in Georgia and demonstrate a high aptitude for teaching.

"Equipping teachers with the tools they need to educate Georgia's future leaders is critical to the continued economic vitality of the state," said Pedro Cherry, vice president of community and economic development for Georgia Power. "Georgia businesses have a responsibility to support education and this grant program is just one of the ways that Georgia Power is showing our commitment to the state's teachers and the important work they do every day in the classroom."

According to a recent national survey, 9 out of 10 public school teachers report paying for school supplies and instructional materials out of their own pockets. Research has also shown that up to 50 percent of new teachers leave the profession within five years.

2013 New Teacher Assistance Grants

-        Eleazar Arreguin, Dalton (Dawnville Elementary School)

-        William Basby, Cochran (Bleckley County High School)

-        Callie Boatright, Reidsville (Tattnall County High School)

-        Kiara Bridges, Buena Vista (L.K. Moss Elementary School)

-        James Bruner, Lithonia (Lithonia High School)

-        Robert Cannon, Brunswick (Needwood Middle School)

-        Katrina Clay, Lawrenceville (Central Gwinnett High School)

-        Kayla Cook, Savannah (Largo Tibet Elementary School)

-        Marcus Copeland, College Park (McNair Middle School)

-        Kelechi Crowe, Duluth (Peachtree Charter Middle School)

-        Scott DeGraff, Gainesville (Chestatee High School)

-        Blake Fox, Stockbridge (Cotton Indian Elementary School)

-        Michael Garrison, Grovetown (Columbia Middle School)

-        Shundra Turner Green, Covington (Newton County High School)

-        Justin Griffitts, Stockbridge (Red Oak Elementary School)

-        Bryanna Hamby, Gainesville (New Holland Core Knowledge Academy)

-        Charita Harris, Rex (Rex Mill Middle School)

-        Andy Hicks, Columbus (Hardaway High School)

-        Michael Hock, McDonough (Union Grove High School)

-        Brock Holley, Calhoun (Calhoun Elementary School)

-        Julie Inwright, Bogart (North Oconee High School)

-        Anthony Johnson, Midway (Midway Middle School)

-        Jonathan Larese, Lilburn (Berkmar High School)

-        Shirley Makita, Columbus (Dawson Elementary School)

-        Emily Mallory, Stockbridge (Red Oak Elementary School)

-        Lindsay McDaniel, Griffin (Spalding High School)

-        Adrienne Mundy McKnight, Augusta (Langford Middle School)

-        Kaylin Miles, Powder Springs (Still Elementary School)

-        Chelsey Miller, St. Marys (Sugarmill Elementary School)

-        Sterling Lee Norris, Roswell (Mimosa Elementary School)

-        Timothy Pendleton, Fort Valley (Peach County High School)

-        Barrett Powell, Leesburg (Kinchafoonee Primary School)

-        Rebekah Rogers, Dalton (City Park School)

-        Jordan Rollins, LaGrange (LaGrange High School)

-        Taylor Smith, Valdosta (Pine Grove Middle School)

-        JT Snell, Cumming (Kelly Mill Elementary School)

-        Addie Taylor, Lithonia (Salem Middle School)

-        Rob Ware, Canton (Creekland Middle School)

-        Daniel Wilson, Albany (West Town Elementary School)

-        NeAnn Wooten, Cairo (Washington Middle School)

Georgia Power's involvement in education initiatives in Georgia is broad and includes the annual New Teacher Assistance Grants, the company's Learning Power program for K-12 teachers and students, workforce development activities, as well as partnerships with organizations such as Junior Achievement. For more information about how the company is working to advance education and build the highly skilled workforce of tomorrow, visit www.georgiapower.com/community.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation's largest generators of electricity.  Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind.  Consistently recognized as a leader in customer service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).

www.georgiapower.com

 

SOURCE Georgia Power