The Mississippi Power Education Foundation recently awarded 12 grants totaling more than $33,500 to schools, school systems and educational institutions throughout its southeast Mississippi service area. The Gulfport School District received a $9,000 grant for the training and orientation of new teachers. The "Teacher Induction Project" will include classroom management techniques, organizational skills and methods of assessment and time management. Time also will be spent with new teachers in the areas of literacy training, conducting parent/teacher conferences, working with special needs students and overall school district orientation. Mentors will also be participants in this project. Pearl River Community College in Hattiesburg received a $12,000 grant to complete the second year of a two-year program called "Courage to Teach." This new and innovative program is for the personal and professional renewal of educators. Concepts of teacher formation are practiced encouraging educators to reclaim their own wholeness and vocational clarity. This formation process makes connections between renewal of a teacher`s spirit, the retention of our best educators and the revitalization of public education. Southeast Lauderdale High School in Lauderdale County received a $2,000 grant to establish a project called "The Sky Above - The Earth Beneath." This project would give students an opportunity for active learning through a hands-on encounter with aspects of Astronomy and Geology. Students will use acquired materials to examine rocks and minerals and learn about the geological processes active in and on the earth. They will also be able to observe and experience the awesome expanse of the universe by studying the constellations and learning about atmospheric and weather related phenomenon. Second Street Elementary School and North Bay Elementary School in Bay St. Louis each received a $1,000 grant to start a program entitled "BESTT." Business Educating Students for Today and Tomorrow unites civic-minded businesses, parents, educators and students in a unique community involvement opportunity. This project will allow teachers to incorporate the state learning standards into a permanent learning center where students can establish a savings account, cook and shop. Harper McCaughan Elementary School in Long Beach received a $2,000 grant to begin a project called "Tiny Town, Where Big Things Are Happening." The purpose of Tiny Town is to connect high academic standards for students learning to future career roles. The project consists of a series of integrated learning experiences and involves partnerships with local businesses, guest speakers and classroom learning through dramatizations of day-to-day workplace events which take place in a pretend bank, post office, pizza restaurant, plant nursery, police station and hardware store. The Gulf Coast Education Initiative Consortium, located at USM Gulf Coast, received a $1,680 grant to aid in "Partners for Professional Development." This project is a one-day in-service program for area educators and business people. The goal of this program is to illustrate the benefits of a partnership between educators and economic leaders to help provide quality professional development with an end result of a more qualified work force.

N.R. Burger Middle School in Hattiesburg received a $1,342.53 grant to help introduce students to abstract art and the art of diverse cultures. The program, "Introduction to Abstract & Cultural Art," will allow the students to view, critique, and discuss African, Mayan and 19th and 20th century works of art. After learning about these types of art, they will create art of their own in the styles that were studied.

Northeast Jones High School in Jones County received a $1,592 grant to begin a project called "The No Spin Zone." This project will allow students to gain an understanding of the Shakespearean era through their creation of a multimedia news broadcast presentation. The goal of this project is to revitalize the research of Shakespeare and enhance the learning of skills such as research, journalism, public speaking and literary knowledge.

Clara Elementary School in Wayne County received $870 for a project called "Young Writers, Write Away." Designed to increase the proficiency and interest of first graders in the writing process, this project utilizes Alpha Smart word processing units to improve the content, quality and quantity of their writing.

South Jones Elementary School in Jones County received a $642 grant toward the "World Music Drumming" program. Through hands-on experiences, the students will explore various world cultures, drumming techniques and learn and demonstrate standards set forth by the Mississippi Fine Arts Framework and the National Standards for Music Education.

Mize High School in Smith County received an $860 grant for a new program called "Teaching with Newbery Books." This program is focused on implementing a study of literature that has been awarded the Newbery Medal for literary quality and the quality of the presentation for children. The Newbery Medal award was proposed to encourage original and creative work in children`s literature and to bring public recognition to quality children`s literature.

Since 1984, through its foundations, Mississippi Power Company has supported excellence in education in southeast Mississippi. During the past 18 years, the foundations have awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to teachers, schools, school systems and educational projects.