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Company recognizes new teachers
with $1,000 grants

Speechless, stunned and excited" is how James Davis, a first-year teacher at Bayvale Elementary School in Augusta, described his feelings when he learned he was awarded a $1,000 new teacher assistance grant from Georgia Power.

Each year since 2004, Georgia Power has awarded $1,000 grants for much-needed classroom supplies to some of the state's best and brightest new teachers.

"The purpose of the program is to encourage promising new teachers by helping them purchase classroom materials and supplies beyond what their school provides," said Emelyne Mosier, Economic Development communications coordinator and program administrator. "The average teacher spends approximately $500 out of his or her own pocket each year on supplies. The grant money is for the teachers to use in the classroom as they see fit. It does not go to the school system."

To be eligible, candidates had to be in the top 25 percent of their graduating class, a first-year teacher employed by a Georgia public school, and demonstrate a high aptitude for teaching. Nominations were submitted by the deans of Georgia's public colleges and universities that have a college of education.

A selection committee of statewide educators and Georgia Power staff selected the recipients. Grants were awarded to two graduates from each college, one female and one male.

For Davis, winning the grant is a blessing for someone who knew from an early age he wanted to pursue teaching as a career.

"Since I was 6 years old, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher," Davis said. "I joined the military and life took me in another direction. I worked for five years as a scientist in the Army on active duty and 18 months in the Reserves. I just never felt like I was doing what I was supposed to be doing, which was teaching."

After leaving the military, Davis attended Augusta State to pursue his dream. Now a fifth-grade math and science teacher, Davis has big plans for the grant money.

"I have a lot of ideas of how I want to use the money," Davis said. "I want to buy hands-on teaching tools for math, called math manipulatives, and a real microscope for the kids to use. These are things that will make teaching and learning more fun."

Davis' hands-on teaching style is already making a difference in his classroom.

"My kids are not used to being told they are smart or successful, so I try to tell them every day they are little geniuses. They need that," Davis said. "I also tell them what they are doing in the fifth grade determines the rest of their life. I want them to learn respect and to love to learn. I think this grant will help me get the tools I need to do that."

The grant check was presented to Davis by Walt Dukes, East Region vice president, Oct. 20 at the Richmond County School Board meeting.

Georgia Power awarded 29 grants under the program. The recipients included:

Full Name	Current School	Work City
Jennifer Mozley	Long Cane Middle School	LaGrange
Cody Campbell	Howard Middle School	Macon
Alison Johns	Newnan High School	Newnan
Laura Horne	Saxton Heights Elementary	Dublin
Ted Barton	Lee County Middle School	Leesburg
Lyndsay Riley	Early College	Milledgeville
Caroline Utz	Tolbert Elementary School	Resaca
Bonnie Camp	Walker Middle School	Ludowici
Joshua Roberts	Eastbrook Middle School	Dalton
Marlena Lawrence	LaFayette Middle School	LaFayette
Casey Evans	Sonoraville Elementary School	Calhoun
Natasha Lewis	Allatoona High School	Acworth
Sara Eller	Legacy Academy	Sugar Hill
Jordyn Nail	Swainsboro High School	Swainsboro
Katie Koerten	Druid Hills High School	Atlanta
Brandi Clapper	Colquitt County High School	Moultrie
Lonnie Thornton	Whitesville Road Elementary	LaGrange
Monica Noriega	Mitchell County Middle School	Camilla
Brett Rogers	Lanier County Middle School	Lakeland
Renee Ard	Lamar County Primary School	Barnesville
Kenneth Vaughn	Upson Lee North Elementary	Thomaston
Danielle Hall	Hunt Primary School	Ft. Valley
George Lamberth	Hunt Elementary	Ft. Valley
James Davis	Bayvale Elementary	Augusta
Rebecca Whitley	Burke County High School	Waynesboro
Jana Austin	Hillcrest Elementary School	LaGrange
Heath Simmons	Johnson County Middle/High School	Wrightsville
Mike Walliser	Cedar Shoals High School	Athens
Emily Decker	Meadowcreek High School	Norcross

Company recognizes new teachers with $1,000 grants

Company recognizes new teachers
with $1,000 grants