Georgia Power today announced that 41 new public school teachers from across the state will each receive a $1,000 New Teacher Assistance Grant this year from the company. The company awards the grants each year to provide the state's newest teachers with funds to purchase classroom supplies and start their careers as pre-K, elementary, middle and high school teachers. Since launching the program in 2004, the company has awarded more than $350,000 in individual grants to more than 350 new teachers in communities across the state.

"The foundation for Georgia's future economic success is being laid in classrooms throughout Georgia every day," said Anne Kaiser, vice president of community and economic development for Georgia Power. "Supporting education is supporting our state's future and we're committed to assisting teachers as they guide and prepare tomorrow's leaders."

Teacher nominations were submitted to Georgia Power by Georgia public colleges and universities that have schools of education. To be eligible for a grant, candidates must 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. Grant recipients are encouraged to use the funds to purchase items such as books, educational CDs or DVDs, computers, projectors, or other supplies to enhance their classrooms.

"The New Teacher Assistance Grant program is meaningful to educators as many of us want the new teachers to understand how much they are appreciated," said Paul Alberto, dean and regent's professor in the College of Education & Human Development at Georgia State University.

2015 New Teacher Assistance Grants Recipients:
Central Region (Macon)

• Elizabeth Brown, Cochran (Bleckley County Middle School)

• Christopher Drakes, Fort Valley (Hunt Elementary School)

• Leroy Brooks, Jr., Fort Valley (Fort Valley Middle School)

• Andrea Sowell, Macon (Howard High School)

• Ashleigh Lincoln, Macon (Westside High School)

• Christopher Leshoure, Macon (Westside High School)

Coastal Region (Savannah)

• Cherie Alston, Brunswick (Altama Elementary School)

• Brandon Evans, Brunswick (Brunswick High School)

• Owen Nix, Springfield (Effingham County High School)

• Makenzie Simons, Statesboro (Mattie Lively Elementary)

East Region (Augusta)

• Brooke Byrd, Grovetown (Cedar Ridge Elementary School)

• Erin Wedereit, Grovetown (Grovetown Middle School)

Metro Atlanta

• Trey Summerville, Atlanta (Kindezi Charter School)

• Taylor Johnson, Canton (Hasty Elementary School)

• Derek Tobin, Canton (Creekland Middle School)

• Cassandra Allen, College Park (Benjamin Banneker High School)

• Anthony Chatfield, Covington (Eastside High School)

• Binh Hoang, Fayetteville (Whitewater High School)

• Christopher Jones, Fayetteville (Spring Hill Elementary School)

• Jessica Peal, Gainesville (Chestatee Elementary School)

• Kayon McFarlane, Hampton (Hampton Middle School)

• Kelsey Wilson, Jonesboro (Lee Street Elementary School)

• Brennan McGee, Kennesaw (Pine Mountain Middle School)

• Jamario Shade, Lawrenceville (Sweetwater Middle School)

• Meghan Euliano, Lithia Springs (Lithia Springs Elementary School)

• Glenn Chance, Lithonia (Martin Luther King Jr. High School)

• Ashley Jarrett, Suwannee (Collins Hill High School)

• Brandon Davis, Rex (Rex Mill Middle School)

• Zachary Kroll, Roswell (Centennial High School)

Northeast Region (Athens)

• Tyler Cleveland, Dawsonville (Riverview Elementary School)

• Ethan Shirley, Flowery Branch (Davis Middle School)

Northwest Region (Rome)

• Ashley Sutton, Carrollton (Carrollton High School)

• Rachael Sneed, Dalton (Pleasant Grove Elementary School)

South Region (Albany/Valdosta)

• Chessica Ross, Albany (Westover High School)

• Martin Chaplin, Albany (Turner Elementary School)

• Emily Smoak, Ocilla (Irwin County Middle School)

• Kelly Dekle, Tifton (Tift County High School)

• Robert Bullington, Tifton (Len Lastinger Primary School)

West Region (Columbus)

• Amber Byous, Barnesville (Lamar County Elementary School)

• Justin Gunnels, Barnesville (Lamar County Middle School)

• Hailey Hinson, Columbus (River Road Elementary School)