Dejah Morrow, a seventh-grade life science teacher at Fayette Middle School, was among 15 of Georgia’s best and brightest new teachers who received a New Teacher Assistance Grant from Georgia Power. Mike Garrett, Georgia Power’s president and CEO, awarded each teacher a $1,000 grant during a recent awards luncheon at the company’s Atlanta headquarters.

In 2004, Georgia Power began the program 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 Garrett. “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 15 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 Garrett. “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.”

A graduate of Clayton State University, Morrow can use the $1,000 grant to purchase items such as books, educational CDs or DVDs, computers or projectors or other supplies.

The awards ceremony extended invitations 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 managers also attended the ceremony.

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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