A first-year teacher at Robert Cross Middle Magnet School has been awarded a $1,000 New Teacher Assistance Grant from Georgia Power.

Chatabious Thomas is a graduate of Albany State University and is in his first year teaching in public education.

In this program, nominations are received from each of the public colleges in Georgia that have education programs. Candidates must be in the top 25 percent of their graduating class academically and must have shown high aptitude for teaching while in college. After graduation, grant candidates must have obtained a full-time teaching contract at a public school in Georgia during the 2017 calendar year.

The purpose of the grant is to encourage some of Georgia’s best and brightest new teachers by helping them purchase materials and supplies for their classroom. We trust the grant would in no way decrease the funding they receive from the school district. It is intended as a supplement to help as they start their teaching career. This year, the teacher will have a choice of how they would like to receive their check. The check will either be made payable directly to the teacher or to the school. If payable to the school, the funds should be specifically earmarked for use by the recipient. All items purchased with the grant money are intended to be the property of the teacher for use throughout their teaching career.