Georgia Power has visited Henry County Schools many times over the past few years to provide grants for new teachers to the school system. They made their way back this year to Hampton Middle School to award their latest grant to Jacquelyn Pressley.

The grant Pressley received totals $1,000 and is designed to provide teachers with the financial resources to purchase supplies for their rooms while also encouraging them to stay in the profession. Pressley is a reading enrichment teacher for 6th – 8th grades. She earned her degree locally from Clayton State University.

“It really means a lot,” stated Pressley about receiving the grant. “I worked hard in grad school and this is one example to let me know my work paid off. I’m excited to give back to the students of Henry County as this is where I grew up.”

Pressley is a product of Henry County Schools having graduated from Stockbridge High School in 2010.

Georgia Power has been presenting these grants to deserving teachers since 2004. According to the process, nominations for the recognition are submitted to Georgia Power by public colleges and universities in the state of Georgia with a school of education. In addition to being a first-year teacher, nominees had to have been in the top 25 percent of their class academically, with a high aptitude for teaching.

David Campbell, External Affairs Manager for Georgia Power’s Metro South Region, was on hand to present the grant to Pressley and added his words of support for the first-year teacher.

“For the past fourteen years, Georgia Power Company has given to some of the top education graduates in the state of Georgia, and you are one of those graduates,” said Campbell. “We are proud of what you do, and we thank you for your commitment to education and Hampton Middle School.

Principal Purvis Jackson shared his excitement for Pressley receiving the award and noted that she is what all principals hope for in a new teacher.

“She is what principals dream about when it comes to new teachers,” said Jackson. “She’s come in and quickly become ingrained in the faculty, staff, and community at Hampton Middle School. Students love her, first and foremost, and as an administration, we love to go into her class and see students growing by leaps and bounds.

You can find out more about Georgia Power at www.Georgia Power.com and Henry County Schools at www.henry.k12.ga.us