Lanier Elementary School teacher Katie Schlief was among 35 Georgia teachers to receive a New Teacher Assistance Grant from Georgia Power this month.

Teacher nominations were submitted to Georgia Power by the 17 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.

The teachers from across the state received the $1,000 grants at an awards luncheon Sept. 13 at Georgia Power’s headquarters in Atlanta.

Georgia Power began the program in 2004 as a way to encourage new teachers and provide them with funds to purchase classroom supplies, equipment or materials not provided by their schools, such as books, educational CDs or DVDs and computers.

Schlief graduated from North Georgia College & State University and was recognized by the Georgia Power program in part because of her unique travel experiences, Georgia Power Spokeswoman Carol Boatright said.

"One of the reasons Katie was recommended so highly... is she has used traveling to expand her abilities and what she can share with the students. Before she graduated she was one of the pioneers who participated in a Gloucester exchange program in which she spent five weeks in Gloucester, England, and she has also been accepted to work with the Singapore Math Program as she teaches at Lanier Elementary," Boatright said.

She will work toward her master’s in education through North Georgia College & State University.

The grant program helps promising young educators and gives them an incentive to stay in Georgia public schools.

"We looked for the ones who really brought new ideas, enthusiasm, and tried to really get their students motivated," Boatright said.