VALDOSTA – Lowndes County educators have been tapped to participate in a STEM partnership.

Georgia Power and the world-renowned Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta continue to provide new skills and training for Georgia educators through the annual PowerED Fellows program.

The 2017 PowerED Fellows include:

Samuel Clemons, Lowndes County (Pine Grove Middle School).

Luva Herman, Lowndes County (Pine Grove Middle School).

Sandy Alcidone, Lowndes County (Pine Grove Middle School).

Janet Hendley, Lowndes County (Lowndes High School).

Becky Martin, Lowndes County (Lowndes High School).

Andrea Inman, Lowndes County (Lowndes High School).

Rebecca Martin, Lowndes County (Lowndes High School).

According to a press release, PowerED Fellows, funded by the Georgia Power Foundation Inc., receive a three-day professional developmental experience at the Ron Clark Academy focused on STEM-related best practices in teaching and student engagement to prepare the workforce of the future.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Since the beginning of this partnership four years ago, more than 250 fellows from more than 85 Georgia schools have completed the training.

In conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the Ron Clark Academy, the Georgia Power Foundation announced its continued commitment to the program, the release stated. 

The renewed partnership includes an additional $500,000 in funding for the PowerED Fellows program over the next three years and $250,000 in funding toward the Academy’s capital campaign to extend its facility with a performing arts center and additional space for more teachers to participate in world-class training programs. 

“The Georgia Power Foundation is honored to work with the Ron Clark Academy to help our state’s educators stay at the forefront of STEM education and we congratulate all of the teachers who have completed the PowerED Fellows program,” said Rita Breen, executive director of the Georgia Power Foundation. “Ensuring that our teachers have the tools and resources they need to prepare and empower Georgia students for future careers is one piece of our commitment to improving education in the state and we look forward to bringing more teachers to the Ron Clark Academy through this exciting program.”

Georgia Power’s commitment to education spans its more than 100-year history and is emphasized companywide, according to the release. The company offers free resources for educators including interactive diagrams, an online energy calculator, access to power plant tours and more. 

Other efforts to enhance and improve education in Georgia include partnerships with groups such as junior achievement and assistance grants for new teachers awarded annually across the state. 

For more information about Georgia Power’s initiatives and programs, visit www.georgiapower.com/education.