CARTERSVILLE, Ga., Jan. 23, 2015 – The year 1996 introduced Georgians to quite a few notable events. The Summer Olympics brought visitors from around the world and scattered contests of skill and strength from the north Georgia mountains to the busy city streets of Atlanta. In September, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame opened in Macon and the legendary Atlanta Rhythm Section were among its first inductees. Late in the year, the Atlanta Braves continued their glory days as they won the National League Championship and advanced to the World Series, where they fell to the New York Yankees.   A little closer home, in Bartow County, 1996 was the inaugural year of a grant program, which has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into local education. It was inspired by then Bartow County Schools Superintendent Dr. Davis Nelson. The Teacher Grant Program still exists today to support teachers and assist the learning process of students from Pre-K through high school.

Since 2002, the grant program has given nearly $830,000 to support classroom engagement and fund projects like the outdoor classroom at Adairsville High School. On Tuesday, Feb. 3, at a ceremony held at the Clarence Brown Center, this year’s grant winners will receive $100,000. The banquet buffet begins at 5:30 p.m. with the presentation to follow.

The grants are awarded through the Bartow Education Foundation, a local nonprofit organization. The foundation works to support the teachers, students and staff of Bartow County Schools.

Dot Frasier, the foundation’s executive director, said, “No other public school educational foundation in the state of Georgia has given as much as the Bartow Education Foundation in teacher grants. We are highly blessed to have a generous community of supporters and a group of talented teachers who are devoted to our children. Also, our board of directors works tirelessly to raise funds and awareness for our foundation.

“This is the first year, we have been able to give $100,000. We came close in previous years, but did not quite make it. We are so thrilled to have a reached this benchmark and look forward to seeing the impact this will make in our classrooms.”

In surveying surrounding counties, the greatest amount given in similar teacher grant programs is approximately $40,000 in a year.

The 214 approved grants, totaling up to $500 each, from the 2014-2015 cycle satisfied the five-part application process. The grant rubric requires Bartow educators to present the need, describe

the objectives of the program or project intended to meet that need, outline how the project will be assessed, describe the impact the project will make and offer a budget for the cost.

Elementary school teachers will receive the most awarded at more than $48,500. However, the three county high schools and college and career academy will see the benefits of nearly $34,000

worth of projects in their classrooms. While the middle school teachers are set to receive slightly more than $17,000.

 

Other projects funded through the Bartow County Education Foundation include the Teacher of the Year Banquet, the Employee of the Month, Attendance Recognition for bus drivers, the Bartow County Spelling Bee and the Retirees Banquet. Fundraisers are hosted by the foundation throughout the year. The Dot Frasier Clay Shoot takes place in November, while the Bartow Education Foundation Golf Tournament happens every summer.

For more information on the Teacher Grant Program or the Bartow Education Foundation, visit www.bartow.k12.ga.us.

About BCSS

The Bartow County School System is a public school district accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and serves 14,066 students. The system is comprised of 20 schools: 14 elementary, four middle schools, three high schools and one college and career academy.