Southern Rivers Energy Awards $12,433 in Bright Ideas Teacher Grants
Fourteen educators receive funding to bring creative classroom projects to life
Southern Rivers Energy recognized 14 local educators through its 2026 Bright Ideas Teacher Grant program, awarding a total of $12,433 to support innovative classroom projects.
The Bright Ideas program helps teachers bring creative learning opportunities to their students by providing funding for educational projects that might otherwise be difficult to accomplish within traditional classroom budgets.
This year's winning projects cover a wide range of subjects, including science, mathematics, literacy, visual arts, technology and agriculture. From creating interactive learning environments and introducing new classroom tools to developing outdoor learning spaces, each project offers students opportunities to learn in new and engaging ways.
"Teachers are constantly finding creative ways to reach their students, and sometimes all they need is a little extra support to make those ideas happen," says Kathryn Green of Southern Rivers Energy. "We're proud to invest in these educators and the students who will benefit from their hard work and creativity."
2026 Bright Ideas Grant Recipients
Crawford County
- Mandy Sutton, Crawford County High School — $1,000
- Krista Austin, Crawford County Middle High School — $1,000
Lamar County
- Sydney Turner, Lamar County High School — $976
- Vernecia Jordan, Lamar County Middle School — $985
- Mandy Hill, Lamar County Primary School — $979
- Tammy Anderson, Lamar County Primary School — $729
- Torie Claybaugh, Lamar County Primary School — $800
Pike County
- Kathy Lane, Pike County Middle School — $999
Spalding County
- Drew Westbury, Jordan Hill Elementary — $959
Upson County
- Alexandria G. Clark, Upson-Lee High School — $800
- Hannah McPherson, Upson-Lee Primary School — $968
- Shelby Dawson, Upson-Lee Primary School — $880
- Betsy Stewart, Upson-Lee Primary School — $980
- Ashley B. Reed, Upson-Lee Primary School — $378
Through the Bright Ideas program, Southern Rivers Energy continues its commitment to supporting education and investing in the communities it serves. These grants will provide teachers with additional resources to encourage creativity, collaboration and hands-on learning.
For more information about Southern Rivers Energy's educational programs, visit southernriversenergy.com.
About Operation Round Up
Southern Rivers Energy's Bright Ideas Teacher Grants are funded through Operation Round Up, a voluntary program that allows cooperative members to round up their monthly electric bills to the next whole dollar. Those extra pennies are pooled together and used to support charitable causes, educational opportunities and community needs throughout Southern Rivers Energy's service area. While the average contribution is just a few dollars each year, the collective generosity of participating members makes a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.