Walton EMC gives more than $100,000 to Gwinnett teachers

Five Forks Middle School was one of several Gwinnett County schools to receive a grant from Walton EMC. Photo Credit: Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Five Forks Middle School was one of several Gwinnett County schools to receive a grant from Walton EMC. Photo Credit: Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Walton EMC has provided more than $100,000 to 15 Gwinnett County public school teachers for various instructional programs, school district officials announced Thursday.

The programs included an entrepreneurship initiative, science, technology, engineering, the arts and science classes, vocational and life skill training.

Walton EMC’s grant program, in its inaugural year, is made possible by a Georgia law that allows the company to use unclaimed refunds for community development after all attempts to find the owners are exhausted, school district officials said. No money from electric bills were used to provide these grants, Gwinnett officials added.

The teachers who received the grants are:

  • Beth Friese, of Anderson-Livsey Elementary School, who received $2,325 for her project ALES Makerspace
  • Laura Cooliver, of Brookwood Elementary School, who received $15,309.65 for her project SWIPE
  • Cindy Quinlin and Angie McLane, of Brookwood High School, who received $17,500 for an integrated entrepreneurship program
  • Jeni Greene, of Five Forks Middle School, who received $10,593.95 for her project Enhancing STEAM
  • Andrew Wheatley, of Five Forks Middle School, who received $5,800 for Chromebooks
  • Monica Brown, of Five Forks Middle School, who received $3,200 for her project Full STEAM Ahead
  • Gaye Walk and David Thomas, of McConnell Middle School, who received $3,750 for their project Georgia Connect and Beyond
  • Heather Bridges, of Mountain Park Elementary School, who received $2,150 for Chromebooks
  • Kate Heier, of Parkview High School, who received $932.31 for a vocational and life skill training program
  • Jordan Simmons, of Parkview High School, who received $3,500 for Chromebooks
  • Tammy Phillips, of Parkview High School, who received $3,500 for Chromebooks
  • Ryan Moore, of R.L. Norton Elementary School, who received $9,138.96 for a STEM and robotics room
  • Nancy Chrisman, of Shiloh High School, who received $2,000 for Life Skill Lab Remolding