An Atlanta elementary school teacher is a finalist for a $100,000 national grant.

At the start of this school year, Emily Max of Atlanta Public Schools’ Toomer Elementary School was named one of 15 teachers in the country vying for one of six $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge grants sponsored by Farmers Insurance.

Max proposed using the funds to build an inclusive playground that is accessible for students with special needs. The playground would include low structures with ramps, low monkey bars and balance-building stations.

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Uta Thomas picks up her son, Jax, during a public hearing in Atlanta on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. She implored the school board not to close Dunbar Elementary. 
"You would centralize education to decentralized families," she said. "You would break apart a community hub." (Abbey Cutrer / AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

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Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat gives a tour of Fulton County Jail in  2023. (Natrice Miller/AJC 2023)

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC