September 10, 2010
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First Choice Power Leonard Account Manager Chris Keck, left, and Community Affairs Manager Catherine Carlton, right, presented a check for $2,000 to teachers Tammy Barnes and Sheri Watson and Elementary School Principal Brad Maxwell Tuesday morning.

Leonard kindergarten teachers receive $2,000 grant

December 17, 2009 - First Choice Power awarded Tammy Barnes and Sheri Watson of Leonard Elementary School a $2,000 First Choice Power Classroom Energy Innovation Grant. First Choice Power awarded more than 20 grants to inventive teachers across Texas for original projects that stimulate and inspire young minds to discuss energy and energy-efficiency in the classroom.

Teachers positively impact their students every year, said Brian Hayduk, president of First Choice Power. Energy is a growing issue, and todays students are the key to its future. First Choice Power Classroom Energy Innovation Grants are one way we are doing our part to help support innovative learning.

Applications for the annual grants were due in September. The awards were announced in November allowing teachers the time to prepare their programs for the second semester.

The local project funded is Its a Small World After All.

An outdoor classroom will be constructed along with a compost pile to teach the elementary school students about the environment, ecology and conservation. The outdoor classroom will include a compost, garden and habitat for small animals, including ants, tarantulas and butterflies.

We will use food from the cafeteria to start the compost, Mrs. Barnes said.

The teachers are planning a vegetable garden for the spring, pumpkins for the fall and evergreens for Christmas.

For a complete listing of First Choice Power Classroom Innovation Grant recipients, visit www.FirstChoicePower.com/innovation/.

First Choice Power provides grants, resources and information to help Texans be more energy-efficient, Hayduk said. Its good for you; its good for the environment; and its good for Texas.

About First Choice Power, Based in Las Colinas, First Choice Power is one of Texas' largest retail electric providers. It is a subsidiary of PNM Resources, an investor-owned energy holding company that also owns TNMP. For more information, visit www.FirstChoicePower.com or twitter.com/FirstChoicePwr.