POWERGRAMS

15 K astala Brown arrived at Mobile County's Griggs Elementary in fall of 2016 eager to launch her teaching career. What she discovered was stunning. "I walked into an empty classroom," she recalled. Empty, that is, of supplies. But thanks to a New Teacher Grant from the Alabama Power Foundation, Brown had $1,000 to fill the void. "When deciding what to purchase, I had to really think about what was most important to me and my students," Brown said. "I knew without a doubt I wanted to make sure no student felt left out or went without the things they needed. Getting the general supplies for a classroom was essential for my students." She decided on construction paper, cardstock, pencils, glue and binders. "My biggest purchase was a laser jet printer and ink for my classroom, which has helped tremendously," Brown said. "We are limited here at the school on prints and copies. I am able to conference with parents and print materials for them to use at home." The printer was also the favorite grant purchase of her kids. "They are excited about being able to publish their writings and printing them," she said. All in all, Brown says the grant made her classroom functional. "I was able to make sure my students had everything they needed. No student went without supplies. And we were able to make fun crafts to aid in learning. What I bought with the grant is still impacting them to this day." Such is the intent of the program initiated by the Foundation in 1995. More than 300 new teachers have used the money to get started on the right foot at the outset of their educational careers. Brown is a native of the town of Excel in southwest Alabama, just south of Monroeville. She was a cheerleader and played basketball at Excel High, graduating in the top 10 percent of her class. "I was always excited to go to school," she said. "Teaching has always been at the center of my heart. As a little girl, I would play school with my stuffed animals. I feel like God has called me to teach." Brown graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, where she was chosen as the Outstanding Undergraduate Student K-6 Teacher in Education for the 2015-2016 academic year. Her professor, Jennifer Simpson, nominated Brown for the New Teacher Grant. "Kastala was an outstanding student in the College of Education who was recognized by her instructors, field supervisors and mentor First-year Favor GRANT BUYS SUPPLIES FOR TILLMAN'S CORNER CLASSROOM by Gilbert Nicholson PHOTOS by DAN ANDERSON Brown reads to students.

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