PEC offers teachers up to $1,000 grants

JOHNSON CITY, Texas — Pedernales Electric Cooperative is accepting applications for a new grant program offering teachers up to $1,000 for classroom projects.

Applications for PEC’s Educational Spotlight Grants are due Sept. 7. Winners are expected to be announced in October.

The cooperative plans to award up to $10,000 annually through the program. About 10 grants of $500 and five grants of $1,000 will be awarded to qualifying projects.

“It’s important to listen to the ideas our teachers have and to support them in bringing those dreams to life,” PEC Community Outreach Specialist Kevyn Packer said.

“We hope that by investing even a small amount, we can make significant change to enhance student learning and our communities for years to come,” Packer said.

The grants are open to kindergarten through eighth-grade teachers working in communities within PEC’s service area.

Grant money may be used for classroom supplies, project materials, instructional resources and field trips, according to PEC.

The cooperative said it created the program to help teachers develop classroom projects and learning opportunities they might otherwise lack funding to pursue.

The Educational Spotlight Grants are supported through PEC’s Power of Change Program.

Through Power of Change, participating PEC members may round their monthly electric bills up to the nearest dollar. The additional money supports community programs.

PEC said Power of Change funds are used for nonprofits, classroom educational opportunities and bill assistance for qualifying cooperative members.

Members who want to contribute to the program can enroll through PEC’s website.

Teachers seeking an Educational Spotlight Grant can apply online at myPEC.com/spotlight.