The Walker County Board of Education recently honored two outstanding teachers at Ridgeland High School.

Amanda Moore received the 2010 Georgia Power New Teacher Assistance Grant, one of only two awarded in the northwest Georgia area.

This grant provides Georgia’s best and brightest new teachers with additional instructional materials and supplies for their classrooms.

Candidates are nominated by their colleges and universities, must be in the top 25 percent of their graduating class academically and must show high aptitude for effective teaching.

The next honoree was recognized for outstanding achievement in two areas. Patricia Skates received the 2010 Department of the Army Commander’s Award for Public Service for her significant contribution to the Army JROTC program.

Her loyalty, dedication, patriotism and professionalism guaranteed unequivocal success for students in the Leadership Academy programs.

She also reached out to the community and worked closely with parents to promote their involvement in the education of their children.

Also, since 1990, Skates has been a vital link in the People to People Ambassador programs that give students opportunities to interact with other students their own age and government officials in other countries. These students, nominated from the tri-state area, gain knowledge of various cultures and develop a better understanding of the world as a global community.

In this endeavor, Skates has gone above and beyond her normal responsibilities to challenge students to become responsible citizens and give back to their communities.