KINGSPORT — Eastman Chemical Company has awarded grants totaling $18,000 to local school systems to promote innovative classroom programs that improve learning and performance in math and science.

Five Hawkins County School System instructors and two Rogersville City School instructors were among recipients. 

Those were Misty Joyner and Melissa McGee of Church Hill Elementary School, Peggy Trexler and Jason Joyner of Church Hill Middle School, Tammy Webb of Joseph Rogers Primary School, and Kari Fields and Susan Hubley of Rogersville City School.

The 24 grants of $750 each were presented Tuesday to math and science teachers from the seven local school systems in the Putting Children First partnership with Eastman’s Kingsport site.

Those school systems included: Hawkins County, Johnson City, Kingsport City, Rogersville City, Scott County (VA), Sullivan County, and Washington County (TN).

Grants were awarded in two categories of math and science. Eastman received 78 proposals, which were reviewed by a panel of judges composed of representatives from Eastman and each of the school systems.