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Study Buddies: Reps from Wood County schools, businesses enjoy Partner in Education luncheon

By Douglass Huxley 3 min read

PARKERSBURG -- For the first time since 2019, the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley held its annual Partner in Education (PIE) luncheon Friday in the multi-purpose room at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

"We were days away from having the one in 2020 when everything obviously stopped," said Jill Parsons, chamber president and CEO. "So this is our first one back in person to celebrate our partners in education."

Parsons said the PIE program started in 1985 and there were 24 public schools, four private schools, and the Wood County Technical Center all with at least one business partner.

"Some of them have multiple partners," Parsons said. "And we've got, I think, 15 businesses that are in the queue right now that are interested in becoming partners."

Parsons said each partnership is unique. Some businesses get involved to give their employees an opportunity to get out into the schools and have a positive impact such as judging science fairs or giving out awards, some can give financially to help with projects or unmet needs and that it also gives the schools a chance to have a positive impact on local businesses.

"Maybe the students come and sing at an employer's Christmas party, or come do a beatification project at their property," Parsons said. "So, it needs to be a partnership, just not a one-way street."

After everyone had a chance to eat, Lyndsay Dennis, executive director of Artsbridge, lead the group in a game of telephone.

"Partnerships are about communication and listening," Dennis said. "We're going to hone those skills with an artistic twist."

Each table, with two students, teachers or administrators and business representatives each, were given a prompt that only one was allowed to read. They then whispered what was on the prompt to the next person, and so on, until the final person was asked to draw what they heard. Prompts included drawing a dolphin at a birthday party for a shark, a type of food eating another type of food at a fancy restaurant and a chocolate chip cookie with googly eyes instead of chips. Almost every table got their prompt right.

"We have a lot of good communicators and artists here," Dennis said.

The luncheon ended with closing remarks from Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis.

"I appreciate all of the business partners that are here today. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to come join us," Willis said. "These partnerships are so important. Wood County is special for many reasons and these partnerships are part of what makes Wood County special. So, thank you."

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

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