From left, seated: Jill Parsons, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley; Sandy Swisher, chief operating and medical officer of Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia; Ryan McIntyre, principal of Franklin Elementary School; Heather Grant, director of elementary education for Wood County Schools. Standing, Wendy Cutright, chief quality officer at Integrated Health Centers. The chamber and the school have signed a Partners in Education agreement. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Two new Partners in Education have been announced by the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia has partnered with Franklin Elementary Center in Parkersburg. First Mutual Bank has partnered with Kanawha Elementary School in Davisville.

The partnership with Integrated Health Centers will provide health resources for students and reinforce Franklin’s vision of teaching the whole child, according to Principal Ryan McIntyre.

“Our partnership with Integrated Health serves as a support for ensuring social and emotional well-being of our students for families who consent to the available services,” McIntyre said. “This collaboration will benefit our goal of teaching the whole child. By overcoming the barriers of basic needs, safety, and social-emotional well-being, children can then become equipped to reach their fullest potential in academic achievement, which is our vision at Franklin Elementary.”

Integrated Health Centers is a federally qualified health center. Health is a cornerstone of student success, Wendy Cutright, chief quality officer, said.

Officials celebrate the new Partners in Education agreement between Kanawha Elementary School and First Mutual Bank through the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley Partners in Education Program. Seated from left: Jill Parsons, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce; Principal Stephanie Agee; Renee Murphy, branch manager, First Mutual Bank. Standing: Cate Schuman, assistant principal. (Photo Provided)

“At Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia, we believe we can help create a foundation for learning by providing accessible health services that address barriers to attendance and academic achievement,” Cutright said. “This partnership with Franklin Elementary Center represents a powerful opportunity to extend our mission beyond the clinic walls and directly into the heart of the community. We’re not just providing healthcare. We’re investing in the future of our students.”

The Partner In Education program is designed to strengthen ties between education and industry. Through these partnerships, businesses can support student achievement, enhance educational experiences, and invest directly in the community’s future workforce, Jill Parsons, chamber president and CEO, said.

“Partnerships like this demonstrate the heart of our community, where health and education come together to build a stronger future,” she said. “We are thrilled to formalize this partnership between Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia and Franklin Elementary and look forward to the positive impact this will have on the students and families in this community.”

First Mutual will support Kanawha Elementary through financial literacy resources, outreach to families and ongoing engagement in school-centered events, part of its empowering individuals through financial knowledge and nurturing academic and social growth of students.

“The partnership represents a shared commitment between the school and a community business,” Principal Stephanie Agee said. “It shows our students that they are supported not just within the school walls, but by a broader network that believes in their potential. We envision this collaboration as a partnership to not only support our students but our families in their needs as well. Our hope is that this partnership continues to grow and becomes a model of how schools and partners can work together to create meaningful, sustainable change.”

First Mutual Bank is headquartered in Belpre and has branches in Parkersburg and New Martinsville, W.Va.

“First Mutual Bank believes in investing in the success of students by sharing financial education to help them succeed later in life,” Tammy Belcher, president and CEO of First Mutual Bank, said. “We want to empower the educators and students by providing financial education, but also by assisting in understanding the local needs facing our education system. We hope to influence students, educators and their families with financial knowledge and letting them know how much they are appreciated in helping our community grow toward a brighter future.”