Partners in Education luncheon held at WVUP
Wood County high school students choose whether to place their hands on their heads, or their tails, as they wait for a virtual coin flip to eliminate those who chose incorrectly at the 37th Annual Partners in Education Luncheon held at West Virginia University at Parkersburg Tuesday. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Gihon Elementary student Lucas Ruppenthal and Cox Family Pharmacy employee Vicki Dennison await Jill Parsons, Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley president and CEO, to announce the winner of the Heads and Tails game Tuesday at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Wood County high school students choose whether to place their hands on their heads, or their tails, as they wait for a virtual coin flip to eliminate those who chose incorrectly at the 37th Annual Partners in Education Luncheon held at West Virginia University at Parkersburg Tuesday. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Gihon Elementary student Lucas Ruppenthal and Cox Family Pharmacy employee Vicki Dennison await Jill Parsons, Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley president and CEO, to announce the winner of the Heads and Tails game Tuesday at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
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PARKERSBURG -- "Every day when you go to school, every day when you go to work, for the teachers and principals and the business reps, you get to make a choice. You get to make a choice about how you want that day to go," Jill Parsons, Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley president and CEO, told a group of students, teachers, administrators and business professionals Tuesday after a game of Heads and Tails during the 37th Annual Partners in Education (PIE) Luncheon held at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
The luncheon celebrates partnerships through activities like a "heads or tails" game about making choices both in school and in life and recognizes all the partnerships local businesses have with schools within Wood County.
"It shows businesses care about education," Wood County Board of Education member Ron Tice said. "They care about education and academics."
The program first launched in 1985 and has seen growing interest as 11 new partnerships were announced with 24 waiting to sign up. Bert Webb, coordinator of the Partner In Education program, said this was amazing as he has seen other counties only getting four to five new ones each year.
"This area has a lot to be proud of," Webb said. "Thank you so much for participating in this."
Parsons said partnerships are intended to be long-term relationships where businesses volunteer time and resources to local schools. Some of those include Tri-State Roofing's partnership with Kanawha Elementary, United Bank and Greenmont Elementary and West Virginia Central Federal Credit Union and Edison Middle School. She said this could include judging science fairs, career mentoring, or other engagement activities. Schools also look for creative ways to give back to partner businesses through projects and recognition.
"Maybe there's opportunities to do a beautification project at your business partner's place of business, you know, come by and plant some flowers or, if it's something in the health care arena, sometimes they'll make little get well cards for the patients or the clients," Parsons said. "There's always different ways to be creative for the schools to give back."
Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis said these partnerships help the district in so many ways. She said the goal for administrators, teachers and students is to have the best school district in the state and one that these businesses can be proud to partner with.
"It takes that partnership for us to both be successful," Willis told the business professionals in the room. "So thank you so much for all that you do for our students and we're so appreciative."
Those interested in becoming a partner can contact the chamber at info@movchamber.org or call 304-422-3588.
"And then we'll start to have that conversation with them," Parsons said.