Mid-Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO, Jill Parsons, Misty Sims, founder, owner, lead planner, Little Black Dress Event and Rental Lean Ann Kampston, principal of Williamstown Elementary School, and Christy Willis will create small black dress events and rentals that will make new partners for Williams Selenary. (Photo by Douglas Huxley)
Jill Parsons, CEO of Mid Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce, Misty Sims, founder, owner, lead planner of Little Black Dress Event, Williamstown Elementary School Principal Lee Ann Kampston and Wood County School Principal Christy Willis will create a small black dress event for rentals and a small black dress event for rentals. (Photo by Douglas Huxley)
Mid-Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO, Jill Parsons, Misty Sims, founder, owner, lead planner, Little Black Dress Event and Rental Lean Ann Kampston, principal of Williamstown Elementary School, and Christy Willis will create small black dress events and rentals that will make new partners for Williams Selenary. (Photo by Douglas Huxley)
WILLIAMSTOWN – Misty Sims, a Parker’sburg South High School alumni and founder, owner and lead planner of Little Black Dress Event, signed the document Monday that he became a new partner in education at Williamstown Elementary School.
Education Partners is a program launched by the Mid-Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce, which aims to partnerships that support student growth, promote achievement and deepen community connections.
“This opportunity came up with elementary school. My heart always seemed to be with Littles. “Every life course, every financial background comes through the school, just like everyone else.”
Sims said his son attended Williamstown Elementary School and is currently in sixth grade in middle/high school. She said he was at the elementary school level and was deeply involved in the PTA and other events. She said Principal Lee Anne Kampston approached her last year about becoming a partner in education. Sims said she wrote a big check, assuming she wasn’t very knowledgeable about the program and only had one partner at the school.
“That’s not necessarily what I can bring to the table,” Sims said. “I’m not a big company.”
Jill Parsons, CEO of Mid Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce, Misty Sims, founder, owner, lead planner of Little Black Dress Event, Williamstown Elementary School Principal Lee Ann Kampston and Wood County School Principal Christy Willis will create a small black dress event for rentals and a small black dress event for rentals. (Photo by Douglas Huxley)
She said Camston informed her that the program wasn’t just about writing a check.
“The more communities you can bring to school, the more things you can expose your kids,” Kampston said Monday. “And as she suggested, there are kids who come here from all these financial backgrounds and partnerships.
Sims said this is everything she needs to know to make the decision to become an education partner.
“We talked a lot about STEM over the last year, but I’m just coming back to it, and just because I don’t have kids here doesn’t mean I can’t be involved in any capacity yet.
Jill Parsons, CEO of Mid-Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber of Commerce is trying to match potential partners with schools that fit individual levels of participation in the program.
“She (Sims) thought maybe being a partner was out of the ballpark for her. “But she has passion and she has ideas. She has the talent to come to a different school than some of her more financially useful partners who might not be able to come to school and help with events.”
Parsons said the chamber will use artificial intelligence to create better connections with local businesses that lead to lasting relationships.
“We are the only county that uses AI for schools and businesses,” Parsons said. “We want to not only have children in school, but also have long-term relationships.”
She said both potential partners and schools will fill out a three-minute survey that both the level of interest and the needs are looking for.
“It could generate two or three ideas, a school and two or three business,” Parsons said. “The relationships between partners in education programs are long-term.”
Companies interested in participating in partner education programs can contact chambers at info@movchamber.org or call 304-422-3588.
“After all, it’s about supporting the children in our community and showing them what is possible,” Sims said.
