The Roanoke Valley Business-Education Partnership was formed in 1996 by the four area school systems (Halifax, Northampton, Roanoke Rapids, and Weldon), the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Halifax Community College.

In the first three years, the Partnership received grant dollars from the state of North Carolina and began to develop a strong partnership between the business and education communities.

Partnership objectives -

To strengthen the ties between the area business and education communities

To better prepare students for making career choices and entering the workforce

In addition to serving as a liaison between the business and education communities, the Business- Education Coordinator, an employee of the Chamber of Commerce, organizes five, major programs for the area school systems. They include the following:

Summer Internship
Groundhog Day
Pathways to Career Success
Interview Days
Lunch Buddy

Summer Internship Program

Links local educators with the business community by placing teachers in businesses for a week during the summer.

Begins with a problem-based workshop and carries over to a week-long business internship

Educates teachers to the connection between school and work, enabling them to better relate their curriculum to current workforce challenges.

Groundhog Day

Is offered in February to middle school students.

Averages 100 student participants each year.

Through a half-day job-shadowing experience, provides an overview of business worksites and exposes the students to careers, helping them make academic and career choices.

Pathways to Career Success

Is modeled after successful Leadership Roanoke Valley program.

Is offered to high school juniors and seniors interested in taking leadership roles in their schools and communities.

Creates bonds among students of the different schools.

Exposes the students to the opportunities found in the area.

Engages approximately 45 students and 25 business volunteers each school year.

The four-day program focuses on various topics:

Education
Business & Industry
Health & Human Services
Government
Law Enforcement
Leadership Skills

Interview Days

Is an integral part of area senior English class curriculum and is offered to all senior classes in the six area public high schools.

Allows the students to more fully understand the job application and interview process.

Incorporates writing cover letters and resumes, completing job applications, and participating in mock interviews conducted by volunteers from the business community.

Advisory Committee

Elie Bracy                     Weldon City Schools
Kim Bracy                     Kapstone
Charles Chambliss         Halifax County Schools
Yvonne Coates              RBC Centura
Dr. Joy Cooley               Halifax Community College
Fred Davis                     Halifax Regional Medical Center
Mary Davis                    Halifax Regional Medical Center
Kevin Edwards               Northampton County Schools
Marie Learn Edwards      Coastal Lumber
JK Elliott                       Dominion Power
Sandra Fleming             Halifax County Schools
Kathi Gibson                 Northampton County Schools
Mike Green                   Safelite
Gavin Guttersen             Party Town USA
Welford Hardy                Halifax County Schools
Ken Harty                      Daily Herald
Ken Hinrichs                  Retired
Barbara Hasty               Halifax Community College
Doris Hawkins               County of Halifax
Ellen Heaton                  Heaton Real Estate
Peggy Howard               Roanoke Rapids Graded School District
Carolyn Johnson            Halifax County Schools
Susie Johnson               Northampton County Schools
Pocahontas Jones         Halifax Community College
Sandra Rudd-Knight       Halifax County Schools
Greg Lawson                 City of Roanoke Rapids
Crystal Martin                WalMart
Geraldine Middleton       Halifax County Schools
Ginny Overdahle            Halifax County Library
Susan Reynolds            Betsey’s Real Estate
Myra Robinson              Retired
Bruce Robistow             Halifax Regional Medical Center
Dennis Sawyer              Roanoke Rapids Graded School District
Tracy Shelburne             First Citizens Bank
Millicent Smith               Halifax County Schools
Geneva Squire               Northampton County Schools
Melinda Whitby              Sylvan Learning Center
Lind Wiggins                 Weldon City Schools
Michelle Winstead         Halifax County Health Department
Eric Woods                   Westmoreland, Inc
Curtis Wynn                  Halifax Electric

Contributors

The following school systems and businesses contribute financial support to the Business-Education Partnership. We thank them for their support.

AAA Carolinas
BB&T
City of Roanoke Rapids
RBC Centura
The Daily Herald
First Citizens
Halifax County Schools
Halifax Regional Medical Center
Haney, Vann & Bruton
Hoffman & Arthur, DDS, PA
Kapstone Paper
Littleton Observer
Lynch's Office Supply
Northampton County Schools
Roanoke Electric Cooperative
Roanoke Land
Roanoke Rapids City Schools
Roanoke Rapids Savings Bank
Roanoke Valley Energy
Roanoke Valley Savings Bank
Safelite Glass
Schoollink
Weldon City Schools

Patsy Ferguson, Business-Education Manager

pferguson@rvchamber.com