COLUMBIA - An event at courthouse square kicked off Education Week on Thursday.
Teachers, students and their business partners joined the flag parade throughout downtown. Boone Hospital was one of the first partners to team up with a school. Employees there said the program benefits both students and their hospital.
"The exciting part of this partnership is that we are able to share some of our real world experience and also at Jeff Junior we have a lot of volunteers who actually come to the hospital and volunteer at various departments," said Renne Nicholes of Boone Hospital Center.
This is the 24th year of the program, and today it has more than 135 partnerships. Some partners invite business people to teach in the classroom for one day.
Employees from business partners, like Regions Bank, will leave their office and step into the classroom to teach first grade students about math, money and banking.
Faculty members also think kids can learn a lot through the program.
"They [Partners in Education] motivate students, they love when adults come in and share their expertise," said Cindy Giovanni, Principal of New Haven Elementary School. "One, these are expertise in the business world out of their fields and anytime we can bring resources and it will always enhance the works teachers do."
To become a partner with Columbia Schools, call Michelle Baumstark at (573)-214-3960.
Reported by: Li Win Yi
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