The Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2025 Partners in Education Breakfast on Friday, Feb. 28, bridging together representatives from nearly every school in Limestone County for a morning packed full of networking and collaboration opportunities. 

“We really do love having this event each year,” Lauren Marsh, the vice-chair of workforce and education with the Chamber, told The News Courier.  “It’s a lot of fun for everybody to see how our other partners have been successful in different projects throughout the school year. That collaboration is essential in our line of work, but also in education.”

Attendees at the breakfast, which was held at Carter Gymnasium at Athens State University, included city and county school officials, elected officials and local business representatives.

The Partners in Education program is a Chamber initiative that offers vital educational opportunities for the students to increase their knowledge of area businesses. The initiative includes an annual county-wide Job Shadowing Day in April. 

“The Chamber really enjoys putting these events together to foster that collaboration,” Marsh said. “The more we can facilitate pathways for our education systems to improve, the brighter our future will be in Athens and Limestone County.”

During the breakfast, representatives from First National Bank — who are partnered with FAME Academy at Brookhill Elementary, Ardmore High School, Cedar Hill Elementary and Athens Bible School — detailed the different ways they contribute their time and resources to ensure their students financial success. 

“Events like these really show the strength of our community,” Athens State President Catherine Wehlburg said. “When I see the different ways these businesses partner with the teachers and students in our school, I get a sense of how much this community truly cares for its future.”

By partnering with local businesses, schools not only gain access to valuable resources and expertise, but they also enhance student learning with real-world experiences that will ultimately prepare them for their careers after school. 

A full-listing of this year’s partners are as follows:

— iAcademy at Athens Elementary partnered with Listerhill Credit Union

— Athens High School partnered with First Metro Bank

— Athens Intermediate School partnered with Ridgeline Construction

— Athens Middle School partnered with Henry G. Griggs, Jr. DMD, MS, LLC

— SPARK Academy at Cowart partnered with Friendship United Methodist Church

— HEART Academy at Julian Newman partnered with Athens-Limestone Hospital

— Blue Springs Elementary partnered with Bank Independent 

— Career Technical Center partnered with Mazda Toyota, Asahi Kasei Plastics, Morrell Engineering and Grayson Carter and Son

— Clements High School partnered with Steelcase

— Creekside Primary and Elementary partnered with Redstone Federal Credit Union

— East Limestone High School partnered with Hobbs Jewelers

— Elkmont Elementary partnered with Lindsay Lane Baptist Church North

— Elkmont High School partnered with United Way of Athens and Limestone County

— Johnson Elementary partnered with Listerhill Credit Union

— Sugar Creek Elementary partnered with Family Resource Center

— Tanner Elementary and High School partnered with Rogers Group

— West Limestone High School partnered with Grayson Carter and Son Contracting, Inc. 

— Lindsay Lane Christian Academy partnered with Synovus Mortgage 

 

“Athens and Limestone County have some of the most incredible people and businesses in it,” Wehlburg said. “They show that by constantly reaching out to offer help to our education systems. The phrase ‘it takes a village’ is truly evident in our community, because they care about education and they care about our kids.”