Each semester, Thomas County Schools recognizes B.E.E. (Business and Education Exchange) Partners who have gone above and beyond to help each school.  Schools select a partner who has given time, donation of items, and/or a financial contribution that benefits the school and students.  

For the first semester of the year, the following businesses have been selected: Hand-in-Hand Primary School – Marketing Communications (Amanda Maxwell); Garrison-Pilcher Elementary School – Farm Bureau Insurance (Edwin Simmons); Cross Creek Elementary School – Walmart Eye Center (Stephanie Hand); Thomas County Middle School – Thomas County Federal Bank (Yolanda Jenkins); Thomas County Central High School – Nichols Lures (Brooks Woodward) and Longhorn (Brian Tanner); and Bishop Hall Charter School – Thomasville National Bank (Melvin Hugans).

Hand-In-Hand selected Marketing Communications as their B.E.E. Partner because they provided spirit gear to the school at a discounted cost. The school sells this spirit gear to help with purchasing resources for the classrooms and for school supplies for families in need.  

Edwin Simmons’ Farm Bureau Insurance office was selected as Garrison-Pilcher’s B.E.E. Partner.  

Misty Taylor, Parent Involvement Coordinator said, “Farm Bureau comes into the school and speaks to multiple classrooms about agriculture, healthy eating, and where food comes from. They also shared a recipe with a class that everyone participated in helping make. This interaction helped many students try something new and gave them a sense of ownership in the food that was made.”

The Vision Center at Walmart was Cross Creek’s choice for B.E.E. Partner of the Semester because of the many students they have helped with free eyeglasses.  

Thomas County Middle School selected TC Federal because of the school supplies donated at the beginning of the year.  

Thomas County Central High School selected two B.E.E. Partners: Nichols Lures and Longhorn Steakhouse.  

Brandi Miranda, Work-Based Learning Coordinator for TCCHS said, “Nichols Lures has employed more than twelve of our TCCHS students. They also serve on our WBL/Business Advisory Committee and sponsor our Bass Fishing team.”  

Longhorn Steakhouse was also selected for the many ways they have supported the school. Not only did they feed the football players of the week throughout the fall semester, they also serve on the school’s Business Advisory Committee and have helped with mock interviews with TCCHS Students.  

Thomasville National Bank as Bishop Hall Charter School’s B.E.E. Partner.  

Bishop Hall Principal Verna Wiggins said, “Thomasville National Bank has gone above and beyond providing recognition for academic excellence at Bishop Hall.”