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Community Partners

Wilson County Schools is proud to partner with local businesses, nonprofits, volunteers and community organizations that share our commitment to student success. These partnerships provide valuable support, enhance educational experiences and help prepare students for life beyond the classroom. Strong schools build strong communities - and strong communities support great schools. Our community partners help us inspire, engage and empower every student, every day. We are deeply grateful for the hundreds of community partners who support our students, staff and schools in meaningful ways each year. While we can’t name them all, we want to highlight just a few who make an extraordinary impact.

Wilson Education Partnership (WEP)

The Wilson Education Partnership (WEP) serves as a vital bridge between Wilson County Schools and the business community, helping connect classrooms with careers and supporting both students and educators in meaningful ways. WEP offers a wide range of programs and initiatives that inspire learning, celebrate excellence, support teachers and prepare students for success beyond high school, including:

  • Career Health Connections – introduces students to health-related careers through hands-on experiences and mentoring.
  • Communicating with Confidence – helps students build professional communication and presentation skills and is built into the English III curriculum.
  • Girls in Manufacturing – encourages young women to explore high-demand careers in manufacturing and technology through a partnership with Bridgestone.
  • Business & School Career Tours – connects students and educators with local industries to learn about career pathways.
  • Teacher & Principal of the Year Recognition – honors outstanding educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching and leadership.
  • Educator Mini-Grants – provides classroom grants that fund innovative projects and hands-on learning experiences.
  • Student Scholarships – awards scholarships to students excelling in academics, leadership, the arts and athletics.
  • Beginning Teacher Support & Recognition – celebrates and supports first-year teachers as they begin their careers in education.

Through these programs and partnerships, WEP continues to strengthen the connection between education and the workforce — empowering students, uplifting teachers and helping build a brighter future for Wilson County.

The Healthcare Foundation of Wilson

The Healthcare Foundation of Wilson invests in the health and well-being of our students by funding innovative initiatives that promote physical, mental and emotional wellness. Their support helps expand access to school-based health centers, wellness education, and resources that empower students to thrive both in and out of the classroom. Each year, the organization provides responsive grant funding to organizations in Wilson. The 2024 awards total more than $590,000 in funding for initiatives that focus on solutions with measurable outcomes to address four of the community’s greatest health concerns: access to healthcare, active living/healthy eating, alcohol/substance misuse and behavioral/mental health. Among the new responsive grants funded for 2024, two directly benefit WCS! The grant funds include:

  • $43,075 to expand the PGA Tour First Tee Golf Program to 4th and 5th graders in our 13 elementary schools. First Tee is a nationally recognized golf program that builds the confidence and character of students while also providing physical activity for overall health. The program provides the training, equipment and lesson plans that integrate life skills and values with the game of golf. Check out the video with more information about First Tee in our schools - First Tee Video. 
  • $150,000 to provide an adaptive and inclusive playground for students with special needs at Darden Middle. The playground includes an adapted swing, ramps and safe spaces to crawl and play. The play area will also provide opportunities for all students to play together. It will also be open to parents and caregivers of children who need adaptive equipment during non-school hours.

The Healthcare Foundation of Wilson also provides grant funding for the Wilson Area School-Based Health (WASH) Centers currently in five of our schools. To date, they have invested $2.59 million in the WASH Centers. 

Operation Backpack Sponsors

Since 2012, Wilson County Schools has been able to distribute thousands of backpacks to students each year because of generous donations from businesses, organizations and individuals. These sponsors make a powerful impact by ensuring students start the year ready to learn. Through their generous donations of backpacks and school supplies, they help meet essential needs so every child can begin each school year with confidence. More than half of our 10,000 students live in poverty and often worry about the first day of school because they do not have the necessary supplies - it is our goal to alleviate this worry and help them have a successful start to the school year. We are grateful for the sponsors of the 2025 WCS Operation Backpack Drive, especially our Presenting Sponsors, which include Chick-fil-A of Wilson, Fresenius Kabi and Vester Auto Group - Sponsor List.  

We are thankful for all of our community partners whose dedication strengthens our schools and helps every student learn, create and inspire.