Meet Barbara Sims of Hart, Executive Director Oceana County United Way 
 

Our WSESD is Proud to Partner with Barbara Sims. Barbara and her husband Tom have been residents of Hart for more than a decade. It was nearly 10 years ago that they opened their delightful children friendly bookstore Storybook Village in downtown Pentwater.
 

To say they love life in our West Michigan area would be an understatement - as would attempting to cap the passion Barbara has for Early Childhood Education.
 

Barbara is one of the strongest advocates for the provision of quality preschool and early years education you could find. Our school districts, parents, students, and staff are fortunate to have her in their corner.
 

As the Executive Director of the Ocean County United Way (Lakeshore), Barbara consistently promotes local and regional collaboration to maintain and improve the kinds of programs that touch all aspects of life. She shared that there are many ways for individuals to step up and impact their own communities - which is what Barbara tries to encourage.
 

Local superintendents and other school leaders in our three-county WSESD region know Barbara well and are vocal in being proud to partner with her. Walkerville superintendent Tom Langdon shared that Barbara cares about WPS schools and students. He also mentioned that every spring, she attends high school graduations throughout our area to award United Way scholarships to our grads. Teachers and students alike know that Barbara and all of the United Way partners are doing what they can to help them succeed.
 

Literacy is another passion for Barbara - as evidenced by the United Ways active match participation in the Dolly Parton Foundation - where the foundation strives to get high quality books mailed into the homes of preschoolers every month.
 

It is folks like Barbara Sims who help make our region a wonderful place to learn, earn, and grow a family. No doubt you are, too - and if you would like to connect with Barbara and get more involved - please contact Barbara directly or WSESD Superintendent Jason Jeffrey and have a friendly chat.
 

The more the merrier!
 

Barbara Sims / United Way
[email protected]

Barbara at Storybook Village / Pentwater
www.StoryBookVillageofPentwater.com