Meet the 2020-21 PTO Presidents

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Meet the PTO Presidents of the local schools for the 2020-21 school year below.

INVERNESS ELEMENTARY

► Name: Allyson Madinger

► Email: Inverness.pto.pres@gmail.com

► Children: Addy Kate (7th), Audrey (2nd) and Millie (Kindergarten)

I have been involved with the IES PTO for five years and am excited to begin my second year as president. This year will be different from any that we’ve had in the past, because we will be learning how to operate almost entirely online or by virtual means. Our PTO has already been hard at work, brainstorming new ways to fundraise and still engage our students and the community without actually seeing them face to face. I’m so excited to be volunteering this year and am so grateful to have super involved parents, caring teachers, and supportive administrators to help guide me through this process of, what seems likely to be, our “new normal.”

OAK MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY

► Name: Courtney Casey

► Email: courtneypcasey@gmail.com

► Children: Hayden (7th), Brennan (5th) and Colin (3rd)

This will be my third year as PTO President of OMES. In 2013, I was previously a room mom and volunteer. Then, in 2015, I was VP of fundraising until 2017, when I was the room mom coordinator. I find it incredibly rewarding to have a role in which I can look at what is needed and find ways to help; the PTO allows me to have a direct impact in creating positive change for OMES. With everything that is going on right now, the PTO is working on new ways to support our school. We are looking to find local businesses who would like to provide food or shopping days where our community can purchase things with a percentage of sales coming back to OMES. We are currently planning on purchasing supplies for cleaning and sanitation and helping raise money for new picnic tables. Our fundraising year will look different due to COVID-19. For the last 11 years, Fall Fun Fest has financially supported our operating costs. Not being able to have this event will have a big impact on our budget. We are determined to do as much as we can with online fundraisers, spirit wear and a virtual holiday shop. At some point during the school year, we would love to have our online auction that usually goes with Fall Fun Fest. Last year OMES partnered with the Kiwanis Club of Indian Springs to raise the funds to replace our 20 year old playground. This is a 3 year project. OMES is hoping to roll out an exciting new fundraiser for the playground this fall! The PTO is excited to help support the Kiwanis Club and OMES with their playground fundraisers.

OAK MOUNTAIN INTERMEDIATE

► Name: Jessica Matthews

► Email: J.mathews.Leigh@gmail.com

► Children: Dylan (5th)

I have worked with PTO for 6 years, two serving as PTO President at OMIS. We are kicking off the new school year with two fundraisers, the Kendra Scott Sale followed by Charleston Wrap. The most rewarding part about being involved with the PTO is the opportunity to give  back to a community that gives so much to our students and teachers. Although we face difficult circumstances this year, we are working diligently to implement online fundraisers that will safely meet our goals and support our school. Our budget has taken an enormous hit recently, forcing our organization to rely on donations and the few fundraising opportunities available to support the additional needs encountered. We are focusing on goals such as Chromebooks for students, sanitation stations, and picnic tables to name a few items needed to ensure a safe learning environment for our students.

OAK MOUNTAIN MIDDLE

► Name: Katherine Naumann

► Email: Katherinenaumann@icloud.com

► Children: in 7th and 9th grades

I was asked to serve as incoming President in January 2020. I enjoy serving as a voice for parents and being able to assist administration in involving parents in school activities to enhance the experience for our students. We recently concluded our school supplies sale, which is one of our largest fundraisers. OMMS Boosters is currently selling t-shirts and neck gaiter masks. OMMS Choir department is collecting new and gently used shoes for their fundraiser. Other fundraisers will be announced at a later date. Due to COVID-19, all “non-essential” large indoor gatherings (dances, assemblies) are on hold, possibly canceled altogether. Many of those events served as fundraisers for the PTO. Further, there is a huge need to provide adequate technology, most urgently Chromebooks, to every student. We still have a long way to go before this need is fully met.

OAK MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL

► Name: Mallory Carrington

► Email: omhspto@gmail.com

► Children: Wills (11th), Owen (10th), Kate (9th), Gray (6th) and Avery (5th)

I served as PTO Vice President last year and this is my first year as President. My favorite part of PTO is having the opportunity to be a small part of a support organization for our students, teachers and administrators. Our community is full of generous and selfless people who find ways to give back that help our school and our students immensely. We have committed to help our school with the purchasing of cleaning supplies, PPE, 14 hand sanitizing stations and 4 sanitizing sprayers for our custodial staff, that will help keep our students and faculty healthy and safe. We are also setting up ways for parents to “adopt a teacher” in prayer this year, as well as continuing to support OMHS with their technology needs for the upcoming year. We will also have our annual fundraising auction again that has been a big success in the past. This school year will look different, and no doubt be challenging in many ways, but I believe that the Oak Mountain community can persevere and be stronger together because of our commitment to excellence in education, our hope, our faith, and our resilience to make the most out of every situation.

MT LAUREL ELEMENTARY

► Name: Stevie Earls

► Email: stevie.earls@yahoo.com

► Children: Kenley (4th) and Laney (2nd)

This will be my fourth year working with the PTO. This organization allows me to serve my school community, meet amazing new people, and most importantly have a deeper and more meaningful involvement in the lives of  my children. MLES is looking forward to continuing with legacy programs such as our coin/cash drive, silent auction, and boosterthon; finding feasible alternatives for successful programs that are no longer possible; as well as identifying exciting new opportunities in this ever changing environment. We are also looking to incorporate an outdoor classroom that will lend itself as another option for socially-distanced learning. This school year will no doubt look a little different. We will continually be looking for ways to better our school and lend a helping hand to our teachers and faculty. I know this school year will be a huge success because of the amazing group of leaders who will be serving with me as well as the partnership of our generous corporate sponsors.

FOREST OAKS ELEMENTARY

► Name: Christi Vick

► Email: foespresident@gmail.com

► Children:Angel (5th) and Cooper (4th)

I have been on the PTO for three years and enjoyed seeing the outcome of what our fundraising does for the school. The PTO will continue to support Forest Oaks to the best their ability and work closely with administration during these ever changing times.

CHELSEA PARK ELEMENTARY

► Name: Jennifer Oliver

► Email: cpespto2@gmail.com

► Children: John Darby (2nd) and Elena (Kindergarten)

This is my 2nd year on PTO. I have loved getting to know all the teachers and staff that have a positive impact on my children and their friends. They do so much for our children all day and every day. I want them to know it matters and is appreciated. Our Boosterthon will be virtual this year and the Boosterthon staff is working hard to make it as fun and meaningful for the kids as it has been in previous years. We are working to keep things as normal as possible this year so will have alternatives to the popcorn and snow cone days for the kids to enjoy. So many parents treasure the opportunity to be involved in their kid’s school experience and to have an avenue to show support for the teachers by being a room mom or dad or by volunteering various other ways. With the visitor restrictions now in place this will be a challenge. We are working to move our room parent program to a virtual program so parents can still feel connected to the classroom as well as help our fantastic teachers by providing as many resources as possible. Regardless of how the instruction is given, remotely or traditionally, teachers still need our support.

CHELSEA MIDDLE

► Name: Tara Walker

► Email: Tlvwalker@hotmail.com

► Children: Finley (10th), Payton (8th) and Joseph (6th)

I’ve been involved with PTO for many years for both the middle school and elementary. I enjoy the feeling that we make a difference in helping the teachers and students to better the school. The relationships that I’ve made along the way within the school and with parents is the best part. We are always trying to stay ahead of technology and support the teachers on their classroom needs. This year is going to look very different from previous years. As of now, PTO won’t be allowed in the buildings to fundraise and have events. We are going to have to think outside of the box for sure and hopefully parents will understand and still support fundraisers that we try to do within the community.

CHELSEA HIGH SCHOOL

► Name: Jennifer Wilkinson

► Email: jnhw@bellsouth.net

► Children: Katherine (12th)

This is my 13th year on a PTO Board. I have served on PTO Boards at Mt Laurel Elementary, Chelsea Intermediate School, Chelsea Middle School, and Chelsea High School. I enjoy working with the administration and teachers to give them the tools they need to best educate and prepare our children for whatever path they take beyond high school. I like being involved in the schools and being present for my children, as well as all the other children in the school. With the uncertainty we are facing this school year, we do not have any major projects planned at this time. We just plan to be a resource for the myriad of different scenarios that mayu nfold and hope to support the administration,teachers, staff, and students as best we can.

GREYSTONE ELEMENTARY

► Name: Michelle Olson

► Email: Michellelind23@yahoo.com

► Children: Parker (4th), Cole and Mason (2nd)

This will be my fourth year serving on the PTA at Greystone (second year as president). I feel it is a great way to stay involved in my children’s lives, and it allows me to giveback to a school that does so much good for the children that attend Greystone. We have a great group of parents that serve alongside me on the board with the same goal in mind — to make Greystone the best it can be! We will have our annual Leave a Legacy Fundraiser in October that will be used to fund most all of our programs for the year. This year, we also focus on corporate sponsorships and developing relationships with the businesses in our community. We have already made available for purchase to our children and parents many logoed items such as masks, gaiters and hand sanitizer. COVID-19 has forced our PTA to cancel or change many great activities and programs that we normally do. However, we have an amazing PTA, and we are going to put our heads together to come up with ways that we can support our teachers, staff and school in different ways than we are used to. We will adapt!

BERRY MIDDLE

► Name: Ashley Gregory

► Email: agregory113@yahoo.com

► Children: Harris and Henry (8th), Madeline (6th)

I’ve been involved with volunteering for eight years. First with PTA at Greystone Elementary and now with PTO at Berry Middle since my kids moved up. I’ve held multiple roles over the years, including president at both schools. Working with the staff and other parents to support our school has been very rewarding. We have a history of assisting in many ways, including grant funding, sponsoring school field trips, purchasing library books and supporting our student groups like the Diversity Council. Our annual Armchair Fundraiser will be held in the fall. COVID-19 has impacted Berry PTO in numerous ways, with uncertainty being the main factor. Our teachers, staff, students and parents all have done, and continue to do, a fantastic job of adapting to the changing situation. We have been mindful in developing our current PTO budget to consider the financial impact the virus and the response have had on us all. I am hopeful we can do more as the year goes on and we figure out what the new normal looks like.

SPAIN PARK HIGH

► Name: Tonia Ballintine

► Email: Tonball36@aol.com

► Children: Brooks (12th) and Luke (9th)

I have served various positions on PTO boards for the past 12 years, including PTO president at South Shades Crest Elementary. I have also served as a Hoover Parent Teacher Council board member for four years. Our goal for Spain Park PTSO this year is to maintain our longtime commitment of funding as many teacher grants as possible. The past several years we have funded 100% of our requested grants. This year more than ever, we are committed to helping with communications through our social media page, etc. We find ourselves in unprecedented times with COVID-19, and we are there to support our parents, faculty, staff and students in any way possible.