As school begins, get to know the leaders of parent-teacher organizations in some of our local Shelby County schools. The PTO is the go-to source for parents who want to help with events, fundraisers and know what’s going on in their kids’ schools.
CHELSEA PARK ELEMENTARY
Tomlinson.
Pruitt.
PTO Co-Presidents: Michelle Tomlinson and RaeAnn Pruitt
Contact: mtomlinson428@icloud.com; raeanne0025@gmail.com
Kids: Tomlinson – Mac (sixth grade), Evie (third grade); Pruitt – Josh (sixth grade), Zoe (fourth grade)
“I’ve been on the PTO since 2017-18. I was over monthly fundraising and then first vice president last year. I love to help and volunteer in general, so PTO has been a great way to do that as well as being involved in my children’s school. This year, we are having a Fun Run again with Boosterthon and we have also added some spirit items to our list of fundraisers.” – Tomlinson
“This will be my fifth year on PTO. I love helping out with things at school. I am very passionate about the school having the resources for the students to get a great education.” – Pruitt
MT LAUREL ELEMENTARY
Bensinger.
PTO President: Jill Bensinger
Contact: jillgbensinger@yahoo.com
Kids: Sue Ellen (fifth grade), Nathan (third grade)
“I have been involved with PTO at Mt Laurel for five years. This is my second year to serve as president. I enjoy being a part of PTO because I get to know the parents and the faculty and staff at the school. It is rewarding to be a part of this community and work with other dedicated parents. Our fundraising kicks off with our Coin Drive in August and our annual Renaissance Faire and Silent Auction on Sept. 27. With the funds raised this school year, we look forward to adding more technological advances to our classroom and building an outdoor classroom for all of our students to enjoy.”
FOREST OAKS ELEMENTARY
Maxwell.
PTO President: Heather Maxwell
Contact: foespresident@gmail.com
Kids: Linleigh (third grade)
“This will be my third year serving on the FOES PTO Board and second as president. I enjoy making a difference in our school and building relationships with our administration, teachers and staff. Forest Oaks is an amazing school and community and I’m grateful that I get to be a small part by serving on the PTO board. Our goal is always to push forward with technological advancements and support our teachers and administration in the very best way possible.”
CHELSEA MIDDLE
Cash.
PTO President: Courtney Cash
Contact: ccash1975@yahoo.com
Kids: Davis (ninth grade), Gracie (sixth grade)
“I have served on PTO for both Mt Laurel Elementary and Chelsea Middle School for eight years. I was president at Mt Laurel Elementary for two years, and this will be my first year as president at Chelsea Middle School. I enjoy PTO because it is a great way to get involved and help improve our school. You also get to meet and serve with lots of great people. This year, we are going to continue to help fund our technology needs. We are also working with our Athletic Boosters and Band Boosters to grow our corporate sponsorship program.”
CHELSEA HIGH
Wilkinson.
PTO President: Jennifer Wilkinson
Contact: jnhw@bellsouth.net
Kids: Katherine (11th grade)
“I have been involved with PTO at some level since 2008, serving at Mt Laurel Elementary, Chelsea Intermediate School and Chelsea Middle School. This is my sixth year on the PTO Board at Chelsea High School and second as president. I enjoy working with the administration and faculty, making sure parents and the community are informed about and involved with our schools, working on projects to help improve our school and the education our students receive and being a part of a system I believe has our children’s best interests at heart.”
INVERNESS ELEMENTARY
Madinger.
PTO President: Allyson Madinger
Contact: inverness.pto.pres@gmail.com
Kids: Addy Kate (sixth grade), Audrey (first grade)
“I’ve been involved with the PTO since my daughter started second grade at IES in 2015 and have served on several different committees. This is my first year as an officer and I couldn’t be more excited. Our PTO tries to create a supportive atmosphere at the school where our teachers can teach at their highest capability. I feel by serving on the PTO we are able to help give our kids the very best by trying to support the teachers in a financial way, so that they are able to get those much-needed little things that their budgets may not otherwise allow for. We have several projects planned for this upcoming year but the biggest item we are trying to raise funds for right now is our STEM lab.”
OAK MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY
Casey.
PTO President: Courtney Casey
Contact: courtneypcasey@gmail.com
Kids: Hayden (sixth grade), Brennan (fourth grade), Colin (second grade)
“This will be my second year as PTO president of OMES. In 2013, I started as a room mom and volunteer. I became VP of fundraising in 2015 for two years and in 2017 I was the room mom coordinator. I love being a part of a team that helps our community support our school financially, as well as provide fun memories for our kids. Our year is full of exciting annual events like Fall Fun Fest, Grandparents Day, Daddy/Daughter Dance and Boosterthon. We will kick off the new school year with our Kinder Helpers, a group of volunteers that helps incoming kindergarten students during the first two weeks of school.”
OAK MOUNTAIN INTERMEDIATE
Charlie Prince
Mathews.
PTO President: Jessica Mathews
Contact: j.mathews.leigh@gmail.com
Kids: Dylan (fourth grade)
“I have been involved with the PTO at Oak Mountain Elementary School for four years. My favorite part of PTO is giving back to a community that gives so much to the children. We will kick off the new school year with an Oak Mountain Intermediate School Back to School Community Picnic complete with food trucks. This will be a great opportunity for IES and OMES families to meet teachers and each other as we embark on a new adventure together as one family. With the combined strengths of both Inverness and Oak Mountain elementary schools, I believe that we can do anything.”
OAK MOUNTAIN MIDDLE
Sinclair.
PTO President: Allison Sinclair
Contact: allisonakerssinclair@yahoo.com
Kids: Connor (11th grade), Jennings (ninth grade), Jeb (seventh grade), Collins (fifth grade)
“I am beginning my fourth year as PTO president at Oak Mountain Middle School. We have several big projects planned for the school year, the two biggest initiatives being installing a new announcer sign in front of the school and repainting the OMMS gym floor. We also will be hanging new signs around the outside of the school and on the field house at the football field. We are working to purchase several iPads and Chromebooks and are discussing plans for a model classroom with progressive technology and collaborative learning tables. PTO will be opening a school supply store available to students on Wednesdays throughout the year and will also be sponsoring a National Board Certification Training scholarship for one of our teachers to be selected in the fall.”
OAK MOUNTAIN HIGH
Johnson.
PTO President: Lisa Johnson
Contact: omhspto@gmail.com
Kids: Sam (12th grade)
“This coming year will be my third year as OMHS’ PTO president. Our PTO is truly a support organization for our students, teachers and administrators. This community is full of so many selfless people who find ways to make sure our children don’t go without. In my role as PTO president, I have met so many selfless people who want no fame or glory for the donation of their time and resources. That has been my gift from this role. Next year, I would like to fix the electronic sign in front of our high school so that we have an additional communication mechanism for our parents.”
