Behind-the-scenes helpers: Meet this year’s PTO presidents
Published 11:00 am Monday, August 12, 2024
- Meet the individuals who make things happen in the Parent Teacher Organizations for several of Shelby County's schools. (Contributed)
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By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE | Special to the Reporter
Chelsea Park Elementary
President: Angela Harris
PTO Email: CPESPTO2@gmail.com
Children’s names, grades: Hudson (4th), Finley (3rd) and Lucie, age one.
How long have you served on PTO, and what positions have you held? I’ve served on the CPES PTO for four years. I was the teacher appreciation chair and a co-chair for two years and served as the secretary for one year. I’m excited to take on my new role as president this year.
How many PTO board members do you have this year? We have 18 fantastic board members serving our school this year. Our board is a collaborative group that works together to plan and execute fundraising events to meet the needs of the school. We also coordinate teacher and staff appreciation events to encourage and thank the amazing people that devote their time to our kids’ success.
What events/fundraisers do you have planned for this year? This year we will be raising money through a variety of avenues outlined in our new Park Partners initiative which includes the following: finding donors to support our teachers’ classroom needs through our Adopt-a-Class program; starting a new fall fun run called the Hornet Dash; Glow dances for mother/son and father/daughter date nights and creating a new Spring Family Fun Night and Silent Auction event. We will also fundraise by encouraging PTO membership, selling goods through Charleston Wrap, providing Kona Ice and popcorn days for students and designing and distributing grade level shirts.
Forest Oaks Elementary
President Name: Courtney Armstrong
PTO email: foespresident@gmail.com
Children’s names, grades: Beckett, (9th) and Anna (3rd)
How long have you served on PTO, and what positions have you held? This is my fourth year. I have previously served on the Staff Appreciation Team and two years as the community liaison.
How many PTO board members do you have this year? We have 23 board members this year.
What events/fundraisers do you have planned for this year? This year we have our Hornet Hustle and Read-a-Thon fundraisers as well as our annual Peppermint Palace holiday shop and several Spirit Nights.
Chelsea Middle School
President: Brandy Pate
PTO email: chmshornets.pto@gmail.com
Children’s names, grades: Samuel (8th) and Zoey (11th)
How long have you served on PTO, and what positions have you held? I have served on the PTO at Forest Oaks, Chelsea Middle and Chelsea High School for eight years in a variety of roles including president, community liaison, merchandise coordinator, publicity and treasurer.
How many PTO board members do you have this year? This year we have 19 extraordinary board members.
What events/fundraisers do you have planned for this year? We are excited to be hosting our annual Back to School Bash this September as well as our Spring Fling in April. We host a Snack Sale once a month and a Charleston Wrap fundraiser in October. Every December we partner with local businesses to gift 12 Days of Christmas to the ChMS staff.
Chelsea High School
President: Tara Walker
PTO email: Chelseahighschoolpto2@gmail.com
Children’s names, grades: Payton (12th), Joseph (10th) and Finley, a sophomore at Auburn.
How long have you served on PTO, and what positions have you held? I’ve been on the ChHS PTO for three years and served as corporate sponsor chair until this year I became president. I’ve served on the MLES and ChMS PTO over the years as well.
How many PTO board members do you have this year? 18 wonderful ladies.
What events/fundraisers do you have planned for this year? Our biggest fundraiser has become our corporate sponsors. Partnering with local businesses has been a true blessing to help fund our teacher wish lists. Of course, parents support by paying their family PTO donations is huge too. We plan to sell merchandise this year as well.
Inverness Elementary
President: Mandee McDonald
PTO email: pto.pres.inverness@gmail.com
Children’s names, grades: Blake (3rd)
How long have you served on PTO, and what positions have you held? This is my fourth year to be involved with PTO and my third and final year as president.
How many PTO board members do you have this year? We have four board members.
What events/fundraisers do you have planned for this year? We will have the Scarecrows on the Hill for the 19th year in a row. We always look forward to Boosterthon, which is our largest fundraiser. We are very excited to have our second annual Goomie Golf Tournament in April. We had a wonderful first tournament and cannot wait to use all that we learned to have this fun and successful event again.
Mt Laurel Elementary
Co-Presidents: Becca Green and Lauren Oakes
Children’s names, grades: Ava Oakes (9th) and John David Oakes (3rd); Ace Green (3rd) and Bibb Green (7th) and Ace (3rd).
How long have you served on PTO, and what positions have you held? Lauren: Has served as committee chair lead for Teacher Appreciation Board for several years and also as secretary. Becca: Has served on the PTO for eight years. Has been VP of fundraising for five years and this is her first year serving as co-president.
How many PTO board members do you have this year? 7.
What events/fundraisers do you have planned for this year? The largest fundraiser will be Charleston Wrap (Sept.), the Renaissance Faire (Nov. 15) and Silent Auction and Boosterthon (March 7). There will also be a mom/son event in September and daddy/daughter event in January.
Becca (205) 602-0461
Lauren (205) 908-7977
Mrs. Neighbors- (205) 682-7278
Oak Mountain Elementary
Co-President Names: Kindoll Romans and Heather Spivey
PTO email: ptooakmountain@gmail.com
Children’s names, ages: Paxton Romans, age 7; Tucker Spivey, age 8
How long have you served on PTO, and what positions have you held? This is Kindoll’s second year serving on the PTO board. Last year, she held the position of vice president of volunteers and this is her first year as co-president. This is Heather’s third year serving on the PTO board. Her first year she held the position of assistant treasurer and this is her second year as co-president.
How many PTO board members do you have this year? We have 11 board members this year.
What events/fundraisers do you have planned for this year? Our biggest fundraisers for the year are our Fall Fun Fest on Oct. 19 and Silent Auction and Boosterthon Fun Run on Feb. 14. We’ll have lots of other fundraisers sprinkled throughout the year. More details about those and other PTO announcements can be found on our PTO Facebook page at OMES PTO & Parent Connection.
Oak Mountain Intermediate
President: Veronica Wilson
PTO email: omispto1@gmail.com
Children’s names, grades: Remy (4th)
How long have you served on PTO, and what positions have you held? Six years. I have held positions including: OMES Hospitality, Room Mom, two years PTO president, president at OMES, OMES Hospitality chair 2023-24, while at the same time serving on the OMIS PTO Board as vice president of Hospitality and Room mom at both schools 2023-24. I am now serving as OMIS PTO President 2024-25.
How many PTO board members do you have this year? 7 Board members.
What events/fundraisers do you have planned for this year? Charleston Wrap Fundraiser, The Eagle Classic Golf Tournament at Inverness Country Club (Nov. 4), Boosterthon, monthly restaurant Spirit Nights, Spirit Events including Christmas Movie and Mini Golf at the Grand River Drive In/The Backyard Leeds and the Birmingham Bulls Hockey Battle of the PTOs Day at the Pelham Civic Center, PJ/Hat days at OMIS and Friendshipgrams the week leading up to Valentine’s Day.
Oak Mountain Middle School
President Name: Amber Ross
PTO or contact email: oakmountainpto@gmail.com
Children’s names, ages: Wyatt (8th)
How long have you served on PTO, and what positions have you held? I have served or helped in some aspect of PTO since the kids started kindergarten. This will be my third year to serve as PTO President at OMMS.
How many PTO board members do you have this year? We have five board members.
What events/fundraisers do you have planned for this year? We have lots of fundraisers and events this year. We have four Galas/Fun Nights planned, a Silent Auction and several Spirit Nights.
Oak Mountain High School
Co-Presidents: Lauren Warren & Courtney Casey
PTO email: laurenwarren10@gmail.com
Children’s names, grades: Emma Kate Warren and Hayden (11th) and Brennan Casey (9th)
How long have you served on PTO, and what positions have you held? We both have served in various capacities in all four schools over the last 12 years.
How many PTO board members do you have this year? We have co-presidents, vice president of volunteers, vice president of Hospitality, vice president of Fundraising.
What events/fundraisers do you have planned for this year? We are planning to have a couple of recurring things for the students to participate in, a Silent Auction, and hoping to roll out some new spirit wear in the late Fall.