Meet your PTO presidents
Rachel Stone- Homewood High School
Contact: racheldavisstone@gmail.com or 873-0351
Children: Maryl (10th grade, HHS) and Jed (8th grade, HMS)
Why did you want to be PTO president?
I met the nicest people in my neighborhood when we moved here in 2006 and they were so inclusive. They encouraged me to get involved in the PTO and I have been ever since. There are so many great things going on in our schools, it is exciting to be a part of that.
Coming from a family of educators, I understand that our teachers are our most valuable resource. I have loved getting to know so many of our administrators, staff and teachers on a personal level. They love our kids and it is a good feeling to support their mission.
What would you like the PTO to accomplish this school year?
It is my goal this year to continue to raise funds for classroom grants at the high school. Our schools are the best in the state because we as a community are generous. I feel very fortunate to live in a place that values every student and believes that what is best for one of us is best for all of us.
Emily Lambert- Edgewood Elementary School
Contact: emily.lambert@att.net or ptoedgewood@gmail.com
Children: Claire (8th grade, HMS), Ethan (5th grade, Edgewood) and Gracie (3rd grade, Edgewood)
Why did you want to be PTO president?
I love being involved and giving back to our school/community. I want to continue the success of our school. In doing that, I look forward to partnering with our teachers, families and students to supply Edgewood with all they need to make Edgewood even stronger. Just to be able to see the faces of our amazing teachers when they are awarded grants, given a new computer lab, given new educational materials for their classrooms, given the opportunities for furthering their education, the list goes on — is rewarding enough to make every parent want to be involved!
What would you like the PTO to accomplish this year?
We are looking forward to continuing the success of our PTO program. I feel like our PTO is unique in that we have a rich tradition of volunteer spirit and we want all parents to be able to experience that spirit. With that, we also want to encourage rising kindergarten parents and new incoming parents to become involved in the PTO and all that it offers. We would like to be able to continue to increase our profit from our one and only fundraiser, the Spring Festival, as we have done each year. And we are putting money aside for another school project that will benefit all of the students, teachers and staff of Edgewood.
Josephine Lowery- Homewood Middle School
Contact: president@hms-pto.org
Children: Savannah (2015 HHS graduate), Harrison (9th grade, HHS), Sara Frances (8th grade, HMS) and Sophie (6th grade, HMS)
Why did you want to become PTO president?
I believe Homewood has one of the best school systems in the country because we have engaged parents, excellent teachers, a strong and effective administration, and incredible community support. I am very passionate about our school system and believe it is critical that we have strong leaders in PTO positions so that we continue to help our schools become even better. Though the idea of becoming PTO president at Homewood Middle School was daunting, I saw firsthand the difference a network of dedicated, industrious, passionate and creative parents can have on a school system during my tenure as HMS president-elect.
What would you like your PTO to accomplish this school year?
HMS PTO has several important goals this year. We want to improve communication with our parents so that every HMS parent feels plugged in to the middle school. Last year, we created a website to accomplish this goal. It allows us to communicate instantly by email with everyone registered, and we communicated weekly with over two-thirds of our parents. We are hoping for 100 percent this year! The website also makes it easy to sign up to join the HMS PTO, volunteer, buy spirit gear, and access our calendar of events. It even has a translation tool for our families who do not speak English.
We plan to increase the participation of parents in HMS PTO by providing programs that are current and relevant and at times convenient for working parents. Every parent is valued and important, and we can make a significant difference by working together. We want parents to know that they can voice concerns or comments, and HMS PTO will try to respond positively to every suggestion. Finally, we aim to support fundraising that is effective and efficient, while responsibly managing the money raised for HMS, and with the guidance of HMS principals, allocating all of the money raised to enrich the learning environment for all HMS students.
Shana Sanders- Hall-Kent Elementary School
Contact: ssandersrn4267@yahoo.com or 529-1086
Children: Eden (2007 HHS graduate), Noah (2014 HHS graduate), Chase (2014 HHS graduate), Matthew (9th grade, HHS) and Nick (5th grade, Hall-Kent)
Why did you want to be PTO president?
My personal goal this year is to serve where I am needed and to help make as many families as I can have the best school year at the best school possible.
What would you like the PTO to accomplish this year?
Our PTO board is hoping to improve our communication with parents by using more mass emails and texts rather than sending home flyers. We would also eventually like to make it possible for parents to pay their fees online. As with all the previous boards, we want every family to feel like they can be a part of the PTO. No matter if they work full time or if they can’t attend every meeting, there is always a way we can use their help. Last, we want to have a successful Fall Festival to ensure that our teachers have the resources they need to continue giving our children the very best education.
Daley King- Shades Cahaba Elementary School
Contact: daleyking@gmail.com
Children: Harper (4th grade, Shades Cahaba) and Sarah Mills (kindergarten, Shades Cahaba)
Why did you want to be PTO president?
When my oldest started Shades Cahaba, I wanted to help wherever I was needed. I enjoyed lending a hand, getting to meet other parents, and I would be lying if I didn’t say it was fun to get a peek at my tiny kindergartener every once in a while. I have really enjoyed the PTO offices I have held so far, and I look forward to the challenge of president.
What do you want the PTO to accomplish this year?
It takes a village to educate our children, and I hope our PTO can be a part of that village. We are incredibly fortunate in Homewood to have parents and teachers that want to help in any way they can. I hope that as an organization we can provide the funds and manpower to make Shades Cahaba an even better place.