It’s not just about bake sales anymore

Patty Miller
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND September 22, 2007 05:50 pm

— Whether large or small, Parent Teacher Organizations put the needs of the district’s children first.
Washington Irving Elementary’s PTO President Brenda Landwehr is representative of many PTO leaders.
Busy raising three children with her husband, Hans, Brenda Landwehr finds time to lead of group of 450 dues-paying volunteers to help the school wherever needed.
Tracy Nester and her husband, Bill, have two children attending Northern Hills Elementary. Tracy Nester is a working mother who practices law and leads one of the largest PTOs in the district with 700 members.
Instead of raising money for one item as was the case of Parent Teacher Associations of old, the goals set by today’s involved parents go in many directions as they watch over the needs of the students in the Edmond School District.
Landwehr and Nester both agreed they want to encourage parental involvement and support their teachers in any way they can.
“The members of our PTO are pretty fabulous, actually, they are wonderful,” said Northern Hills Elementary School Principal Nellie Sizemore.
“The district has been great l as far as providing our technology needs, but because of our PTO we have two computer labs instead of one. Our PTO has graciously provided the computers for the second lab.”
Technology has made Landwehr’s job much easier than it was in the past.
“We subscribed to a computer program last year, and if I need sponsors for a third-grade activity I can just type in third-grade parents and they get the message immediately,” Landwehr said. “If we need help with the flower beds I can send an e-mail to everyone who signed up at the first of the year with that interest.”
Along with giving their teachers grant money at the beginning of the year to use in their classrooms, Northern Hills, along with other PTOs in the district, gave Centennial Elementary seed money for its teachers to buy supplies.
Helping with flower beds and playgrounds around the school are only two of a litany of activities the organizations sponsor.
“Our first activity this year was a Back to School picnic,” Landwehr said. “We usually try to plan three to four family events throughout the year.”
Last week, the PTO raised $12,000 through donations at a Walk-a-Thon, putting them well on the way toward the $40,000 they anticipate will be needed for this year’s activities.
“We are trying to get away from fundraisers, although we will be selling wrapping paper as it gets closer to the holidays.”
At both schools, students are introduced to the arts due to the generosity of the PTOs.
Starting in November students will “Meet the Masters” in their classrooms.
“Since no art classes are offered until the fifth-grade, five times a year parent volunteers come into the classrooms and teach the students about some area of art,” Landwehr said.
Jana Filson, Sequoyah Middle School SPO president, works with 39 members on the SPO Board to meet the needs of the more than 900 students at Sequoyah.
“I am amazed at the generosity the parents are willing to give,” Filson said. “I think we are so lucky. The students see a good example set by their parents, and I think the example they see follows them to high school as they raise money for others during their fund-raising weeks.”
All three ladies agree it is the volunteers behind them that makes their organizations run smoothly and provide manpower for their activities.
“None of this could be accomplished without the help of the members as well as the committee chairs for each of our activities,” Landwehr said.
Principal Sizemore said the parents organize themselves around the school, become fast friends and provide a support group for each other.
“We couldn’t do nearly what we do for our children without them,” she said.

pmiller@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 171

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