Meet your new 2018-19 PTO presidents
With another summer in the books, it’s already time for a new school year.
Here’s a look at the PTO presidents for Vestavia Hills schools. These moms volunteer their time and efforts to help the faculty and staff and raise money for children’s schools.
Becky Cockrell
► School: Liberty Park Elementary
► Contact: rlcockrell@gmail.com
Our family moved to Vestavia from Mississippi five years ago. I have two boys in third and fifth grades.
I became involved in PTO when my oldest son was in first grade because I wanted to learn more about our school and get to know people in our community.
I enjoy PTO because I get to be involved in the fun things my kids get to do at school, and I get to better know our administration, faculty, staff and other parents in our community.
This year, VHELP will be a “Leader in Me” school. Our PTO has been involved in the financial support of the program. I’m excited to see what our students will be learning and how our school changes because of “Leader in Me.”
Our fall fundraiser will be the same as in years past, with a fun, exciting theme that will take our students on a journey around the globe. In the spring, we hope to give our students an opportunity to show their talents in a student talent show.
Michelle Carney
► School: Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights
► Contact: michellegcarney@hotmail.com
I’ve lived in Vestavia for 17 years. My daughter Kate will be in fourth grade at VHECH, and my daughter Grace will be in seventh at LPMS.
My mom was very involved in PTA when I was in elementary school, and I loved having her helping at my school growing up. I always wanted to be able to help my daughters’ school just like my mom did.
I started doing small volunteer jobs when my oldest daughter was in kindergarten 7 years ago and have been involved ever since. I enjoy getting to know the kids and families better in our Cahaba Heights community and being part of making our school a better place.
I’m looking forward to continuing the great success our school PTO has had in the past by raising funds and supporting our school and teachers in multiple ways. I’m also excited to get even more families involved this year by encouraging everyone to “just do one thing.” We can make big differences in our school by all working together.
We will be having our second 5K Heights Heroes run Oct. 20, and we are excited about bringing the community together again this year.
Rachel Jordan
► School: Vestavia Hills Elementary Central
► Contact: toddandrachel@bellsouth.net
Our family moved to Vestavia in 2003, but my husband, Todd, grew up in Vestavia and has lived here most of his life. We have an eighth-grade son, Will, at Pizitz and a fifth-grade daughter, Reese, at Central.
I’ve been involved in PTO since my son was in kindergarten, and it has been so rewarding. I have made wonderful friends and am able to show my support to the outstanding faculty and staff at my children’s schools. I am thankful to be a part of an organization that provides many opportunities to be involved in my children’s school life.
As a former fourth- and fifth-grade teacher, I now advocate for our teachers and think it is important to support them any way that I can.
This is a unique year for Central, because the school will close at the end of the school year. Our PTO has decided on “Celebrate Central” as the theme for the year. It might be the last year for Central, but we are fully committed to supporting the teachers, administrators and staff for the next 180 school days.
While our fundraising effort might look at little different this year, there are still many exciting events that will take place throughout the year, including our music programs, Communication Celebration, Talent Teams, Central Day and our annual fifth-grade trip to Camp McDowell in the fall.
Laura Tucker
► School: Vestavia Hills Elementary East
► Contact: lauraptucker@gmail.com
I have lived in Vestavia for 26 years, and my children will be in first, third and fifth grades this year. I have been involved with PTO since my oldest started kindergarten five years ago.
I attended Vestavia schools from kindergarten through high school and benefited from outstanding academics as well as leadership and life experiences. I am thankful my children are attending the same schools, and I have a desire to give back to the schools that have served me and my children well.
The fact that East has a strong community of volunteers, teachers, staff and administrators makes it fun to be involved.
One of the highlights of being on PTO is serving with parents at the bigger events such as Carnival, May Day Play Day and Bowling in the Hills, but I love the events such as Caring and Sharing, Santa’s Snack Shop and the Enrichment Festival that provide the opportunity to join students in building strong character and a love for learning.
This year, I’m looking forward to seeing students enjoy the new playground equipment that the PTO purchased and had installed over the summer. I love seeing the special projects money being used to benefit our students and community. I’m also excited about getting to know new parents and working with our awesome teachers, staff, and administrators.
New this year, we are teaming up with the Vestavia Spirit Shop this year to offer an online store of Vestavia apparel that will benefit our special projects.
Allison Youngblood
► School: Vestavia Hills Elementary West
► Contact: allisonau@att.net
I grew up in Vestavia and attended Vestavia East, Pizitz and graduated from Vestavia Hills High School. My husband and I moved to Vestavia after being married for a year.
We have two daughters: Caroline, who is going into first grade, and Ella, who is going into fifth grade.
I started volunteering with the PTO at West when my oldest was in kindergarten. I love serving on PTO because I get the opportunity to meet other parents, the teachers and administration. I also love running into my children at the school when I am there.
West is a very special school, and being involved in PTO gives me the opportunity to give back for all they have given to my family. I am so lucky because I will be working with the most amazing administration and staff but most importantly the greatest families in the community.
We have a very exciting year at West with the opening of our new lunchroom. I can’t wait to have lunch with my first-grader in the new lunchroom.
We will be kicking off our Gift Wrap and Cookie Dough Fundraiser in September. This sale was a huge success last year, and we hope to continue with that this year. The students’ favorite night of the year is our annual carnival, which will be held in October. The adult’s favorite fundraiser is our annual Bids and Bites silent and live auction in February.
Stacy Hurst
► School: Liberty Park Middle
► Contact: stacychurst@me.com
I’ve lived in Vestavia for 15 years. My children are in sixth and eighth grade at Liberty Park Middle School.
I started volunteering for PTO out of a desire to learn more about my children’s school. I’ve enjoyed volunteering in different capacities since my son entered VHELP as a preschooler in 2008. Through the years, I’ve chaired fundraisers and other committees and served as a PTO president.
Being on PTO allows me to make connections with people in my community that I may not have another chance to meet.
This year, I’m looking forward to working with our principal, Tonya Rozell. This will be her second year at LPMS, and I’m enjoying seeing how she has energized the staff and implemented changes.
Our PTO volunteers are hard at work on some fun plans and are hoping to fund grants that will enrich our classrooms and enable our teachers to go beyond the curriculum.
Michelle Morrow
► School: Pizitz Middle
► Contact: mcmorrow1@bellsouth.net
My husband, Jay, and I have lived in Vestavia for the past 15 years. Our daughter, Mary Catherine, will be in seventh grade at Pizitz, and our son, Jack, will be in third grade at Vestavia Hills Elementary East this year.
I became involved in the PTO when our daughter started kindergarten and have been involved in various capacities at different schools ever since. I have loved the opportunity to volunteer, and it has been truly rewarding to be able to give back to the schools while getting to know so many wonderful people including our amazing administrators, faculty and staff.
I feel so fortunate to be a part of the Pizitz family and such an amazing school system. The faculty, staff and administration do so much for our children, and I am so very thankful to be a part of a PTO organization that provides so many opportunities to be involved in my children’s school life.
We are able to organize and provide volunteers for various events as well as raise money for special projects at the school through our school supply sale fundraiser. Our goal is to support the school and meet every request made to us.
Katherine Gorham
► School: Vestavia Hills High School
► Contact: kcgmom4@gmail.com
I have lived in Vestavia for 38 years. All five of my children have been in the Vestavia school system, but only two remain: a senior at the high school and a first-grader at VHEE.
My oldest is 24, so many, many years ago I got involved in PTO because I thought it would be a good way to give back to the wonderful teachers and administrators that were giving so much to my kids. It also gave me an excellent way to stay current on all the events that were going on at my kids’ schools. I guess I’ve been involved in PTO more than 15 years now in some capacity.
I really enjoy the friendships I have made and working together with like-minded people to support and advance our schools.
We are looking into some new fundraisers and ways to improve the current events. Each year we hope to fund exciting and new projects for the students that our teachers request grants to accomplish.
We are moving our Eat Roll Rebel event to earlier in the fall as a “back to school” event instead of Homecoming week, and will host an Alumni and Friends tailgate/dinner before the Homecoming football game this year.