2024-2025

HCE PTA COMMITTEES AND CHAIRS

 

 

It takes a village! Thank you to all of our volunteers who lead our exciting events and programs at HCE! For more information on any of the events below or to volunteer,  please contact the Chairs associated with the event. Contact information can be found in the online directory on our website or reach out to Elizabeth Gardner if you have additional questions.

 

Advocacy/Legislative… This person stays up to date on legislative changes that affect Texas Education and works closely with the Council of PTA Advocacy Chair to share relevant information with the HCE community and help get community involvement when needed.

• Beth Jackson

Auction… Come join the Hunters Creek faculty, staff and parents at this year’s auction. The auction is the school’s primary fundraiser. It will include a live auction featuring grade projects, a silent auction, class projects, dinner and dancing.

• Neda Axelrod
• Brittany Faulk
• Taylor Jackson
• Andi Minett
• Courtney Paddock

Beginning Bonanza… On the first day of school, the committee hosts “Beginning Bonanza” in the school cafeteria. This is a volunteer fair at which parents can sign up for various school activities and PTA committees for the year.

• Taryn Mitchan
• Jenny Swinbank

Corporate Underwriting... Responsible for identifying, contacting and working with local business owners interested in supporting our school.   

• Stephanie Poe

Cougar Carnival… A fun-filled afternoon for the whole family with games, food, cake walk, photo booth, silly string, confetti eggs, and much more.

• Mary Margaret Brollier
• Kathryn Murphy
• Kelsey Talbert
• Kelly Thornton

Daddy Daughter Dance... Coordinates with the auction team to host a Valentine's-themed dance at the school with dads and special friends

• Emilie Cooksey
• Valerie Dieterich

D.A.R.E... A drug prevention program to 5^th graders. 

• OPEN

Directory... Collects family data from Membership Toolkit to be printed in the school-wide directory. Responsible for printing and distribution of directories. Works with families and business owners to create printed ads. Also, meets with printer and data chairs, provides ad layout for directory, and delivers directories to advertisers.

• Missy Malavansos

Field Day… Students participate in a variety of athletic activities and earn ribbons for completing each activity. This event is held during the school day.

• Ashley Jones
• Lauren Rutherford
• LB Springmeyer
• Yvonne Tortoriello

Fifth Grade Celebration... Multiple events for 5th grade: field trip, end of school party, video, memory book and t-shirts. The 5th grade class also donates a gift to HCE.

• Rachel Conkling
• Marci Lane
• Lauren Page

Fifth Grade Track Meet... Coordinate the 5th grade track meet.

• Summer Craig

Financial Reconciliation Committee… This committee is comprised of three current PTA members, approved by the Executive Committee. They are charged with reconciling the PTA financial records from the previous school year, and reporting their findings to the general PTA. This audit takes place during the month of July.

• Dianne English 
• Amy Goodman

Fourth Grade Makers Faire… This event encourages 4th grade students to think like young scientists. It culminates with a viewing by all the classes and an evening viewing by family and friends.

• Carmen Ng

Front Office Volunteers… The school office relies on the assistance of parent volunteers. Office volunteers generally work a 2 hour shift once a month. 

• Ashley Jones

Gallery Night/Student Displays… Setting up art and student work display in the hallway and cafeteria. Assists the Art Teacher in setting up Gallery Night.

• Jenny Swinbank

Grandparents' Day... Grandparents and special friends are invited to join students for donuts in the cafeteria before experiencing the "morning meeting" classroom environment.  A special presentation about Hunters Creek Elementary will follow for grandparents and special friends to learn more about the school.   

• MK Valentine

Grant Committee At-Large Members This committee meets regularly to review grant submissions which are allocated based on prioritization and available PTA funds. 

• Summer Craig
• Heather Nelson

GT Parent Advisory Committee Rep...  Is the HCE liaison with the SBISD’s Office of Advanced Academic Affairs (AAS).

• Carol Wood

Halloween Party... Coordinates with the auction team to provide a fun evening event for students.

• Elaine Menger
• Trisha Moore
• Jamie Ratusznik
• Jennay Swinbank

Hands on Science (HOS)... Students in 4th & 5th grades receive enrichment in their science classes through hands on experiences in physical science, anatomy, physiology, and dissection. Parent volunteers assist students.

• Jamie Ratusznik
• Jeff Ratusznik

Healthy Lifestyles... Promotes healthy eating habits at school lunches and health conscious events such as Bike to School Day.

• Marissa Krasnov
• Yvonne Tortoriello

Hospitality/Teacher Appreciation Lunches… Plans teacher appreciation lunches several times a year.

• Brooke Wommack
• Emily Anderson
• Sara Hughes
• Taylor Jackson
• Yvonne Tortoriello
• Olivia Wolcott

International Festival... International Fest will take place in January/February and consist of a school-wide parade plus an evening event parents can attend highlighting different cultures, customs and foods from around the world.

• OPEN

Library Volunteers… Coordinates the Library volunteers to help the librarian and students in the library throughout the year. Also, assist our librarian with various projects as needed (for example:  Author visits, summer book exchange)

• Angela Bullock
• Lindsay McConn

Lunch with Heroes… Coordinates the annual Lunch with Heroes – remembering 9/11 and honoring our local heroes.

• Amber Keckley
• Lori Knop
• Amy Polidori

Newsletter Editors… Publishes the newsletter every week for distribution to the HCE community.

• Jadrien Grimes
• Jessica Lammlein
• Amy Polidori
• Tine Purvis (social media)

PTA Lifetime Membership… Coordinates the Lifetime Membership awards given to outstanding volunteers at HCE. These awards are presented at the May PTA meeting.  (Must be a PTA Lifetime Award recipient)

• Jill Bell
• MK Valentine

PTA Membership... All parents are encouraged to join the PTA. Chair will oversee the membership campaign during the school year.  Membership includes dues for the local PTA, as well as state and national congresses. Our Goal: 100% participation at Hunters Creek Elementary!

• Jamie Ratusznik

PTA Store & PTA Website… Update the HCE PTA website with PTA resources, forms, board information, and calendar information.

• Amber Keckley – PTA Website (General)
• Emily Anderson – PTA Store (Items for purchase)

Red Ribbon Week/ Drug Awareness… Each fall during this week, communities unite to educate children about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol and show them the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. In conjunction with the school counselor, ribbons are hung around the school and programs are coordinated to increase awareness of the dangers of drugs. 

• Karen Hibbard

Room Parent Chairs… Each class has a parent volunteer who is the liaison between the teacher and parents and assists the teacher with classroom activities (as needed). Responsibilities include recruiting parent volunteers for class parties and events, coordinating recognition of teacher birthdays, and communicating volunteer opportunities for events such as Family Fair and Cougar Carnival. Room parents are selected the first week of school from those parents who express interest by returning the room parent selection form.

• Mercedes Amato
• Karen Hibbard

Safety / Dads on Campus... Manages the SBISD traffic guard that the PTA pays to have on campus in the mornings and promotes school safety. 

• Les Werme 
• HCE Dad's Club

SBEF Liaison… Representative to Spring Branch Education Foundation. Attend SBEF meeting in September, Bright Stars in February. 

• OPEN

Sister School Liaison... Organizes events throughout the school year for our sister school, Woodview Elementary.

• Jill Bell
• Allison Durig
• Emily Macey
• Jill Wright

Spirit Store... Coordinate the online store sales of all HCE spirit items.

• Mary Margaret Brollier
• Liz Hancock
• Missy Malavansos
• Brooke Marquart
• Kathryn Murphy
• Meg Randolph

Spelling Bee… 3rd – 5th graders compete in classroom bees in October. The top speller from each classroom bee, plus a few additional top spellers from each grade, advance to the school-wide bee in December. Winners of the school-wide bee advance to the district-level bee in late January or early February.

• Jennifer Jones

Talent Show… Coordinates the spring talent show.

• Jaclyn Wedemeyer

Teacher Workroom Volunteers… Teachers rely on volunteers to help copy, laminate, cut and paste various worksheets and items for their classrooms and grade levels.  Please consider signing up for a regular shift once a month in our Teacher Workroom.  It’s a great way to volunteer and help our teachers!

• Jane Thomas

Veteran's Day/Week… Puts on the Veteran's Day performance with the music teacher and helps with all Veteran's Day needs such as decorating the school and bringing in vets to talk to students

• Allison Durig
• Sara Hughes
• Amber Keckley

Yearbook... The yearbook contains photos of individual students, class groups, school functions and PTA activities. The books will be delivered to the students in May. Yearbook supply is limited, so orders should be placed early. Yearbook printing deadlines are in November, January and March. Photo editing and page building uses photo software.

• Elaine Menger
• Amber Keckley