Meet the 2022-2023 PTA Board
Meet the 2022-2023 Board of Directors
Executive Board
Co-Presidents: Beth Yost & Kati Kennedy (President@cottagelakepta.org)
Treasurer: Sheila Esmeralda & <Open> (Treasurer@cottagelakepta.org)
Co-Vice President of Fundraising: Lisa Weinstein & Jennifer Gallison (Fundraising@cottagelakepta.org)
Co-Vice President of Communications: Mandy Reichmuth & Carol Farris (Communications@cottagelakepta.org)
Co-Vice President of Events: Suzanne McLaughlin & <Open> (Events@cottagelakepta.org)
Secretary: Toni Stewart (Secretary@cottagelakepta.org)
Standing Committees
Special Education Representative: Angela Dawson and Jane Pearl Peterson (specialedrep@cottagelakepta.org)
Art Docent: Venece Lyman & Buffy Anson (artdocent@cottagelakepta.org)
Membership: Lauren Peterson (membership@cottagelakepta.org)
Grants & Awards: Deirdre Everitt & Kasey Hewes (grants@cottagelakepta.org)
Staff Appreciation: Jen Gill & Lindsay Stow (staffappreciation@cottagelakepta.org)
Garden Coordinator: Venece Lyman (garden@cottagelakepta.org)
Racial & Educational Justice: <Open>
Legislative: Angela Dawson (legislativerep@cottagelakepta.org)
Watch DOGS: Jen Gill
Multi-Cultural Fair: Chetan Agrawal (culturefair@cottagelakepta.org)
STEAM Fair: Jen Gill
Spirit Wear: Jen Gill & Toni Stewart
Yearbook: <Open>
5th Grade Party: Beth Yost (president@cottagelakepta.org)
Toymaker: Beth Yost (president@cottagelakepta.org)
Missoula Children's Theater: Kati Kennedy (president@cottagelakepta.org)
Reflections: Buffy Anson
PTA Executive Board Job Descriptions
Co-President
The President is the presiding officer and official spokesperson of the CLE PTA.
Facilitates Board of Director and Membership meetings. Communicates and
collaborates regularly with the school principal, staff, board of directors,
committees, and membership. Works with the Executive Board to develop and
oversee budget allocation, strategic direction, decision-making, and more.
Secretary
The Secretary is responsible for taking minutes and recording all business at every PTA meeting
and preparing them for approval at the next meeting. Works with the
president to create meeting agendas. Takes attendance to ensure a quorum
is present. Manages the WSPTA Standards of Affiliation checklist.
Co-Treasurer
The treasurer manages the funds of the PTA, helps develop the budget, tracks income and
spending, creates monthly financial reports, organizes the books, writes
checks, presents budget reports at monthly meetings, insurance all government
financial reporting is completed.
Co-VP Communication
Manages the PTA communication channels including website, e-blasts, Facebook, Instagram,
newsletter, calendar, etc. to create awareness among the school, families, and
community. Assists in creating flyers and content in these spaces. Create
processes and deadlines to manage requests. Create communication plans as
needed for events and programs.
Co-VP Events
This position plans and executes popular school events like the Tears & Cheers
Kindergarten Breakfast, Ice Cream Social, Monster Mash, holiday events, Spring
Carnival, and other events as needed.
Co-VP Fundraising
This position will plan, manage and implement a variety of fundraising efforts to help the
PTA raise money to support and enhance your student’s education. Major
fundraising efforts include The Fun Run, Walk & Roll, Dine-out fundraisers,
and the Spring Auction.
PTA Standing Committee Job Descriptions
Art Docent
As an art docent, you will help students gain an appreciation for art. We
will help to train you and there is a pre-planned curriculum at your disposal.
You do not have to be an art scholar or renowned artist; anyone can do
this! As Art Docent Chair, you will be responsible for overseeing
the other classroom Art Docents. The art docent chair is part of the Board
of Directors – Be part of the strategic direction, budget allocation, decision
making and more!
Classroom Enrichment
We provide various enrichment programs to each of the Cottage Lake Elementary
classes each year. This position coordinates and schedules the programs with
staff, finds volunteers to assist with the events, promotes programs to staff
and families, and ensures that it runs smoothly. These programs include
NatureVision, Toymaker, and others.
Cultural Fair
This committee will highlight the cultural diversity of your
community through music, dance, art, storytelling, and more. This event
attracts many students and families, sharing great feelings of pride,
community, making a difference in the lives of others, and a better
understanding of the cultures that make up our community.
NEW POSITION FOR 2023-2024!
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Advocate for institutional and systemic changes that ensure equity, justice,
respect, and inclusion of all children. The membership chair is part of the
Board of Directors – Be part of the strategic direction, budget allocation,
decision-making, and more!
NEW POSITION FOR 2023-2024!
Enrichment
The enrichment committee develops and manages a schedule of optional before and
after school classes for Cottage Lake students in areas such as art, creative
writing, drama, gardening, physical fitness, and second language learning.
Enrichment class instructors include adults in our community as well as Cottage
Lake parents. Volunteers can help with supervision, scheduling, record keeping,
and many other components of this program.
Fifth Grade Party
This committee will plan and organize the end-of-year celebrations for fifth graders. This
includes the fifth-grade picnic and party, the promotion event, and the legacy
art project.
Grants
This committee reviews and decides which INTERNAL teacher/staff grants are
approved for funding by the CLE PTA. This committee reviews/approves grants
approximately 2-3 times per school year and conducts business by email - so
this is a great committee for a working parent. This grants chair is part
of the Board of Directors – Be part of the strategic direction, budget allocation,
decision-making, and more!
Legislative Committee
The Legislative Committee works to provide PTA members with information about
educational issues in Washington State. The committee educates members about
how the State and National PTA are working to advance educational issues in the
legislature. Information can be disseminated through the PTA newsletters and at
PTA meetings. If you want to be involved in the big picture, this is the
committee for you! The membership chair is part of the Board of Directors – Be
part of the strategic direction, budget allocation, decision-making, and more!
Membership
This committee defines for the community the benefits of membership in the PTA
and actively recruits members. This committee plans and implements a membership
drive. There are many resources available online from the State PTA Website to
help with this. (It’s simpler than it sounds!) The committee is also
responsible for online registration and maintenance of the membership roster,
membership forms, and distributing membership cards and directories. A fun
committee to be on! The membership chair is part of the Board of Directors – Be
part of the strategic direction, budget allocation, decision-making, and more!
Missoula Children’s Theater
Each year, Missoula Children’s Theater comes to Cottage Lake Elementary. Missoula Children’s Theater is a performing arts program with a
mission to develop life skills in children through participation in the
performing arts. This committee will schedule the tour, coordinate
logistics, find volunteers, schedule facilities, and assist with week-of events
and performances.
Nominating Committee
This is a crucial job within the Cottage Lake PTA. The nominating committee
selects nominees for the incoming PTA Executive Committee each year. Positions
on the Executive Committee include: President, VP Events, VP Fundraising, VP
Communications, Secretary, and Treasurer. If you want a short-term commitment
in the spring, this is the volunteer position for you.
NEW POSITION FOR 2023-2024!
Outreach & Social Services
This committee reaches out to our school community in many ways
including: Backpack Pantry, Halloween Candy for Soldiers Drive, Backpacks
for Students, and cards for families in need. Among many other helping
and welcoming activities throughout the year!
Popcorn Friday
Once a month, the PTA hosts a “Popcorn Friday.” This position schedules the
dates, ensures there is popcorn and other supplies, trains volunteers, finds
volunteers to make the popcorn on Thursdays, and hands out the popcorn during
recess on Fridays. This position is also responsible for working with the
communications team to promote these events.
NEW POSITION FOR 2023-2024!
Racial & Educational Justice
This committee will promote inclusion and equity for all members within our
Cottage Lake Elementary Community. Work with the executive board and special
committees to ensure that objectives support all community members. Serve
as a community resource to support the community to create an equitable
environment. The membership chair is part of the Board of Directors – Be part
of the strategic direction, budget allocation, decision-making, and more!
Spirit Wear
Help create fun and engaging ways to keep the Cottage Lake Elementary community connected during this time of remote learning. If
you've got ideas (big or small) or want to help with some activities/events
we've already got, we need your help to keep the school spirit alive and strong
at CLE!
Staff Appreciation
This committee coordinates Staff Appreciation events throughout the year to honor the
sacrifice and dedication of all Cottage Lake Staff members. This includes
monthly lunches and staff appreciation week (typically in May). This committee
is always looking for fun and creative ways to show the CLE staff how much we
value their efforts and dedication to our children. The membership chair is
part of the Board of Directors – Be part of the strategic direction, budget
allocation, decision-making, and more!
STEAM Fair
Manage the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math Fair. This is an engaging
and educational opportunity for our students to showcase their experiments,
research, and ideas.
WATCH D.O.G.S.
Watch D.O.G.S. are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures who volunteer for at least one day each year. During the day, they may
read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with
students, patrol the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow,
and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only
their own students but other students as well.
Yearbook
This committee handles the design, coordination, sales, and distribution of the
yearbook at the end of the year. You will capture memories and collect photos
from school and PTA events throughout the year, coordinating with other parent
photographers and completing a layout for the yearbook.
Have other ideas not listed? Email President@cottagelakepta.or