Family Matters by Family Matters

15th District PTA Contact List 2016-17

FROM THE PRESIDENT It was great to meet many of you at our Back-to-School Back-toParent Teacher Association (PTA) Conference on October 13. November is a time to check your PTA's status with the following: • 15th District PTA membership dues (were due by October 1) • Kentucky State/National PTA membership dues (were due by October 15) • Remember that membership is year round! • File 990 with the IRS by November 15, and send a copy to the Kentucky State PTA. • Double-check that your bylaws will not need to be updated this school year. If you need help with anything, we are only a phone call away. Sincerely,

President

Health and Safety Chairman

Heather Wampler

Dana Moody

First Vice President—Programs

Laura Brown

15thDistrictPTA.President@gmail.com (502) 671-9451 (cell) (502) 290-5579 (home)

Eddie Squires

Heather Wampler, President (502) 671-9451 15thdistrictpta.president@gmail.com

Save the Date

Do you know students and families who need clothing? Encourage them to attend Take What You Can Tote from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, at the Clothing Assistance Program (CAP), 319 South 15th Street. For more information, call 485-3506.

programs@15thdistrictpta.org (502) 930-3561

Kentucky PTA President (Consultant)

Second Vice President— Membership

Cherie Dimar

John Buie

kypta.president@gmail.com (502) 693-8104

membership@15thdistrictpta.org (502) 439-1759 (cell)

Legislative—State and Federal Chairman

Third Vice President—Ways and Means

Brian Wampler

Vacant

bwampler68@gmail.com (502) 671-9450

Male Engagement

Fourth Vice President— Communication

Cliff Irons

Communication@15thDistrictPTA.org (260) 633-0463 (cell)

Fifth Vice President—Board Training

Remember to submit nominations for 201617 district and state awards:

• The district application deadline is Tuesday, March 1.

• Forms and criteria can be found in the Kentucky PTA Leaders’ Notebook, on Kentucky State PTA’s website at www .kypta.org, or on the 15th District PTA’s website at www.15thdistrictpta.org.

• Submitting an application for a state award does not qualify you for a district award. Entries must be separate.

• The state application deadlines are Tuesday, November 15; Wednesday, February 15; and Wednesday, March 15.

For more information, contact awards chairman Patty Martin at pattymartin9464 @gmail.com.

Nikki Hockman

November 1 �� Community Board Training, 6 to 8 p.m. 6 �� Daylight Saving Time ends. 7 �� Professional-Development (PD) Day—No school for students 8 �� Election Day—No school 10 �� Title I Meeting 11 �� Veterans Day 14–18 �� American Education Week 15 �� Required IRS 990 Tax Return Filing 2

15 �� Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE) Meeting 15 �� Community Board Training, 12 noon to 2 p.m. 21 �� Kentucky PTA Unity Day 23–25 �� Thanksgiving Break 29 �� JCBE Meeting

December 13 �� JCBE Meeting 14 �� Reflections Awards Program 19–Jan. 3 �� Winter Break

Non-Dues Revenue Chairman

Caitlin Yarbrough

Nutrition Initiatives Coordinator

drhockman@gmail.com (502) 650-6525

Andrea Wright

Treasurer

Theresa Mayfield

15thDistrictPTA.Treasurer@gmail.com (502) 689-2227

Secretary

andrea.wright@jefferson.kyschools.us (502) 485-3186

Parent/Family Education

Adam Kesler

arkesler24@gmail.com 413-1639

Autumn Neagle

Autumn@argo-networks.com (502) 718-2590

Principal Representative

Ron Marshall

Awards Consultant

ron.marshall@jefferson.kyschools.us (502) 485-8290

Patty Martin

pattymartin9464@gmail.com (502) 718-9464

Recycling Chairman

Buylling Prevention Chairman

Sharon Kesler

15thdistrictbullyprevention @gmail.com (502) 905-3428

Carol Bartlett

Scholarship Consultant

csbarlett@campbellsville.edu 523-6641

Bylaws/Standing Rules Chairman (Local Units)

Special Projects and Parliamentarian

Kathleen Helm

Sharon Whitworth

iheartpta@yahoo.com (502) 290-7363 (502) 432-8359

swhitwo1@aol.com (502) 592-4185

Student Representative

Diversity/Equity Chairman

Kassidy Helm

Monica Lakhwani

iheartpta@yahoo.com (502) 290-7363 (502) 432-8359

monica.lakhwani@jefferson .kyschools.us 485-7269

Teacher Representative

Early Childhood Chairman

Heather McGovern

Carol Haddad

heather.mcgovern@jefferson .kyschools.us (502) 485-8213 (502) 889-6884

dpdh4@aol.com (502) 634-3134

Exceptional Child Education Chairman

Title I Representative

Vacant

Zina Harris

zyt.hars27@gmail.com 807-1878 387-5842

Family Resource and Youth Services Center Director

Calendar of Events

cliff.irons@jefferson.kyschools.us (502) 485-8269

cyar91@gmail.com (502) 224-4025

Callie Slone

2016-17 District and State Awards

Hospitality Consultant

lauraeb32@gmail.com (502) 424-2677

Gay Adelmann

Heather Wampler

dana.moody@passporthealthplan.com (502) 821-0686

Adrian Oldham

JCPS Parent Relations Specialist

adrian.oldham@jefferson.kyschools.us (502) 485-3703

Justin Willis

justin.willis@jefferson.kyschools.us 485-7450

PTA Contact Information 15th District PTA

www.15thdistrictpta.org 485-3535

Kentucky PTA www.kypta.org 226-6607

National PTA

www.pta.org (703) 518-1200 or 800-307-4PTA (4782)

Facebook Get Connected!

15th District PTA

www.facebook.com/15thDistrictPTA

Kentucky PTA

www.facebook.com/KentuckyPTA

National PTA

www.facebook.com /parentteacherassociation

For additional information about the PTA, visit the Kentucky PTA at www.kypta.org or the National PTA at www.pta.org.

am y atters

November 2016

An Advocate for Your Child Many longtime friends chuckle when they hear that Liz Cannon is now a “PTA mom.” The stereotypical image contrasts with what they remember about the hard-driving, career-focused daughter of a United States Marine Corps drill sergeant. But Cannon has found her vice president role at the Dixie Elementary PTA to be a perfect fit at the right time. Many parents are unable to be present at their child’s school during the day. Many would love to. Cannon hopes families know that she is there, looking out for their best interests. “I feel like they’re all my children,” Cannon said. “I stand in the gap for parents who can’t be there.” Cannon spent her 20s and 30s with a laserlike focus on her communications career in Nashville. She didn’t become a mother until relatively late, she said. Health complications associated with the pregnancy caused her to move closer to family in Louisville. With the move and the birth of daughter, Elise, came a new sense of priorities and mission. Elise attended a private Christian preschool, and Cannon heard a chorus of concerns from friends and family when she

A PUBLICATION OF THE

An Advocate for Your Child

Q and A With the LPAS PTA

announced that her daughter would attend public school for first grade. Cannon toured schools and was impressed during Principal Stephen Howard’s tour of Dixie Elementary. Now, Cannon’s daughter is in second grade, and Cannon is a fixture at Dixie, serving as first vice president as well as the Title I representative, a parent on the School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council, and on the board of Dixie’s Family Resource Center (FRC). She’s even recruited her father as a regular school volunteer. Although medical complications left her unable to continue her career, she found that her skills translated well into the school PTA, where her advocacy, communication, and networking brought an immediate benefit to students. Cannon has revitalized the school’s newsletter and has worked with the Dixie Area Business Association to begin a branch of advertising—and new PTA revenue—through the school’s newsletter. Cannon knows not all parents are able or willing to be present or active in the school’s PTA. “Time is precious,” Cannon said. “We’d rather you give it to your family than to us.”

November PTA Champion Heather Wampler

Liz Cannon, first vice president of the Dixie Elementary PTA, with her second-grade daughter, Elise.

Cannon and others are hoping to improve the inclusivity of PTA. Dixie is exploring an event that would celebrate the different nationalities at school, hoping to attract more students and families who may often be intimidated by a language barrier. From involvement to simple feedback, Cannon knows that Dixie will benefit from whatever families are able to offer. “There are a lot of things you can do instead of pointing fingers,” Cannon said. “You can volunteer, give us ideas, let us know where things need change. If you hear of anything, call us and let us know. We’ll do the legwork.”

Congratulations to the

Cane Run Elementary PTA, Lincoln Elementary Performing Arts School (LPAS) PTA, and Price Elementary PTA. The three schools were recently announced as National PTA Schools of Excellence for 2016-18. This national honor celebrates schools that make families feel welcomed and empowered to support student success. The School of Excellence application period will reopen in April. For more information, visit http://www.pta.org/excellence.

Congratulations to the following members who completed a PTA E-Learning course in the month of July, August, or September. They are Lynn Cason, Amy Dennis, Kayla English, Debra Henry, Catherine Kaiser, Lorie Leitner, Krista Metwally, Michelle Moser, Autumn Neagle, Michelle O’Gara, Lori Pace, Callie Slone, and Tonya Underwood.

15TH DISTRICT PTA

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Can you answer these five questions?

Pop Qui z

1. What is advocacy? 2. What is PTA advocacy? 3. What are the results of PTA advocacy? 4. Name five groups of people who can be PTA advocates. 5. What are the recommended seven steps to put advocacy into action? If you struggled or don’t know the answer, then check out Effective Advocacy for Your Child from National PTA E-Learning! This quick e-learning course will answer all these questions and more. Find it at www.PTA.com/elearning. 3

With the LPAS PTA In May, the LPAS PTA was awarded the Outstanding Social Media Award by the 15th District PTA. The school’s social media efforts are a joint partnership between Assistant Principal Mike Ice and PTA Co-Presidents Ben Kolb and Cynthia Channell. Here are some questions and answers about how they achieved this success.

Ben, how and when did you get involved with the LPAS PTA and what did you hope to bring?

BK:

I got involved four years ago, when my daughter was in kindergarten as the PTA was just getting going and they needed a treasurer. I had no idea what to expect. I just knew I wanted to be involved with my daughter’s school and thought treasurer would be a great place to start given my professional background. We started with just a few folks my first year (2012-13) and built pretty much everything from scratch, so it’s been rewarding to watch our fledgling PTA grow year after year.

Ben, what types of social media does LPAS participate in and what are the follower sizes for each group?

BK: 136 subscribers on You-

Tube (LPASlou); 342 followers on Periscope (LPASlou); 537 followers on Instagram (lpaslou); 1,065 followers on Twitter (@ lpaslou); and 2,505 followers on Facebook (LPASlou).

Ben, what is the role of LPAS school administrators and staff in helping or supporting the PTA’s efforts to engage parents?

BK: There is a great part-

nership between the school administration and the PTA, and the support is always a two-way street. Whether it’s the administration supporting the PTA’s Turkey Trot fundraiser by literally dressing up like turkeys or helping to promote 4

From left, LPAS Principal Susan French, Assistant Principal Mike Ice, and PTA Co-Presidents Cynthia Channell and Ben Kolb stand in front of a new street-art-style mural in the LPAS cafeteria. The mural was a joint effort of the PTA, the school, and the community.

our PTA membership drive by talking about it with students in morning meetings and in staff meetings, we know the administration is always going to work to help us meet our shared goals. When you see how much passion and energy that the administration has for LPAS students and staff, it makes it easy to want to volunteer and be involved.

We’ve seen the YouTube videos with parents filming their children as they open the acceptance letters with glitter inside. Do you have a favorite post that LPAS has made on Facebook, Twitter, or other site? What was it and why do you think it resonated so well?

BK:

I always enjoy scrolling through the hundreds of event photos, be it Grandparent’s Lunch or photo booths from other activities like PTA Fall Festival or Sweetest Dance. Seeing students and their families posing for silly photos or just with a smile on their faces, it always has a way of making a day that may be just so-so, better!

What have you learned about different audiences within specific types of social media and do you customize the messages for maximum effect?

CC: We have so much in-

credible diversity! It’s one of my favorite things about our

school. With that of course comes a diverse audience from young parents to grandparents and hailing from Louisville to many regions throughout the world. The audience using social media varies just as much. Facebook is by far our most popular interface and attracts the greatest generational and cultural diversity. This is where families go to get information, so we put in the extra effort to keep our Facebook page updated, often several times a day. We schedule events, post volunteer opportunities, and answer questions all through Facebook, all the time. Our Twitter feed has a significant contingency of followers from other schools and civic orga-

Ben Kolb nizations as well as businesses that are local to our neighborhood and associated with our families. We definitely customize our Tweets to recognize our community partners and express our gratitude for the fantastic working relationships we have with so many other organizations. Our other social media outlets are popular with the folks that really embrace technology and social media and enjoy a little extra entertainment. For those who prefer to limit screen time or minimize their Internet presence, we maintain traditional forms of communication and outreach. Every single student and their family is an important part of LPAS, and we love to include everyone.

What would you recommend that a school PTA do to get the most benefit for its effort? What should a PTA not do as far as social media practices?

CC: The more information

a PTA can put out via social media, the more useful it will become, and the more followers it will gain. Then it just becomes an advantageous cycle of more followers and more information. When families can provide feedback or join an online conversation, they feel more engaged and really do become more engaged. I think that’s what makes Facebook pages so effective. When my own children’s classes had their own Facebook page, we parents became friends, all equally vested in the success of our children. When someone’s child forgets their homework at school, someone else will post a picture of it. When someone doesn’t have a red shirt/ Dr. Seuss hat/black pants/youname-it for the upcoming event or spirit day, they go to their Facebook village for help.

The administration is completely tuned in to parents’ concerns, and on the first day of school we’ll see a post for the safe arrival of each bus as well as a smattering of pictures of the kids (especially those new kindergartners!) to let us all know our kids are in good care. However, it's important to remember that while social media is a lifeline to some, it's blacklisted for others. We've certainly had a learning curve and opportunities to improve. This environment of family involvement has created a (good) problem when it comes to school events—they are wildly popular, and sometimes we just can't fit everybody into the performance spaces at once! We have had to rethink the first-come, first-served policy when advertising events on social media in order to make the opportunity to attend an event fair to those who aren't using social media. The bottom line is that anything we put out on social media needs to also be distributed by traditional communications, and we need to ensure no one is put at a disadvantage by the use of social media.

All schools have a culture. In your work with LPAS technology and social media, what do you hope that LPAS parents— and especially prospective LPAS parents—observe about life and learning in the state’s only elementary performing arts school?

BK: It is my hope that par-

ents feel more connected to the school through the various social media methods. I know for me personally, with my job, I don’t get to spend near as much time as I would like at school, but seeing social media posts throughout the day helps me feel connected to my kids and school activities. It helps me to start conversations with

them in the evenings having already seen some of the various activities that may have gone on earlier in the day. For prospective parents, even after doing all your research and visits, you always wonder, “Is this the right choice of school for my child?” and it’s a huge decision for all parents. I hope that the large social media presence gives a better sense of what LPAS is all about on a dayto-day basis.

What do you foresee as the best way to continue growing the numbers and reaching new parents and community members?

CC: An awesome facet to our school is our multicultural diversity. Our students represent 12 different languages, so I see our next milestone including outreach in another language. We are already in discussions to encourage Spanish in our school communications. Our parents are our greatest resource, so I’m hopeful we can build upon these discussions with parent involvement to make some real progress. As long as we keep on keeping on with posts and Tweets, I think growth will come naturally. We continue to grow as a family, drawing more members in every day.

What do you think LPAS needs to do differently in terms of social media and PTA communication?

BK: One big thing we contin-

ue to look at are more ways to make communications available in Spanish to be more inclusive to all families and we are trying to be more cognizant that not everyone has access (or perhaps doesn’t want access) to social media. So we try to ensure that the important information shared on social media

PTA: Co-President Day Job: Commercial Risk Manager at GE Appliances Home: Highlands Family: Married 12 years to Julia and father to fourth-grader Helen, first-grader Elaine, and Lily, 4.

And: I try to avoid being serious as much as possible.

Cynthia Channell PTA: Co-President. Treasurer last year. VP of Ways and Means the previous two years. Day Job: Industrial Engineer at Michelin and Reserve LCDR for U.S. Coast Guard Home: Audubon Park Family: Married 12 years to Clint and mother to third-grader Josephine, second-grader Penelope, and first-grader Louisa

And: We are not Louisville or Kentucky natives. So when we moved here from Alaska, we had a lot to learn about the school system!

is published in the school/PTA weekly newsletter as well.

Any exciting projects in the works?

BK:

There is always something exciting in the works at LPAS. You’ll have to stay tuned to find out what’s next!

Celebrating native ameriCan Heritage montH 1. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, about 5.2 million people in the United States identified as American Indian and Alaska Native, making up 1.7% of the total population.

(Source: http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-10.pdf )

2. What is the definition of

American Indian or Alaska Native?

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines American Indian or Alaska Native as a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation.

3. Can you guess how many Native American languages there are? There are about 150 native american languages in Canada and the United States. (Source: http://www.native-languages.org/kidfaq.htm#1)

4. When was the first

american indian Day celebrated?

The first one occurred in may 1916 in New York. Red Fox James, a Blackfeet Indian, rode horseback from state to state, getting endorsements from 24 state governments to have a day to honor American Indians. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating November 1990 as “National American Indian Heritage Month.”

77%

(Source: http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb11-ff22.html)

5. What are education rates among

the Native American community? 77% have a high school diploma, GED or alternative credential. In comparison, 86% of the overall population earned a high school diploma. (Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population)

Facebook.com/ParentTeacherAssociation

National PTA Every Child in Focus ®

Join the #EveryChild campaign all year as we focus on the importance of diversity in the classrooms and our school communities. Participate in the conversation. Tell us why diversity matters in your school using #EveryChild and follow us on social media.

Instagram.com/NationalPTA Pinterest.com/NationalPTA Twitter.com/NationalPTA

The Proudfoot Award for Outstanding School Board Member Sponsored by the Kentucky PTA and the Kentucky School Boards Association

The Proudfoot Award is named after the late Dr. Warren H. Proudfoot, a member of the Rowan County Board of Education and past president of the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA). Created in 1992, the award recognizes a current school board member for distinguished leadership and community service. Deadline: Wednesday, November 16, 2016 [Postmark date. “Faxed” or “e-mailed” copies are not acceptable.] Mail this form to: Kentucky PTA, 148 Consumer Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601 Please Copy This Form and Distribute to the Appropriate Person to Complete.

Criteria

The Proudfoot Award for Outstanding School Board Member is presented annually to a Kentucky public school board member who has exhibited distinguished leadership and service to the community during his/her tenure on the local school board. Please consider the following criteria and guidelines: 1. Nominations may be made by an individual school board member, the board team, a superintendent of public schools, a school based parent group or an individual parent. 2. Nominees must be at least in fifth year of service as a member of a Kentucky Public School Board of Education. 3. Nominations may be based on significant contributions over a sustained period of time or for one outstanding contribution during the period of service. Nominees should be active advocates for public education and other learning advancement opportunities for all children within the community. 4. Materials and Correspondence supporting the nomination should include substantive information relative to the nominee and his/her specific contributions and service to the local community. Include a one page endorsement from a school based parent group (may be individual member or the group in entirety). Also include information about service and contributions at the region, state and national level. Nominations may not exceed six pages, including this form, one side only, double spaced with type no smaller than 10 point. 5. The award will be presented at the KSBA annual convention. The nominator(s) of the award winner will be notified and asked to assist in ensuring the winner is present at the recognition ceremony.

Important! Please be sure the following are addressed in your nomination: As a school board member:

 Describe at least three ways the nominee has been an effective advocate for children and youth in the community.  How has the nominee demonstrated understanding and support of both individual school needs and district-wide needs?  How has the nominee demonstrated support for parent involvement in schools and/or collaboration with parent groups?  How has the nominee been a leader and made clear his/her position on public education?

Name of Nominee _________________________________________ Number of Years of Board Service _____ Name of School District ______________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address/P. O. Box

City

County _____________________________________

State

Zip

PTA District __________________

Submitted by _________________________________ Title/Position __________________________ Date ______ Phone (______) _______________________ E-mail _______________________________________________ Reminder: Nominations may not exceed six pages, including this form; one side only. An incomplete application will not be considered.

Part 1 – Awards

Kentucky PTA Leaders’ Notebook

2016-2017

I hope that every secretary took my advice and checked out the National PTA’s E-Learning Course Local Unit Secretary. If you didn’t, please check it out at PTA .org/elearning. I also hope that if you enjoyed the course, you will check out the other wonderful courses.

• PTA board members and their contact Information • PTA board member roster for roll call • PTA membership list • PTA bylaws • PTA standing rules • Important PTA information sheets —PTA — local unit ID number —PTA — tax exempt number —Your — district, state, and national PTA contact info and websites • School district calendar • School activity calendar • Agendas and minutes from all past meetings (board and general) • Motion blanks • Blank paper for ballots or notes Sincerely, Autumn Neagle, Secretary autumn@argo-networks.com (502) 718-2590

I encourage each of you to have your own PTA Secretary Binder that has everything to help you with your position and any meeting you attend. What should you have in this binder? Check out this list, and see if you are prepared.

PTA

Secretary’s Corner

M PIO

Job title and what you do in 25 words or less: President, 15th District

Heather Wampler Orchard Supply Hardware as a giftwrap clerk during the holiday season.

The best advice you ever received: That

PTA; advocate for all children and help guide others in being an advocate not for just their child but all children.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and don’t go in and try to make instant changes.

If friends describe you, what two words are they likely to use: Diligent

A secret talent that would surprise your colleagues: I believe in the heal-

and compassionate

Family: Husband, Brian (married 21 years). We have one child, Noah, 16, who has autism. Also, my parents, Jim and Karen, live here in Louisville. No siblings. I am an only child. Hometown: Modesto, California. I was born and raised there and moved to Louisville in 2005. This is now home.

Your first job: When I was 16 and in high school, I worked nights and weekends at a hardware store called

ing power of alternative medicine and therapies.

First destination in a time machine: A beach!

The movie and song that you never get tired of watching and hearing: Fast and Furious movie series. As for music, I enjoy most top 40 hits.

Favorite hobby: Photography Who would play you in the movie about your life: Blake Lively