The ArtFest is one of the many successful events made possible by the PTO. photo courtesy of Kathryn Lepry
PTO provides support and opportunities for the TJ community.
Thomas Jefferson High School’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a key component of the school, offering a significant amount of events and opportunities which otherwise would not be possible. The board is made up of TJ parents striving to make a difference in student spirit and the school, along with helping students and teachers when they can. Over the past three years, TJ’s PTO has transformed not only itself, but the school drastically.
PTO President and parent Lisa Allen has been working with the organization for three years, and has made important changes and additions to the program throughout this time. She first saw an interest in PTO after attending a few meetings when her son was a freshman. When Allen first joined PTO, an entirely new board was created with the parents of incoming freshmen. The new board has seen an increase in parental involvement, and with the help of TJ parent and supporter Kathryn Lepry, PTO has been able to raise more money than they have in the past.
Alongside Allen, PTO Vice President and parent Susan Sundeen has been on the PTO board for three years as well; however, Sundeen has been involved with PTO for the last five years as a parent and volunteer in the TJ community. Sundeen believes that one of PTO’s most significant goals is “to make every student’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering TJ’s families and greater community to advocate for all students.” Sundeen agrees that parental participation and involvement have increased immensely over the past three years. “Through class level meet-and-greets, neighborhood TJ info nights, community wide fundraising event days, and volunteer opportunities for parents and students, parents and community members are more engaged with happenings at TJ than they were a few years ago,” Sundeen explained. PTO has also increased communication between TJ parents and administration, creating the weekly newsletters in hope of keeping parents up to date with what is happening at TJ.
One of PTO’s main goals is to aid students, while also making their experiences in high school unforgettable. Money raised specifically for students covers the high school essentials like school supplies or spirit wear, as well as the extra aspects that can make high school a little more appealing. PTO has the ability to assist students in gaining a positive high school experience and get them involved in school spirit by providing them with fun activities and school clothing. Spirit wear is purchased for students, and a percentage of PTO’s income from this goes back to student activities. Events like extra homecoming celebrations, spirit nights, or karaoke nights give students a chance to get to know fellow students as more than just classmates. One popular fundraiser Allen has added is the King Soopers card, where buying a gift card donates 5% back to TJ.
In addition to benefiting students, PTO benefits teachers as well. PTO provides donations and teacher grants designed for classroom supplies not included in their supply budget, along with teacher lunches around conferences, the holidays, and the end of the year. Furthermore, PTO brought in a coffee cart in March. With this extra support, teachers are able to have useful things they normally do not acquire from the school budget. This money has gone towards improving fundraisers, such as to the annual ArtFest. They have additionally donated more money, and in making more, they have been able to give student incentives. In addition, PTO has significantly improved the physical environment of TJ, such as adding flowers around the front of the school and creating TJ Clean Up Day, in which students can volunteer to fix up the school before the new school year begins. These changes have proven to have made a difference in parent involvement.
Over the last three years, the PTO program has been a helpful asset to the school. When it first started, there was a new set of motivated TJ parents ready to be involved and numerous activities at TJ would not exist if it weren’t for these parents. PTO works hard to get students involved and create fun after school events, while striving to make high school a memorable part of students’ lives.
