NOMINEES FOR THE 2024-2025 GATEWOOD PTA BOARD
The 2023-2024 Nomination Committee has presented the following candidates for each role. Elections will be held at our upcoming general meeting on June 16 at 6:30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend, but only active PTA members may vote.
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Co-Presidents: Amy Carlson and Sara Shinoda
Secretary: Brian Connolly
Treasurer: Liz Brock (and Chris)
Vice President, Communications: Jamie Lomax
Co-Vice Presidents, Activites: Sarah Adler (returning) and Alicia Gerfen
Co-Vice Presidents, Advocacy: Megan Fisher (returning) and Jessica Hauflaire
The Gatewood Elementary PTA Board
We are a group of parents who share the goal of supporting our students, families, educators, and broader community through education, advocacy, events, fundraising, and fundshifting with other West Seattle schools through West Seattle Public School Equity Fund. The PTA Board is elected by PTA members for two-year terms. The current Board will serve through June 2024.
Co-President: Robin Rosenberg
My kids:
Jacob who will be in 2nd grade, Harper in preschool
One thing I'm excited about doing with the PTA this year:
I'm looking forward to getting to know the school community and identifying where I can support our educators and learners (and the surrounding community). I hope that in my role I can help to connect the dots between resources and needs.
Questions I have for the Gatewood community:
What resource do you need in our Gatewood Community?
Or what resource do you think is most needed by others?
Co-President: Zanna Pechera
My kids:
Kaiyah and Ani (2nd grade), and Mavia (preschool)
One thing I'm excited about doing with the PTA this year:
This upcoming year, I am most excited to get to know the
other parents, teachers, staff and work with the (mostly) new leadership team to do what we can for our kids.
Questions I have for the Gatewood community:
What do you see as Gatewood's greatest strength? What do you see as Gatewood's greatest need?
Vice President of Advocacy: Amy Carlson
My kids:
Tristan (3rd grade) and Cora (Kindergarten)
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One thing I'm excited about doing with the PTA this year:
Advocating for our kids and for our Gator teachers and staff. Also - I am super excited about all those events!
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Questions I have for the Gatewood community:
If there was a news report written in June of 2023 about this 2022-2023 school year, what would you want the headline to be?
Vice President of Events & Activities: Sara Shinoda
My kid:
Logan, 2nd Grade
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One thing I'm excited about doing with the PTA this year:
I am excited about in-person events!
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Volunteer roles on my committee:
Our committee is in charge of school events such as:
Serve-a-Thon, Literacy Night, Math Night, Movie Night and more! We haven't been able to do these for the past few years-- we need your ideas and help to make them happen!
Vice President of Communications: Michelle Green Arnson
My kids:
Cooper is in 1st grade, and Maya is in preschool
One thing I'm excited about doing with the PTA this year:
I'm really looking forward to finding new ways to help all our Gatewood families feel welcome and involved. There are so many opportunities to grow and support our community and I can't wait to get started!
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Questions I have for the Gatewood community:
How do you want to receive information (Email, text, Facebook, print newsletter, etc.?) What ideas do you have for Gatewood?
Secretary: Susannah Vetter
My kids:
Cyril and Amalia, both 8 in 3rd grade, Valencia, 12 in 7th grade
One thing I'm excited about doing with the PTA this year:
I enjoy volunteering at the school and getting to know other parents and
families. I’m excited to help out with events throughout the year, love the
auction and field day, and hope to see our PTA membership grow and
to see new people step forward to help out on committees.
Questions I have for the Gatewood community: As Secretary, part of my job is to grow membership. I’d like to know what is a barrier keeping folks from joining the PTA? As the Building Leadership Team representative, it’s my job to represent the PTA and the perspective of families at Gatewood in meetings with school leadership. How would you like to share your thoughts so that I can help your voice be heard?
Co-Treasurer: Liz Brock
My kids:
Brennan, who will be in 3rd grade, and Wake, who is in preschool
One thing I'm excited about doing with the PTA this year:
Now that I've been a part of the PTA for two years and have seen the support we've been able to give, I'm looking forward to engaging more proactively with our community and educating them on the benefits of having a strong PTA. I am simply in love with this school and our community and just want everyone to
experience the feeling of solving problems within a welcoming and cohesive group.
Questions I have for the Gatewood community:
What information do you want to know about the PTA before deciding whether to join?
Co-Treasurer: Chris Messoline
My kids:
Oliver (3rd grade) and Violet (K)
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One thing I'm excited about doing with the PTA this year:
Learning all of the sources of funds and thinking about how we can best use those to support Gatewood!
Questions I have for the Gatewood community:
If you had a chunk of money that you could use to help the school, what would you do with it?
Committee Leaders
After-School Clubs Coordinator: Katy Thomas
Auction Chair: Nicole Stanton
Backpack Program Coordinator:
Sarah Johnson
Building Leadership Team Representative: Susannah Vetter
Spiritwear Coordinator: Amy Colavito
Equity Committee: Gary Cooper
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Gatoraide Coordinator: Angelina Watson
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Passport Club Chair: Katie Hoyt
Grounds Committee: Jessica Glassman, McKenzie Messoline, and Emma Vielbig
Green Team: Elsa Klein and Susannah Vetter