Uniting to care for their children and their community, the Tecumseh Elementary Parent Teacher Organization is led by four dynamic women: Brandi Diehl, president, Natalie Jackson, vice-president, Tara Henry, secretary, and Amy Perkins, treasurer. It was this community-mindedness that caused these women to come together in the fall of 2013, forming a re-structured PTO representing all the elementary schools in the Tecumseh School District. Now the Tecumseh Elementary PTO is “all the best combined.”
This foursome is a force to reckon with as they plan, raise funds, provide school-related services, and promote various school and community events. “The four of us feel passionately about the same things. We are in agreement, there’s no bickering. We love each other” Jackson said. Their labor of love benefits more than just the 1500 students enrolled in Donnelsville, Park Layne, and New Carlisle elementary schools. It spills over to help the parents, teachers, and staff of the three elementary schools, and ultimately, to the community.
Skate Night, a new community event held just weeks ago, was a great success. This family outing was open to the public, drawing more than 300 community members to Skate World in Springfield. Jackson said, “I like seeing that we are bringing people together.”
Now they are gearing up for the “Down on the Farm”, this year’s spring festival coming up on April 29 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Tecumseh Middle School. Diehl explains that “It takes a lot to make it go. Local businesses donate. Everybody pitches in.”
Parents, grandparents, teens, siblings, aunts and uncles, and anyone else with a little time and a willing heart is needed to help decorate, serve food, man the booths, set up and/or tear down, donate items, and most of all, participate. Perkins says, “Everybody is included. It’s time for everybody to come together and be united in one place.” More than 150 local and county businesses donate food and prizes and every elementary class compiles a gift basket for the auction. Along with the class gift baskets, four tickets to Disney World, a set of Tecumseh Athletic Department home game passes for 2016-17, and many other fun and useful items will be auctioned off. Jackson says, “Spring Festival, it’s my baby. We tried it last year and it’s so amazing. People were still talking about it when the Clark County Fair rolled around.”
The spring festival is the “one, big huge event” that funds most of the PTO’s giving each year. Last year’s festival raised about $8500 that went to provide teacher grants, in-school field trips, a teacher team-building program, SmartBoards, “Muffins with Moms” and a father-daughter dance.
The purpose of the PTO is “to support the education of the children at Donnelsville, Park Layne, and New Carlisle Elementary Schools by fostering relationships among the schools, parents, teachers, and community.” Perkins admits that “people fear the time commitment” of involvement, but the rewards are many. “My kids are so excited to know that I am involved.”Jackson says, as the others nod in agreement. “I have found some great friendships.” Please call Natalie Jackson at (937) 776-1188 for more information or visit their Facebook page, “Tecumseh Elementary PTO”.
