Volunteer Opportunities at Laurel Ridge
We Need You!
Our school needs you! The school families who volunteer with PTA at Laurel Ridge help make our school great. There are volunteer opportunities for every skill set and schedule.
Take a look at our committees below and explore what interests you most! Please email the chair or liaison listed for more info or to join.
Communications Committee
Committee Chair:
Mandy Betts
(PTACommunications@laurelridgeelementary.com)
Executive Committee Liaison:
Brooke Dailey
(PTAVicePresident@laurelridgeelementary.com)
The Communications Committee works to share news and events from the PTA and the school community through a bi-weekly newsletter, Givebacks (previously MemberHub), website, and social media.
The committee also facilitates outreach to families who speak languages other than English in the home and liaises with local news media as needed. Communications is an excellent committee for those with backgrounds in communication and those who speak languages in addition to English, especially Spanish.
PTA Committees
Building & Grounds Committee
Committee Chair:
Jessica Hickinbotham
(PTABandG@laurelridgeelementary.com)
Executive Committee Liaison:
Katie Dod
(ptacovicepresident@laurelridgeelementary.com)
The Building and Grounds Committee focuses on coordinating projects that beautify and improve our school grounds inside and out and support new learning opportunities for our students.
We work with the administration during the school year to coordinate project-based volunteer needs and organize community workdays.
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Family Engagement & Events Committee
Committee Co-Chairs:
Donna Troka and Janine Hanna
(Familyengagement@laurelridgeelementary.com)
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Executive Committee Liaison:
Laura Cline
(PTAcopresident@laurelridgeelementary.com)
The Family Engagement Committee is behind all of the special events and activities throughout the year. Many volunteers are needed, from smaller ongoing projects to our big events, like the Fall Festival!
This committee is perfect for many members who can do big or small jobs. Volunteer times are primarily after school or weekend hours.
Some special past events include our Back to School Picnic, Outdoor Movie Night, International Day, Fall Festival, Walk/Bike to School, and more.
Community Support Committee
Committee Chair:
Angela Ballard
(PTAcommunitysupport@laurelridgeelementary.com)
Executive Committee Liaison:
Laura Cline (ptacopresident@laurelridgeelementary.com)
The Community Support Committee aims to assess student and family needs and how PTA can best support them. This team manages and organizes donations for the Eric Hunt Care Closet.
Additionally, this committee coordinates packing Friday Food Backpacks weekly to help out over weekends and school breaks and coordinates our Angel Tree program each holiday season.
Student Activities and Enrichment
Committee Chair:
Vacant
(PTAstudentenrichment@laurelridgeelementary.com)
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Executive Committee Liaison:
Laura Cline
(PTAcopresident@laurelridgeelementary.com)
The Student Activities and Enrichment Committee supports student and staff initiatives at LRES. This committee works closely with the Executive Committee and school administration to coordinate after-school clubs and enrichment activities. They assist in organizing and supporting in-school field trips, special activities, and celebrations. This chair position requires some hours over the summer.
Fundraising Committee
Executive Committee Liaison:
Yen Tang
(PTAtreasurer@laurelridgeelementary.com)
Our Fundraising team generates income, solicits sponsorships, sells merchandise, and hosts fundraising events for the Laurel Ridge Elementary PTA.
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Participation in these sub-committees allows you to impact the school significantly, and we especially need great managers, organizers, and strategic minds. There are many ways to participate by leading or joining one of our Fundraising sub-committees:
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Book Fair
Committee Co-Chairs:
Stephanie Bialek and Brittany Morrow
(lresbookfair@laurelridgeelementary.com)
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The Book Fair Committee organizes and manages our Fall and Spring Book Fairs. Coordinating and planning these successful fundraising events includes choosing vendors, scheduling preview times with teachers, setting up, breaking down, creating signs and flyers, and organizing volunteers.
Fall Fundraiser
Committee Co-Chairs:
Brooke Dailey and Liz Chesarek
(ptafundraising@laurelridgeelementary.com)
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Executive Committee Liaison:
Brooke Dailey
(ptavicepresident@laurelridgeelementary.com)
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The Fall Fundraiser Committee works with our PTA’s Executive Committee to coordinate our primary annual fundraising campaign. This will be our largest fundraiser and typically takes place each September.
Penny Bowl
Coordinator:
Brittany Morrow
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Penny Bowl is a beloved fundraising challenge each January/February. Students donate loose change into containers to see which grade level rises to the top at the end of the week! The Laurel Ridge Penny Bowl promotes friendly competition between grade levels while raising money for our PTA’s efforts.
Spirit Nights
Coordinator: Katie Dod
(ptafundraising@laurelridgeelementary.com)
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Our Spirit Night volunteers help partner with local restaurants and businesses to host dine-outs and look for fundraising opportunities that give back a percentage of proceeds to Laurel Ridge PTA. Our goal is to host approximately 4+ Spirit Night events per year.
Spirit Wear
Coordinator: Vacant
(ptafundraising@laurelridgeelementary.com)
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Our Spirit Wear coordinator communicates with vendors, manages inventory, organizes in-person and online sales, and orders Field Day shirts.
Sponsors and Community Partners
Coordinator: Vacant
(ptafundraising@laurelridgeelementary.com)
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This committee identifies and recruits businesses in the community and beyond to secure sponsorships to benefit LRES PTA programs and events and improve the school. This committee allows you to impact the school significantly and especially needs great managers, organizers, and strategic minds.
Staff Engagement Committee
Committee Chairs:
Lauren Barineau
(staffengagement@laurelridgeelementary.com)
Executive Committee Liaison:
Jarrett Jackson (ptapresident@laurelridgeelementary.com)
The Staff Engagement Committee is responsible for supporting teachers and staff throughout the year with meals, treats, and other tokens of recognition. Major projects of the year include providing meals (some catered and some contributed by parents) during pre-planning, post-planning, and conference/curriculum nights.
In the spring, our primary focus is Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week, which requires lots of good ideas and parent power to recognize all staff daily.
This is an excellent committee for people who can handle big or small-time commitments and who excel at planning parties and events!
Finance Committee
Committee chair:
Katie Miller
Executive Committee liaison:
Yen Tang (ptatreasurer@laurelridgeelementary.com)
The Budget and Finance Committee ensures that the LRES PTA is a good steward of money. The committee proposes budgets, completes financial audits, and tracks the books.
They also manage the teacher grant program, which allows LRES staff to apply for funds to help improve the school, and the teacher reimbursement program, which compensates teachers for spending money on classrooms.
This committee especially appreciates volunteers with minds for budgets and accounting, and it offers involvement for those with limited time.
STEM Committee
Committee Co-Chairs:
Megan Fuller and Justin Burton
(PTAStem@laurelridgeelementary.com)
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Executive Committee Liaison:
Laura Cline
(ptacopresident@laurelridgeelementary.com)
​​The PTA STEM Committee is a dedicated group of parent volunteers who are passionate about promoting and enhancing STEM education within the school community. Committed to fostering a love for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the committee works closely with teachers, administrators, and students to organize engaging educational activities.
The STEM Committee will actively participate in Laurel Ridge in the STEM Advisory Council. The PTA STEM Committee aims to inspire students' curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills while equipping them with the necessary knowledge and resources to succeed in the ever-evolving world of STEM. By fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment, the committee actively encourages parental involvement and seeks to create a strong foundation for tomorrow's future scientists, engineers, and innovators.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Committee Co-Chairs:
André Hopkins and Donna Troka
(dei@laurelridgeelementary.com)
Executive Committee Liaison:
Brooke Dailey
(ptavicepresident@laurelridgeelementary.com)
The DE&I committee fosters a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within our school community.
Our goal is to ensure everyone feels included, respected, and supported, especially among underrepresented groups and those most vulnerable and previously marginalized, such as those within the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) communities, as well as people with disabilities.
Our committee works toward researching and suggesting educational opportunities, strategies, and actions that help to move us closer to equity and inclusion in our school community. We actively investigate ways to gain the trust of all of our families at Laurel Ridge, especially those not participating in school events or opportunities because of a lack of trust or ability.
Yearbook Committee
Committee Co-Chairs:
Chantel Luncheon and Cylinda Parga
(lreyearbook@laurelridgeelementary.com)
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Executive Committee Liaison:
Lauren Barineau (ptasecretary@laurelridgeelementary.com)
The Yearbook Committee facilitates the planning and publishing our annual yearbook, including gathering photos from parents and staff, creating and editing the yearbook layout, and coordinating ad sales and yearbook orders. Comfort with learning web-based programs is helpful for the design process, but is optional to participate in the yearbook committee.