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About the Carl Sandburg Elementary & Discovery Community School PTSA
WHO WE ARE
Sandburg & DCS PTSA is a state and nationally affiliated 501c(3) non-profit corporation. We work in close partnership with our schools. Our vision is to make every child's potential a reality.
Our members are caregivers, teachers, staff, community members, and friends of the Sandburg & DCS communities. Family and community engagement cultivates our children's best elementary school experiences.
OUR MISSION
The Carl Sandburg & DCS PTSA will strive to: Enhance the learning environment for all students; be a relevant resource for families, teachers, staff, and administration; & advocate for the education and well-being of every child.
WHAT WE DO
Classroom and curriculum support is vital to our mission. To this end, PTSA programs support math, science, art, music, library, outdoor education, and educative assemblies as well as teacher stipends and staff appreciation events.
Research indicates that students do better in the classroom when there is a strong sense of school community. To support this, the PTSA sponsors social and family events, as well as numerous school enrichment programs to build a shared sense of belonging.
To promote health and safety, the PTSA supports health screenings, funds third-grade swim classes, offers parent education opportunities, stocks emergency preparedness supplies, and maintains herbicide-free school grounds, among numerous other programs focused on the well-being of our students.
This is possible because of the incredible contributions of time and talent from staff, administration and families like you. Whatever you have to contribute, the Sandburg & DCS community needs your voice & participation.
OUR BOARD
The PTSA Executive Committee is elected for up to two-year terms and consists wholly of community volunteers. The Board of Directors are appointed positions. To contact anyone on the board email info@sandburgdcsptsa.org
President - Executive Committee Position
Maryam Aycox
Maryam and her family moved to the Sandburg & DCS community 4 years ago for the sole purpose of her children attending this school. After serving on the board of her kid's previous school she researched and chose what she considers a community where her family can lay long-standing roots and be a part of something special. The families she has met throughout her time in the neighborhood inspired her to join the PTSA board and become an involved member of the Sandburg & DCS family. She is a working mom of 3 boys, 1 Sandburg & DCS Seal and 2 Alumni!
Vice-President - Executive Committee Position
Shannah Mullinax
Shannah has been part of the Sandburg/DCS PTSA, in a number of ways, since her oldest started Kindergarten in 2016. She has enjoyed volunteering in the classrooms, volunteering at events and helping organize events. She is excited to join the Board of Directors to help enrich the learning environment for all students in our community. Having attended Carl Sandburg Elementary herself, she has a deep emotional connection to ensuring a positive experience for all.
Secretary - Executive Committee Position
Arwen Gutierrez
Arwen is excited to be a part of the 2024-2025 PTSA. Her family moved to the area a few years ago and her two children are in Second and Forth grade at Sandburg this year. She joined because she believes that community engagement can vastly improve the school experience. Everyone can make a difference! Volunteering or getting involved with school events, even once, can create meaningful relationships and enthusiasm for learning.
Treasurer - Executive Committee Position
Rhiza Jackson
Rhiza has enjoyed volunteering in the classroom since her family became part of the Sandburg DCS community 4 years ago. She is looking forward to further supporting the community by being more involved in the PTSA & continuing to make meaningful connections in the years to come.
Banking Treasurer
Serenity Gray
Serenity has been supporting the PTSA for eight years and continues to volunteer because she enjoys creating an environment and community that is inclusive, enriched and fun for to students to learn in. She enjoys working in collaboration with the school to make sure the staff and teachers are supported to create the best learning environment for our students.
Director of Communications
Kristen Boyle
Kristen joined the PTSA as a director of communications with a longstanding passion for all things comms. Intro from Kristen coming soon!
communication@sandburgdcsptsa.org
Director of Membership
Amanda Bredlow
Directors of Enrichment
Sushmita Srikant
Sushmita has a 4th grader this year and has served on the PTSA since he started K at Sandburg. She served as Social Media Chair, Reflections Chair and Awards Chair over the last few years. She also introduced Math programs like Math Challenge and Math Kangaroo through enrichment. She also nominated our PTSA to help win Communications Strategy and Website awards over the past few years! This year she will serve as Co-Director of Enrichment to continue sharing her passion of enriching every student's life through art, drama, music and math.
enrichment@sandburgdcsptsa.org
Katya Yancheva
Intro forthcoming!
enrichment@sandburgdcsptsa.org
Directors of School Services
Samantha Meisner
After decades of moving around the country, Samantha found her home when she was adopted by the Sandburg community over the past decade. A PTSA member for six years, and a volunteer since running 2019-20's STEAM night, she offered to join the board for her final year as a Sandburg parent. She believes in letting kids be themselves, while helping them find their own way. She is also a strong advocate for food allergy awareness in schools. As part of her School Services position, she can be regularly seen volunteering at Sandburg. She's always happy to discuss cheese, knitting, fountain pens, and film cameras.
services@sandburgdcsptsa.org
Purvie Kishan
Intro forthcoming
Director of Fundraising
Jennifer Junkin
Hello Sandburg/DCS families! I'm the mother of Jack (6th grade), Penelope (4th grade) and Finn (1st grade).
I grew up in New England where I enjoyed soccer, all things outdoors, and getting eaten by mosquitoes (which I strangely do not miss here). My favorite food is guacamole and I appreciate good grammar and active verbs.
Directors of Family & Community Engagement (FACE)
Ksenia Boyer
Ksenia officially joined the Sandburg DCS PTSA as part of the Communications team - supporting website development and now has accepted the position as co-director of Family & Community Engagement (FACE).
Ksenia and family moved to Washington from the Philadelphia (PA) area in 2012 and to Finn Hill in 2019. They have fallen in love with this community and enjoy meeting folks whether at neighborhood Halloween events, baseball games at Big Finn Hill or Juanita Bay or of course through school functions. When not working, Ksenia enjoys spending time with her husband and their two kiddos - who are in 1st and 5th grade this year.
familyengagement@sandburgdcsptsa.org
Tanya Amri
intro from Tanya forthcoming!