The mission of the Williams School PTO is to support the school staff, to help enrich the educational experience of our children, and to continue to foster the Williams community.
We would love all Williams parents to be involved! Take a moment to read the brief descriptions of the PTO committees, and contact the chair of a committee or anyone on the executive committee for more information. (Note: Commitment indicates the amount of time it takes to chair the committee, not to volunteer for the committee.)
PTO Board
| Co-Presidents | Carie Michael Donna Whitham Katie Greeley Wendy Hurwitz |
| Vice President, School Wide | Lauren Brooks |
| Vice President, Citywide | Christina Hardway |
| Vice Presidents, Fundraising | Carol Bradford-Roe Gail Sokoloff |
| Bookkeeper | Elizabeth McVittie |
| Communications | Christine Lacey Doug Cornelius |
| Recording Secretary | Erin Giesser |
| Past Presidents | Lauren Brooks Beth Doran Nicole Malec Kenyon Deborah Gelch |
| Principal | Dr. Midge Connolly |
PTO Co-Presidents
Oversee PTO committee activities, coordinate with members, the Principal and teachers, and set the PTO’s direction. Serve a 2 yr term which overlaps with the incoming co-presidents for 1 year. Communicate with Williams families via weekly emails. Keep Williams community informed about city-wide school-related issues. Prepare annual PTO budget, oversee on ongoing basis fundraising, and spending. Attend meetings: bi-monthly with Principal, monthly School Council, monthly Newton PTO Council and various School Committee meetings.
Commitment: Average of 5 hours per week, some weeks less and some weeks as high as 12 hours.
Current Co-Presidents: Carie Michael, Donna Whitham, Katie Greeley and Wendy Hurwitz
Treasurer
Serves a 2 yr term and oversees the revenues and expenses of the PTO. Provides financial information and advice to Co-Presidents, and PTO committees. Responsible for expense reimbursements and yearly tax returns. Familiarity with Quicken is necessary.
Commitment: Average of 2-3 hrs per week.
Current Treasurer:
Bookkeeper
Serves a 2 yr term and supports the Treasurer in all capacities.
Commitment: Average of 2-3 hrs per week.
Current Bookkeeper: Elizabeth McVittie
Vice Presidents of Fund Raising
Serve a 2 yr term. Set and oversee the PTO fund raising goals with the PTO Co-Presidents. Liaise with chairs of individual fundraisers.
Commitment: Average of 3 – 4 hrs per week.
Current VPs: Gail Sokoloff, Carol Bradford-Roe
Vice President School Wide
Serves a 1 year term and helps to oversee school wide events that are not related to fundraising, such as the Welcome Back Picnic, NewtonSERVES, and Teacher Appreciation activities.
Commitment: Average of 3 hours per month.
Current VP: Lauren Brooks
Vice President Citywide/Political
Keeps the Williams community informed of political issues affecting the school. Attends School Committee meetings and others as necessary. Informs Williams community of current issues and actions needed through use of the PTO website and the Word. Coordinates activities with PTO Co-Presidents, Principal and the Newton School Committee.
Commitment: __
Current VP: Christina Hardway
Recording Secretary
Attends PTO Meetings (5 –7 per year) and monthly PTO Board meetings and takes meeting notes.
Commitment: 2 – 3 hours per meeting
Current Secretary: Erin Giesser
Communications/Webmaster
Compile, edit and publish monthly email newsletter for Williams community. Maintain school website.
Commitment: Approx 10 hrs every 3 months
Currently: Christine Lacey, Doug Cornelius
Directory
Oversees the compilation and printing of Williams Directory of all Williams staff and students. This Directory is intended only for use by Williams families to facilitate social activities and communication.
Commitment: 30 hours total from July through October.
Current chair: Deborah Gelch
School Pictures
Organizes fall student picture day fundraiser. Liases with picture company and school administration.
Commitment: Approx. 15 hours in September.
Current Chair: Wendy Hurwitz
Book Fair
Organizes and coordinates with volunteers to implement a fall fundraising book sale for Williams families. Liaises with School Librarian and Bookseller.
Commitment: Approx. 25 hrs from end of Sept to event.
Current chair: Elaine Rush Arruda
Gift Wrap
Organizes fall fundraising sale of gift wrap.
Commitment: Approx. 20 hrs September – October
Current chair: __
Williams Wear
Source, organize and procure insignia inventory. Coordinate volunteers to sell goods at Williams events and fill orders placed throughout school year.
Commitment: Approx. 2-4 hrs per month.
Current chair: Sarah Broughel, Maureen Kelley, Nicole Newman, Michele Rufo
Call Back Coordinator
Organizes a rotation of parent volunteers who check absent messages against class attendance lists each morning.
Volunteers place calls to families of absent students. (City-wide program to ensure the safe arrival of students.)
Commitment: __
Current chair: Corie Mieth
Creative Arts and Sciences
The Williams School PTO’s Creative Arts & Sciences Committee (CASC) presents a diverse range of curriculum-related programs to enrich and enhance the learning experience of each child at Williams. We work closely with teachers and specialists to schedule classroom programs as well as school-wide performances, resulting in an average of five hours of programming per student each year. Past programs have included storytelling, live animals, historical reenactments, instrumental concerts, science experiments and dance.
Co-chairs of this city-wide program organize and facilitate parent volunteers who coordinate grade-level programs.
Commitment: 5 hrs per week through September. 2 – 3 hrs per month thereafter.
Current chairs: Heidi Tobin, Melissa Wylie
5th Grade Activities
Chairs work with Principal, and 5th grade families and teachers to co-ordinate a seminal year of noteworthy activities.
Commitment: __
Current chairs: Donna Whitham, Anne Stephens
Kindergarten Registration
Host in March the parent Kindergarten orientation.
Commitment:
Current chairs: Saruchi Kaul, Paula Fazli
Library Liaison
Recruit, train and oversee volunteers for Williams library and coordinate activities with School Librarian.
Host a coffee for library volunteers at start and end of year.
Commitment: 1-2 hrs per week during school year
Current chairs: Carole McElduff, Anne Stephens
Playground
Responsible for improvement and maintenance of Williams’s playground.
Commitment: __
Current chair: Liz Mirabile
Acknowledgement/Teacher Appreciation
With volunteers, responsible for acknowledgement of teachers and staff throughout year in a variety of
ways, from purchasing cards and small gifts to hosting the teacher appreciation lunch in spring.
Commitment: Kick off at start of school year. Average of 2-4 hrs/wk.
Current chairs: Saruchi Kaul
Williams Beautification
Responsible for the maintenance of the outdoor green spaces utilizing volunteers for necessary planting, weeding and watering.
Commitment: Seasonal, 1 – 2 hrs per week.
Current chairs: __
