PTA Honors Education Volunteers’ Selfless Hours of Service

As the California PTA turned 115, the 17th District PTA (covering San Mateo County)—also turning 85—celebrated with a luncheon at Dominic’s at Oyster Point in South San Francisco on February 22. Volunteers from around the county were also honored for their tireless work to better public education for all students. They include Sara Otus Green, Dennis McBride, Carrie DuBois, and the Ted Peck Foundation.

HONOREES:

San Mateo County Teacher of the Year: Raphael Kauffmann, Carlmont High School English teacher and English Dept. Chair.  After working in the music and recording industry, Raphael decided to return to college and get his teaching credential.  He began teaching at Carlmont 7 years ago.  He integrates music with his teaching which helps engage his students. 

Sara Otus Green (Continuing Service Award), presented by Colette Rudd

Sara was honored for her enthusiasm, her dedication, and her outstanding ability to organize PTA events, especially those involving and training new PTA leaders.

Sara became involved with PTA when her son started elementary school in Foster City

Sara has served Reflections (arts program) Chair of the San Mateo/Foster City Council, the 17th District PTA, and now the California State PTA, and is now on the State Board of Managers.  In this position, she reached out to PTAs to encourage participation, trained Reflections chairs, recruited judges, publicized the event, collected the entries, and sent on winning ones to the state PTA for judging and display.  Sara did this for the children, so that the children would be encouraged to be creative and have the opportunity to see their work on display. 

Sara has also served as Chair of the 17th District’s officer training event for the past four years.  With her leadership, participation increased by more than 300%!

Another 17th District Board role Sara has held was 1st Vice President of Programs and Convention.  She encouraged PTA members to attend the State Conventions in Sacramento and Long Beach, making sure attendees had a great experience.  Sara states: “I have enjoyed being involved with convention.  It is so exciting to be a part of convention, the energy, great information and workshops, speakers, and see many friends and meet new people.  It is always wonderful to share in someone's first experience at convention.  The enthusiasm is contagious from everyone who attends.”

Dennis McBride (Honorary Service Award), presented by Debra Adler

Dennis began his community involvement in education 25 years ago when his own two sons were in preschool.  He was actively involved in all their public schools, and is now in his 9th year serving as a Trustee in the .   He has a Masters in Governance from the Calif. School Boards Association and an MBA.  He has held many financial positions in the Bay Area, with his last job being at Silicon Graphics in Mountain View.

He served on School’s Site Council for eight years, including President for three.  Dennis worked on two Redwood City School District Parcel Tax Elections, serving as the Co-Chairman for one and Treasurer for the other.   Additionally, he was the treasurer for Measure B Bond initiative in 2002.  He served as Treasurer on the RWC Education Foundation for three years.

While his two sons were at Kennedy Middle School, Dennis served on the Site Council.  At Woodside High School, he was a member of the Shared Decision Making Council for seven years, the Foundation for two years, and in 2004 was recognized as “Parent of the Year”.

Redwood City's Superintendent Jan Christensen said: "It is such an honor to work with him on our Board of Education.  He is among the most caring, hardworking and sincere individuals with whom I have had the pleasure of working.  He cares deeply about public education, takes a personal interest in every one of our staff members—from the custodians to our teachers, to administrators and support staff—and, of course, his focus is always, on the education and well being of our incredible students." 

Alisa McAvoy, Redwood City School Board Trustee states:  “Dennis is one of the most extraordinary people I know.  He is selfless, genuine, honest, principled, and caring.  He has devoted most of his life to public service, volunteering his time with many non-profits and school groups, serving those that are most in need.  His public service is inspiring to others.  We are extremely fortunate to have him in our local community.”

Anne Campbell, San Mateo County’s Superintendent says, "He represents the gold standard in community service.  He has been a vital force during his tenure on the Board, calmly and capably helping steer the Redwood City School District through an unparalleled era of economic challenges.  He continues to make tremendously tough choices to keep the district's budget balanced”.

Gene Mullin, Former State Assemblyman says, "During my tenure in the state legislature as member and Chairman of the Assembly Education Committee, I was well aware of the commitment, competence, and leadership skills of Dennis on the Redwood City School Board.  He has continually set an example of guidance that should serve as a model for other school board trustees throughout the state. Congratulations on this most deserved honor.”

Carrie DuBois (Honorary Service Award), presented by Lori McBride and Keiko Smith

Carrie DuBois works tirelessly and strongly advocates for all the children in our community, believing that every child deserves a high quality education and to be safe and cared for, and cares deeply for the underserved.   The adjectives of “passionate”, “dedicated”, “kind”, “thoughtful”, “concerned”, “optimistic” and “persistent” have been used to describe her.  She challenges others to think and do things differently.

After serving six years as a trustee in the San Carlos School District, Carrie last November to serve on the .   

Carrie has done a lot of outreach to the women and children in East Palo Alto and Belle Haven communities.  She held her election night party at a taqueria in the Belle Haven area so those in this community would feel valued.

Sister Trinitas, whose congregation, the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul , sponsors an ESL program at Rosalie Rendu Center met Carrie in 1988 when Carrie brought Mid-Peninsula Junior League members in to help.  She said “Carrie helped educate both Junior League members and the women at the Center that “women are women with the same needs and dreams, no matter what language they speak”.  When the building that housed the Center was being sold, Carrie pushed to have it bought to protect affordable housing for the poor and keep a secure place for the Rosaline Rendu Center. 

Carlmont High School students come from as far away as Menlo Park and East Palo Alto.   Attending school and PTA-sponsored activities is difficult for the students who live far away with limited access to transportation.

When planning Carlmont’s 8th Grade Parent Night in 2010, Carrie was determined to reach out to all families.  She knew transportation and language would be a challenge, so in collaboration with the principals of Carlmont and Cesar Chavez Academy, Sister Trinitas, the SUHSD, Carlmont’s PTSA, and active community members, transportation and translation was arranged for the Ravenswood parents to attend the 8th grade information meeting, participate in the campus tour, and learn about the school that their children would be attending.  Carlmont PTSA board members rode on the bus with the Ravenswood parents.  She also asked Carlmont’s PTSA to hold an evening panel discussion to educate parents on the challenges and needs of students. 

A few months later, with the generosity of community donors, service organizations, and principals and PTSAs from the SUHSD and Ravenswood, a community dinner was held at Cesar Chavez Academy in East Palo Alto.  This was an opportunity to come together to share stories along with the challenges and joys of raising and educating our youth.

Jim Lianides, Sequoia Union High School District Superintendent commended Carrie’s successful community dinner at Cesar Chavez School:  “It was well attended and brought together staff from both Ravenswood and the high school district to speak to parents.  This was the first such event involving both school districts in anyone’s memory.”

Carrie is very interested in the welfare of foster children who face huge obstacles to their learning. To promote awareness of the grim statistics about foster youth and promote awareness among parents, Carrie set up several “A Night for Abigail” evenings where foster youth communicated about their needs.

Ted Peck Reading Foundation (Honorary Service Award), presented by Kathryn Cross

Lash Stevenson and a group of his racquetball playing friends from Royal Athletic Club in Burlingame had dinner together every other month at the old Esposto’s Restaurant in San Mateo.  Ted Peck always paid the dinner bill, so the rest of the group decided to pitch in and donate to something worthwhile.

They formed the Ted Peck Reading Foundation.  The members, now numbering about 20 and meeting at Luceti’s in San Mateo, each donate $50 or $100 to pay for reading supplies and materials for local schools.  They have adopted Turnbull Learning Academy, Beresford School, the Bookmobile, and one school in San Francisco.

The Ted Peck Reading Foundation has contributed over $50,000 in the past ten years to supply funds for teachers to buy computers, books, study guides and fund class study trips and school scholarships.  In February, 2012, they raised $1,900 to donate to Fox School.

Ted Peck Reading Foundation has close ties to teachers, as several members are related to teachers, and both of Lash’s sons teach.

History:

Founders’ Day honored the three PTA Founders as well as past and present PTA leaders.  The three Founders—Alice McLellan Birney, Phoebe Apperson Hearst, and Selena Sloan Butler—held  the first convention of The National Congress of Mothers on Feb. 17, 1897, to “promote the education, health, and safety of children, youth, and families”.  At that time three-fourths of all students left school before reaching fifth grade, and many lived in poverty and died from neglect.