2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR SUPERSTARS
Meet our previously featured Superstar Volunteers and learn about how they've gone the extra mile for the schools in their communities.
Sep 25, 2012
Katie Pierson
Minnetonka, MN
The cafeteria at L.H. Tanglen Elementary in Minnetonka, Minn., can be a pretty noisy place around lunchtime—but that doesn’t seem to faze parents, a lot of them dads, from dropping in for an impromptu meal with their child. Although some people may... Read More
Sep 18, 2012
Liz Steventon
Rochester, VT
"Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night" begins the famous quotation attributed to Greek historian Herodotus more than 2,500 years ago. It’s a tribute to patience and persistence, traits the people of Rochester, Vt., exhibited in spades late... Read More
Sep 4, 2012
Alvaro Rojas
Aurora, CO
You'll never hear the common lament "good help is hard to find" being uttered around campus at CedarWood Christian Academy. That's because this small Aurora, Colo., school is fortunate enough to have parent volunteer Alvaro Rojas ready and willing to lend a hand.... Read More
Aug 21, 2012
Cathy Boese
Andover, MA
"Leaders are made, they are not born," according to American football coach Vince Lombardi's oft-repeated quote. Cathy Boese, PTO president at Bancroft Elementary in Andover, Mass., would tend to agree with that sentiment. This mother of four was so busy tending... Read More
Aug 7, 2012
Tina DeClue
Columbia, MO
The word "family" pops up frequently in Tina DeClue's conversations, whether she's talking about her own home life, her job as a school-based coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters, or her countless volunteer efforts at Shepard Boulevard Elementary in Columbia,... Read More
Jun 26, 2012
Rosita Gonzalez
Madison, WI
Rosita Gonzalez is a big believer in the idea that it takes a village to raise a child. She has worked to build a stronger village at her school, making it easier for families with transportation issues or limited English to feel like a part of the community. ... Read More
Jun 12, 2012
Sabina Ernst
Montclair, NJ
When Renaissance Middle School at Rand students spot Sabina Ernst in the hallway, they expect something fun to happen. The veterinarian and gardener might be there to share animal x-rays, lead them in bird-watching, or help harvest herbs in the school garden. ... Read More
May 29, 2012
Xraka White
Houston, TX
Many school volunteers toil behind the scenes in relative obscurity...and prefer it that way. They have no desire to hold positions of power or lead the way, except maybe by example. Xraka White considered herself one of those people. When her son, Ethan, began... Read More
May 15, 2012
Shawna Crist
Niceville, FL
It's no small coincidence that Shawna Crist hails from a town called Niceville. Named the outstanding adult volunteer in a regional school recognition program this year, it's mainly her ongoing efforts to make things, well, nice that landed her the coveted title.... Read More
May 1, 2012
Judith Wencel
Wichita, KS
For many of us, the mere mention of the middle school years invokes memories ranging from the merely awkward to the truly terrible. Wichita, Kan., resident Judith Wencel's own recollections aren't especially favorable. Yet she credits that period as her inspiration... Read More
Apr 17, 2012
Audrey Covello
Schererville, IN
Exercise enthusiasts share a little secret— the undeniable high they experience after a good workout. Once those endorphins kick in, they feel positively energized. Audrey Covello is familiar with the sensation— except this mother of two and dedicated... Read More
Apr 3, 2012
Ed Bala
Fayetteville, NC
Every school could use a goodwill ambassador, and Ponderosa Elementary School of Mathematics in Fayetteville, N.C., has found one in Ed Bala. He's been volunteering there for more than 12 years, remaining long after his own two children moved onto other schools.... Read More
Mar 20, 2012
Lynne Millar
Tracy, CA
Students at George Kelly Elementary in Tracy, Calif., erupt into cheers on the days an art docent arrives in their classroom to lead a lesson. Twelve of these crafty docent parent volunteers regularly fan out across the grades (K-8) dispensing art history facts... Read More
Mar 6, 2012
Cathi Knickrehm
Oak Park, IL
Once upon a time, the exterior landscape at Hatch Elementary in Oak Park, Ill., left much to be desired. Aside from a few benches near the playground area, there was really no reason to linger. That changed when mother of two Cathi Knickrehm spoke up at a PTO meeting... Read More
Feb 21, 2012
Gary Parkes
Woodstock, GA
These days, if you have something to promote, you'd better have a publicist or you're sunk. Think actors, athletes, brand-name products, vacation destinations, you name it. Everyone or everything, including schools, could use a little spin to gain attention and... Read More
Feb 7, 2012
Jeanette Tanafranca
Troy, MI
Hang around during pickup or drop-off time at Bemis Elementary in Troy, Mich., and you'll hear the usual hubbub of hellos, goodbyes, and don't-forget-your-backpacks. Listen more closely and you'll realize these exchanges are frequently conducted in a variety of... Read More
Jan 24, 2012
Joanna Bradshaw
Fort Meade, MD
Some people love scrapbooking, while others live to scuba dive or run marathons. Others are passionate about pursuits that benefit the community at large. Such is the case with Joanna Bradshaw, a mom of four who lives on a military base in Fort Meade, Md. Her passion?... Read More
Jan 10, 2012
Sunnie Robles-Schmidt
Santa Rosa, CA
The midweek blues never quite get hold of 2nd grader Bailey Schmidt. That's because Wednesday is the day her mom, Sunnie Robles-Schmidt, regularly volunteers in her classroom. Afterward the two will often eat lunch together in the quad at Spring Creek Matanzas... Read More