November is a time for giving back and givingbrthanks, but for the Southlake parents who vol-brunteer tirelessly on Parent Teacher Organiza-brtions (PTOs), giving back isn't limited to the fallbrseason; it's a labor of love all year long. PTO parents investbrcountless hours in their communities and schools all forbrthe benefit of children. We caught up with a few of thesebrmoms and dads to learn what drives them to get involvedbrwith the PTO.br
Susan Berlew is a stay-at-home mom with two childrenbrwho enjoys traveling, baking, playing tennis and spendingbras much time with her family as she can. Running a housebrand raising children certainly keeps Berlew on her toes, butbrfor the past five years, she has carved out time to volunteerbrfor the PTO at Carroll Elementary School (CES).
brbrbr
When Berlew and her family moved to Southlake, shebrwanted be more involved in the community. She enjoyed itbrso much that she is starting her first year as PTO Presidentbrfor CES. “I initially decided to volunteer to meet people sincebrwe were new to the community,” Berlew says. “Now, I enjoybrhelping in my kids' classes and supporting our teachers. Asbra bonus, I've met some great people and friends by gettingbrinvolved.”br
One of the perks of volunteering at CES is getting the in-brside scoop about what is happening at the elementary school.brIt's great for Berlew since both of her children are enrolledbrat CES — Jameson is in fourth grade and Bennett is in thirdbrgrade. The best part? She gets to be there to contribute to thebrsuccess of the events and help make sure all the children atbrCES have a good time.
brbrbr
“It is incredibly rewarding to volunteer at my kids' school,” Ber-brlew says. “They spend so much time there, and it's importantbrto support those excellent teachers who are helping shape ourbrchildren. I feel fortunate to live in such a great community withbrwonderful schools. I enjoy contributing, even if it's in a smallbrway.”br
Another stay-at-home mom loves volunteering for the PTO,brbut she does it at Rockenbaugh Elementary School. Diana Fanch-brer loves to vacation, read a good book, and stay involved at Rock-brenbaugh, where her daughter, Kate, is now a third-grade student.brShe first volunteered for the PTO when Kate was in kindergarten,brand now she is starting her second year as Rockenbaugh Elemen-brtary PTO President.br
“Since I only have one child, volunteering in the PTO allowsbrme to cross paths and become friends with parents of children inbrdifferent grades and even at different schools,” says Fancher. “Ibralso enjoy getting to know the administration and teachers whobrare molding the minds of my child's generation.”br
br
Fancher's favorite part about volunteering is seeing the differ-brence volunteers make in teachers' work lives. “A school's PTO isbrone of the happiest places you could ever imagine volunteering.brI love seeing the difference we make and how we can help withbrsome day-to-day activities to free up time for teachers to focusbron educating our little ones. Your efforts, whether volunteer-bring time or monetary donations, are greatly appreciated and dobrmake a big difference.”
brbrbr
Dedication Through the Yearsbr
Stacy Saxton is no stranger to Southlake, and no stranger to vol-brunteering either. Her family has been in Southlake since it onlybrhad a Dairy Queen — in other words, for 19 years.br
Before leaving work to stay at home with her daughter, Au-brdrey, Saxton worked at Southwest Airlines for 16 years as a gatebragent and then in the Ground Operations department where shebrsettled baggage service claims and traveled throughout the coun-brtry doing quality control. Now Saxton enjoys traveling with herbrfamily, cooking and baking, writing, and World War II history.br
This fall will be the start of Saxton's tenth year serving on thebrExecutive Board of PTO, where she is currently President of thebrPTO for both Carroll High School and Carroll Senior High, whichbrboth fall under the same umbrella. She started volunteeringbrwhen Audrey was in second grade at Johnson Elementary, andbrnow Audrey is a junior at Carroll Senior High.br
“I started volunteering because I have always enjoyed beingbrinvolved,” Saxton says. “I love being in the middle of things andbrhaving a voice in my community. Volunteering at your child'sbrschool is a wonderful way to know what is going on. This is im-brportant because many parents know that kids start sharing lessbrand less with their parents as they get older.”br
Part of the importance of volunteering is setting a precedentbrfor kids to follow. “My favorite quote is: ‘Don't be part of the prob-brlem, be part of the solution.' I think that parents should be goodbrexamples to their kids by volunteering and letting our childrenbrknow that you should volunteer because it is the right thingbrto do.”br
br
Whether you are new to the community or have spent over abrdecade here, volunteering can be a great way to meet new peoplebrand give back to the schools. “I think there is a huge mispercep-brtion about being involved with the PTO. I can promise that it isbrnot a clique. All that is required is the desire to work for the bet-brterment of your children,” says Saxton.
brbrbr
Dads Love Being Involved, Too
No two volunteers at Southlake schools are exactly alike, andbrthey certainly are not all moms; Southlake dads are just asbractive in their kids' lives. The perfect example is Jeff Govek,brwho runs the Rockenbaugh Dad's Club. Govek owns a consult-bring company that specializes in controls and automation, andbrremote monitoring of physical assets. When he is not at work,brhe loves spending time with his two children, eight-year-oldbrRiley and six-year-old Christopher, road and mountain cycling,brreading, and staying involved with Dad's Club.br
Dad's Club is an easy way for dads to become more involvedbrwith their children's education and to contribute to the schoolbrthrough raising money for projects or contributing their time.br“Dad's Club is a great way for me to become involved in Rocken-brbaugh and to help support the teachers and staff,” Govek says.br“It is also a way for dads to get together and socialize, and tobrinteract with other Rockenbaugh families.”br
Govek enjoys all the events Dad's Club gets to put on for par-brents and children of Rockenbaugh. Last year for Career Day atbrRockenbaugh, the Dad's Club hung collegiate flags down thebrlength of the main hallway to encourage kids to think about col-brlege. Recently they organized a Rough Riders baseball outing forbrRockenbaugh families to hang out and get to know each other.brThis year, Dad's Club is planning on growing the organizationbrto allow them to contribute on a larger scale.br
“The reward is in seeing a real, tangible impact on thebrsuccess of the school and on the kids – especially the kids,”brGovek says. “That is the ultimate goal of all of this: to raisebr
healthy, happy and successful children.”
The most important thing Govek thinks parents shouldbr
know is that Southlake schools have thrived because of thebractive participation of volunteers. “One of the things thatbrmake a school system successful is parental involvement.
brbrbr
Whether through an organization such as the PTO or Dad's Clubbror through individual initiative, the parents and the communitybrhave a huge impact on the school's success,” he says. “No contri-brbution of time, money or effort is too small. Southlake is proudbrof its schools, and rightly so. The community has done an amaz-bring job making CISD successful. It is the continued communitybrinvolvement going forward that will ensure that CISD continuesbrto excel.”br
Without the dedication and participation of parent volun-brteers in Southlake schools, children's success would not be pos-brsible. When it comes down to it, this is all that really matters.