About Us
The MIS/HPMS PTO coordinates important educational programming for students and parents, including general membership meetings and coffee talk meetings each year. The MIS/HPMS PTO also hosts monthly faculty/staff appreciation events and provides volunteer and financial support for over thirty school-related activities.
Why we fundraise
The state of Texas takes nearly 70% of HPISD tax dollars and redistributes them to other school districts in accordance with the state's “recapture” or “Robin Hood” legislation. Because of this, without private fundraising we would have far less to spend per student than many neighboring districts, which would impact everything from our teacher pay and recruitment to programs offered. Fundraising organizations across HPISD fill an estimated $6 million annual budget gap so that our district can provide an outstanding education for our students and pay our teachers a competitive wage.
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For more information about our fundraising efforts and where the money goes, please see our Raider Challenge page.
Why we volunteer
Volunteers offer much-needed support to our staff and supplemental programs and services for our students. Volunteers also save the district money so they can better provide for essentials like competitive teacher salaries. Did you know that cafeteria volunteers save the district $400,000 per year?!
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Volunteering is also a great opportunity to connect and build relationships with parents, community members, and staff while modeling the service mindset we aim to teach our students... "Enter to Learn. Go Forth to Serve." You may even get to see your kids at school!
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For ways to get involved, please see our Volunteer page.
Join the PTO
PTO dues are $45 per family and directly fund essential student and faculty support that would not otherwise be possible. Join during Back to School Signup (BSSU) or click here to pay online. Email the MIS President or HPMS President with questions.
Serve on the PTO!
Parent involvement and leadership are critical to the success of our school. We have more than 75 roles so there's something for everyone! You will meet other parents who are committed to serving our students, teachers and staff, have opportunities to interact with school staff and teachers, and have FUN!
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To learn more about our volunteer positions, see descriptions here.
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If you're interested in a position or want to serve on the Nominating Committee, please complete our Nominating Committee & Board Interest Form by Friday, November 17th. Required meetings for the Nominating Committee are Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, and Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
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Questions? Please email our Nominating Chairs.
2023-24
PTO Board of Directors
Courtney Gerstenhaber
Gretel Shipley
Kitsy Smith
Amy Barker
Tracy Cohen
Kelley Curtin
Jacky Pincoffs
Hilary Lynch
Christine Lee
Allison Lockard
Kristin Evans
Leigh Anne Haugh
Rachel Stephens
Jessica Turner Waugh
Lauren Haig
Allison Small
Erika Yeaman
Destin Shore
Marcy O'Connor
Kristina Whitcomb
Paige Deskin
HPMS President
MIS President-Elect
HPMS President-Elect
First VP Finance
First VP Finance-Elect
MIS Second VP BSSU
HPMS Second VP BSSU
MIS/HPMS Treasurer
MIS/HPMS Treasurer-Elect
Fundraising Officer
Fundraising Officer
Cafeteria Finance Officer
Communications Officer
Raider Shop Officer
Fundraising Officer
Raider Shop Finance Officer
Secretary
HPMS Sports Finance Officer
Raider Challenge
Kristin Evans
Leigh Anne Haugh
Rachel Stephens
Jessica Turner Waugh
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Raider Challenge 4th Grade Liaison
Susan Claycombe
Raider Challenge Graphics
Kristin Gunnerson
Janet Bennett
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Melissa Holland
Raider Shop Chairs
Destin Shore
Erika Yeaman
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Raider Shop Officers-Elect
Jacque Green
Nancy West
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Jennifer Barfoot
Jessica Drennan
Marcy O'Connor
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Raider Shop Finance Officer-Elect
Marisa Stockwood
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Brittany Chisenhall
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Raider Shop Wrap Pack-Elect
Amy Gale
Raider Shop Apparel Chairs
Paula Whitman
Emma Wortman
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Raider Shop Apparel Chairs-Elect
Deanna Carrell
Mary Chaney Spencer
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Raider Shop Agenda Cover Chair
June Molnoskey
Cafeteria
Lauren Haig
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Cafeteria Finance Officer-Elect
Julie Melihercik
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Lahna Durham
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Katherine Issel
Tracy Port Melech
Volunteer Website (VSP)
Kara Smith
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Volunteer Website Elect
Katie Webb
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Monday Day Captains
Cathy Amos
Reagan Pace
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Tuesday Day Captain
Brook Armstrong
Wednesday Day Captains
Bavita Doolabh
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Thursday Day Captains
Barbie Kohl
Alexa Snelleman
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Friday Day Captain
Margarita Coale
Sports Chairs
7th Grade Boys Sports
Jessica Jones
Sara Friedman
Jenny Kearns
Marty Petet
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7th Grade Girls Sports
Beth Birdwell
Haley DeVault
Amy Kovac
Diana Swope
Tracy Flint
Charlotte Nelson
Allison Parks
Alexis Wagoner
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8th Grade Girls Sports
Kacy Ellis
Carie Heckler
Ali Watkins
Angela Williams
HPMS Sports Finance Officer
Paige Deskin
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Raider Sports Signage/Displays
Melanie Biggers
Party Chairs
5th Grade Party
Meredith Ferrell
Katie Head
Katie Roach
Amy Sherman
6th Grade Party
Catherine Baldwin
Leigh Mundinger
Abby Neblett
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Missy Finger
Jacqueline Hubbard
Sandy Moore
8th Grade Activities Chair
Kristi Berlin
Brittany Dyer
Missy Saalfield
Ali Watkings
Parent Events and Communication
Communications Officer
Allison Small
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Communications Officer-Elect
Ashley Gray
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Publicity
Margaret Neubauer
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Emily Gaylor
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Divia Dayaliji
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Jennifer Bergin
Amanda Hamilton
Ashley Shull
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Murphey Sears
Leslie Singleton
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Melissa Johnston
Meredith Sarracino
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Elizabeth Conger
Jackie Converse
Stephanie Rushing
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Annie Cochran
Kathia Steel
Coffee Talks - 5th Grade
Meg Boyd
Emily Klein
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Coffee Talks - 6th Grade
Emily Abubakar
Carroll Gurganus
Claire Swope
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Coffee Talks - 7th Grade
Haylie Crouch
Ashley Shull
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Coffee Talks - 8th Grade
Lara Gaither
Shannon Williams
Staff Appreciation and Support
Brook Armstrong
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Treat Week
Jessica Rugg
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District-wide Appreciation
Sarah Taub
Teacher and Staff Appreciation
Beth Birdwell
Nicki Johnston
Katy Miller
Katherine Sbaiti
Claudia Williams
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Teacher and Staff Appreciation-Elect
Jae Carpenter
Lauren Heffelfinger
Emily Helm
LeeAnn Wood
Anne Evans
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Sarah Abraham
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Susan Hastedt
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Book Fair-Elect
Heidi McKinley Florez
Amy Moore
Other Chairpersons
MIS Corresponding Secretary
Berkeley Litton
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HPMS Corresponding Secretary
Ashley Blanchette
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Amanda Cejka
Laura Terry
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Laura Hornach
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Emil Cerullo
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Emil Cerullo
The History of the PTAs in HPISD
Originally, Armstrong was the only school in the district… a yellow brick building housing all students. The John S. Armstrong Parent-Teacher Association of Highland Park was founded on November 19, 1914 and elected Mrs. Frank M. Gray Sr. as its first president.
A pattern of service to the school was set by the early leaders. PTA minutes report gifts to the library, playground, and landscaping of the campus. Supervising and staffing the school cafeteria began in January 1921 when the Armstrong lunchroom was established.
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Over the years, the PTA has undergone name changes and multiplied into seven units, one for each HPISD campus. In 2022, the intermediate/middle school group also changed from a PTA to a PTO (Parent Teacher Organization), but the purpose for “the welfare of the child,” has remained the same.
Past Presidents
McCulloch Intermediate School & Highland Park Middle School PTO
MIS HPMS
2023-24
2022-23​
2021-22
2020-21
2019-20
2018-19
2017-18
2016-17
2015-16
2014-15
2013-14
2012-13
2011-12
2010-11
Courtney Gerstenhaber
Jessica Turner Waugh
Missy Finger
Tricia Perhirin
Paige Andrews
Rebecca Black
Maryann Denton
Nicole Richter
Meredith McBee
Lynn Stocker
Leslie Kibby
Carol Robertson
Laua Walsh
Susan McSherry
Gretel Shipley
Libby Johnson
Amy McNulty
Kyle Huckaby
Elizabeth Speicher
Marcy Simmons
Meredith Clark
Kay Herring
Gretchen Groves
Sue Humphrey
Natalie Thomas
Nancy Monning
Christi Nelson
Cynthia Looney
MIS HPMS
2009-10
2008-09
2007-08
2006-07
2005-06
2004-05
2003-04
2002-03
2001-02
2000-01
1999-00
1998-99
1997-98
1996-97
1995-96
Anne McPherson
Mary Meier
Melissa Utley
Sheila Holmes
Marty Washington
Tricia Stewart
Mary Taylor
Paula Burford
Jayne Bass
Ann Shaw
Mary Lou Gibbons
Rita Duncan
Cindy Harding
Ginger Sager
Amy Meindl
Amy Davis
Carol Dalton
Beth Felvey
Lee Michaels
Julie Livingston
Pam Brock
Kathy Jenevein
Beth Clark
Kathleen Cheney
Karen Bedell
Judy Sillers
Gail Knapp
Leslie Conant
Susan Hall
Cordelia Boone
Arch H. McCulloch Middle School PTA
1994-95
1993-94
1992-93
1991-92
1990-91
1989-90
1988-89
Laurie Aldredge
Ann Swope
Brownie Watkins
Barbara Cervin
Marla Boone
Cappie Addison
Bettye Slaven
1987-88
1986-87
1985-86
1984-85
1983-84
1982-83
1981-82
1980-81
Carol Diehl
Susan Kull
Judy Gibbs
Sondra Carter
Dorothy Kennington
Lee Mahood
Becky Bright
Sybil Taylor
1979-80
1978-79
1977-78
1976-77
1975-76
1974-75
1973-74
Joan Stanbury
Zoe Chantillis
Kitty Snelling
Beverly Lightbourn
Carolyn Rodgers
Ann Smith
Joann Goff
Highland Park Middle School PTA
1972-73
Mrs. Carlton Cranor
1971-72
1970-71
Mrs. Marvin S. Sloman
Mrs. S. G. Shaffer Jr.
1969-70
Mrs. William H. Hitzleberger Jr.
Highland Park Junior High PTA
each school began its own PTA
1968-69
1967-68
1966-67
1965-66
1964-65
1963-64
1962-63
1961-62
1960-61
1959-60
1958-59
1957-58
Mrs. James T. Pryor
Mrs. E. D. Peters
Mrs. William B. Stallcup Jr.
Mrs. Jack E. Eades
Mrs. Jesse E. Thompson
Mrs. Curtis Horn
Mrs. John Graham
Mrs. James H. Merritt
Mrs. W. J. Dickey
Mrs. A. J. Kutner
Mrs. William Groth
Mrs. Willis Lea Jr.
1956-57
1955-56
1954-55
1953-54
1952-53
1951-52
1950-51
1949-50
1948-49
1947-48
1946-47
1945-46
Mrs. Vernon Coe
Mrs. John B. Bourland
Mrs. Luther Jordan Jr.
Mrs. Jack Brown
Mrs. Alfred Matthews
Mrs. John Rogers
Mrs. Robert Webb
Mrs. Lois E. Dolch
Mrs. J. D. Francis
Mrs. B. T. Geron
Mrs. Paul K. Cash
Mrs. B. C. Jefferson
1944-45
1942-44
1941-42
1940-41
1939-40
1938-39
1938-38
1937-38
1935-37
1933-35
1931-32
Mrs. Ernest Tutt
Mrs. Felix Butte
Mrs. R. E. Rettger
Mrs. Howard Dunham
Mrs. W. B. Ruggles
Mrs. Will C. Jones
Mrs. John R. Beall
Mrs. Bentley Young
Mrs. H. L. Pritchett
Mrs. A. V. Cockrell
Mrs. R. C. Dunlap
Highland Park PTA
name changed when high school was added
1929-31
Mrs. Luther Jordan
1927-29
1925-27
Mrs. Will R. Wilson Sr.
Mrs. E. H. Nolte
1922-25
Mrs. E. H. Morgan
John S. Armstrong PTA of Highland Park
original PTA of HPISD
1920-22
1919-20
Mrs. E. H. Morgan
Mrs. William Bacon
1917-19
1916-17
Mrs. C. M. Hudson
Mrs. J. R. Babcock
1915-16
1914-15
Mrs. W. I. Ford
Mrs. Frank M. Gray Sr.