Barrow PTA is fortunate to have amazing, dedicated parent and teacher leaders for our various committees and events. Committee chairs work with their teams throughout the year on events that either raise money for Barrow needs, or create opportunities for students, parents and teachers/staff to interact outside the classroom in meaningful ways. Most committee chairs started by volunteering for a specific committee or event.
We have listed the various PTA committees, their chairpersons, and a brief description of what each group does below. You can always contact a member of the PTA Executive Board or an individual chairperson for more information.
A is for Arts: Provides supplemental fine arts programming for students, including field trips to see plays and concerts, bringing guest artists to the school, and workshops. The group works with grade level teams and specials teachers to find opportunities to enhance curriculum through art and music.
- Fine Arts Night Out – Part of A is for Arts, this silent auction (art and other items) is the largest arts fundraiser at Barrow. Typically held in mid-November at a local restaurant, the event raised over $3,500 last year. Contact Mary Catherine Tuttle marycatherinetuttle@gmail.com (chair) OR Kingsley Strong kingsley.strong@gmail.com (co-chair)
- Student Art Show – Every Barrow student selects a piece of their artwork to be matted and displayed at the show in January. Families enjoy cookies and snacks while viewing the artwork, and parents can purchase the matted artwork or have it framed. Contact Briana Smith brianassmith2012@gmail.com
- Square 1 Art – Have your child’s artwork turned into a memorable keepsake. Contact Hannah Betzel hbetzel@hannahbetzel.com
Barrow Boogie: This committee coordinates Barrow’s annual school 5K and 1 mile fun run, held in mid-February at the school. Many of our students participate, and we have traditionally had strong community participation, as well.
Contact: Katy Brodrick katybrodrick77@yahoo.com
Dash: This committee coordinates a school wide fall fundraiser that supports a large need at Barrow School. It’s a lap running event that takes place during the school day with the entire school. In 2014-2015 Dash funded a large portion of our new playground equipment.
Contact: Dave & Ellie Mahon davidleemahon@gmail.com
Directory: This team collects and organizes all student and family contact information into an annual directory. Each Barrow family receives a free printed directory.
Contact: Kristy King risty@conciergecontactcenter.com
EA Brown: The EA Brown fund gives assistance for rent, utilities and other needs identified by our families. Money for the fund comes from PTA fundraising and is managed by the school counselor and family engagement specialist. This allows all Barrow families to be part of the program while ensuring good stewardship of the spending.
Contact: Maggie Gad magsallen@gmail.com
Football Parking: This committee coordinates the sale of annual football parking passes at Barrow and helps staff the parking lot before and after home UGA football games. Due to our proximity to the UGA stadium, this is our largest fundraiser of the year and pays most of the costs for all 5th graders to participate in the 5th grade trip to Jekyll Island (several nights away) and all 4th graders to participate in the 4th grade trip to Blue Ridge (overnight). VOLUNTEER NOW Contact: Vasant Muralidharan & Nupur Kittur vasantm@gmail.com nupur.kittur@gmail.com
Hospitality: This team coordinates Open House, the annual meet your teacher event, held the afternoon before school begins at Barrow. They organize food and beverages for parents and students to welcome them to the event. This committee also provides opportunity for community building through our school Grandparent’s Day.
Contact: Leila Bjorkland-Glazman leila@birchgrovephoto.com
Media Center: Our amazing media specialist wears many hats and serves our school every day in many ways. This committee is full of volunteers who help shelve books, repair books, set up for book fairs and assist Mr. Plemmons in tasks that would otherwise keep him from being able to teach. Committee members can help one time or on a regular scheduled basis.
Parent Spirit: This team promotes school spirit and our sense of community through optional grade level activities that help families get to know one another outside the classroom setting. They also work with new families to help them become familiar with Barrow.
| Pre-K | Ashley Steele | ashley@oncelikeaspark.com | |
| K | Molly Dorkey | mdorkey@gmail.com | |
| First | Kathleen Belknap | kathleenbelknap@gmail.com | |
| Second | Keri Massey | masseykeri@gmail.com | |
| Third | Kate Weatherford | kate.weatherford@gmail.com | |
| Fourth | Jamie Voidevich | soupstudios@gmail.com | |
| Fifth | Tammy Caudell | caudellt@clarke.k12.ga.us |
Safe Routes: This team works to encourage healthy, eco-friendly alternatives to daily driving to school. On the first Friday of each month, Barrow holds a ‘Safe Routes to School’ day. The group does a ‘walking school bus’, provides snacks, visits by UGA athletes and incentives for students who bike and walk.
Contact: Bree Marsh breemarsh9@gmail.com
Spring Fling: Coordinates the end of year school wide carnival, held near the end of April. The carnival includes games, prizes, inflatables, concessions, face painting, etc. It is not a fundraiser but rather an opportunity to celebrate the year.
Contact: Abby Oviedo abby.oviedo2@gmail.com
Teacher Appreciation: Plans and coordinates ways to express our thanks to our wonderful Barrow faculty and staff, including salad lunches, breakfasts, flowers for teachers and small gifts/tokens of appreciation. Also coordinates end of the year booklets for teachers with student thank you’s.
Contact: Mary Nicholson mcnicholson23@gmail.com; Mary Boyce maryw94@gmail.com
Parent Advisory Board: The Parent Advisory Board (PAB) promotes the discussion and development of a shared vision of the educational needs of all students in the Clarke County School District. PAB provides a forum for parents to share their opinions and ideas with each other, the school district administration, and the Clarke County Board of Education.
PAB is made up of parent representatives from each school. The group meets monthly to learn about district-wide issues and programs, discuss district-wide concerns, and offer advice and feedback to the Superintendent. Each school seeks parents from its own community to serve on PAB. For the 2018-2019 school year this board will be filled on a rotation by the PTA Executive Board.
Contact: Usha Rodrigues rodrig@uga.edu
PTA Executive Board: The PTA Board works with our principal, Dr. Sabatini, and her staff to better understand the needs of teachers, families and the school, and find ways to meet those needs. The Board also works with the committee chairs, disseminates information, and hosts monthly meetings with programming (i.e. technology and nutrition). Prior to the start of the school year, the Board provides teacher “mini grants” to all Barrow professionals with instructional responsibilities. Contact: Barrow PTA Executive Board
The 2022-2023 PTA Executive Board:
Georgia Anne Moore, President graceandjameskids@gmail.com
Ashley Steele, Vice President ashley@oncelikeaspark.com
Kathleen Belknap, Treasurer kathleenbelknap@gmail.com
Cricket Hafer, Recording Secretary cricket0671@gmail.com
Natalie French, Social Media Coordinator njpisano@gmail.com