The Hammond Council PTA 77th Annual Founders’ Day Program Friday night at Dynasty Banquets in Hammond honored 33 of Hammond Schools’ fiercely dedicated PTA members - parents, teachers and administrators.
The hall was filled to capacity with nominees who were recognized for volunteering their time and efforts to improve the quality of education for Hammond students, joining the rich history of PTA members past who advocated for a juvenile justice system, child labor laws, childhood immunizations and school lunch programs, all of which are still in place.
Honorees and their families and friends enjoyed the evening under crystal chandeliers in elegant surroundings.
National PTA Board of Directors Member Representative Dee Jones, who served as emcee for Friday’s event, gave a brief history of the PTA.
“On February 17, 1897 this historical association was founded to be the voice of children who could not speak or advocate for themselves,” said Jones, who is also a family involvement facilitator for the School City of Hammond. “On that evening in Washington, DC 200 people were expected at the first official meeting - over 2,000 showed up.Tonight we celebrate PTA members who give continuously on behalf of the children we serve.”
School City of Hammond Superintendent Walter Watkins commended those who attended Friday for braving the cold in order to participate.
“On behalf of the staff and the administration and the board of school trustees I want to say congratulations and thank you,” Watkins said.
“The work that we do in the School City of Hammond is challenging and difficult, and as many of you know is under attack from every front you can possibly imagine, but working with the triad of the schools, the community and the parents, we will prevail and we will continue to provide quality educational programs to the extent possible for all our students.
Indiana PTA President Sharon Wise briefed the audience in PTA’s history.
“One of the reasons we are here tonight is that back in 1897 there was a woman, Alice McClellan Birney - a teacher, a widow and a mother of two - who decided she didn’t like what she saw. She didn’t like the fact that children were in factories working. She didn’t like the fact that our children were dying from diseases, and she decided she’d had enough. She contacted "her friend Phoebe Apperson Hearst, who then got with her son, the publishing giant William Randolph Hearst, and together they founded the National Congress of Mothers.”
In 1926 Selena Sloan Butler founded the National Congress of Colored Parents, Wise said.
“Then in 1970, they joined together to make one of the most powerful child advocacy groups in the world - the National PTA,” Wise said. “That, my friends, is amazing. What we want you to understand at Indiana PTA is that your voice counts.We need you talking to our legislators.”
The evening’s keynote speaker State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, implored those honored to take a stand and make their voices heard downstate to improve the state of education in Indiana. Lawson urged her audience to contact their legislators.
“Write letters. Get on the computer,” Lawson said in an emotional speech.
Jones also asked those present to contact their legislators to restore support to the state’s schools.
“Today, more than ever before, public education is under attack,” said Jones, “Please join us in our advocacy. Contact your legislators. If they don’t hear from you, they think everything’s OK.”
Maria Moreno, PTA treasurer for Edison School was one of those honored Friday. Moreno received a certificate for lifetime achievement.
“I’m excited. I’m happy,” Moreno said. “They’re great people and I learned from the best.”
Edison PTA President Olivia Landeros said of Moreno, “She does so much for our school. She goes way beyond. Any time we need her she’s there.”
Michael Carey, principal at Harding Elementary, was also honored.
“It’s exciting. It’s an honor. What we do for kids we do because we love kids. I don’t need an award to do that, but it’s nice to be recognized for doing good things.”
“I’m very excited for all the nominees just because everyone here is for kids and helping families, and doing what’s best for our schools, so it’s exciting to celebrate this with all these advocates for children,” Assistant Principal Julie Pearson said.
Wise said later, “Tonight was a fantastic night. I love coming to the Founders Days throughout the state because we see the parents that are making things happen within our schools, and that’s the best part of all of this - getting to see everybody that is really making a difference a difference day in and day out in our kids’ lives. It’s just amazing.”
Friday’s honorees included: Hammond Council PTA- Kriss Byquist-Miller Hammond High School - Mrs. Rocharda Moore Moris Lafayette Elementary School - Ama Murphy, Elizabeth Kuhmichel Scott Middle School - Miss Regina Ellis, Mrs. Colleen Bergren Morton Elementary School - Mrs. Shelly Smolar, Mrs. Maribel Cervantes Hess Elementary School - Sasha Armstrong, Susan Hale Morton High School - Mrs. Mary McFarland, Mr. Jason Cherry Lincoln Elementary School - Mrs. Karla Davis Harding Elementary School - Monica L. Seren, Jennifer R. Reno, Michael A. Carey Edison Elementary School - Stephanie Kovacik, Jodi Flanagan, Maria Moreno Jefferson Elementary School - April Rindocks, LaMira Sampson, Denise Holmes O’Bannon Elementary School - Pamela Danko, Dennis Danko, Phyllis Allen, Renee Whelan Maywood Elementary School - Linda Frazier Eggers Middle School - Maria Galarza