TJ PTO Volunteer Opportunities
The Thomas Jefferson Parent Teacher Organization proudly supports its students, teachers and staff at Thomas Jefferson School! Please consider volunteering your time to support TJ's wonderful programs, events & fundraising committees!
We have a wide range of opportunities and open positions available, with varying levels of time commitment and we need people with many different skills. Please read through our opportunities below and sign up here! Please note you must be logged into membership toolkit to sign up for any open positions.
Board Positions | Committee Chairs | Ongoing Volunteer Committee Opportunities | Event-Specific Volunteer Opportunities
Board Positions
The TJ PTO Board is the backbone of the PTO organization and community. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to meet new people! To make the workload much easier for busy parents, we have the option to split all of the positions into co-chair roles. We cannot have a PTO next year without board members, so please consider signing up.
Co-Presidents
Co-Presidents: Brenda Lopez and Stephanie Brumby
The co-presidents will serve as the leaders of the PTO, serve as the liaison with the Thomas Jefferson principal and board members and, will approve events that will be throughout the year. The co-presidents will hold meetings, work with volunteers that coordinate events and partner with the Treasurer to review and coordinate the budget.
Treasurer or Co-Treasurer
Treasurer: Kelly Durante
The treasurer is responsible for the PTO funds and accounts. They will manage the disbursements of funds, oversee collection of money, do the banking, and handle the accounting and books for the PTO budget.
Co-VPs of Fundraising
Co-VPs of Fundraising: Andreia Santos and Melissa Scibetta
The VP of Fundraising assists the Co-Presidents in coordinating and scheduling fundraisers for the year (ongoing and specific events) with the committee chairs. Will work with the treasurer to meet the PTO budget.
Secretary
Secretary: Meg Lembo
The secretary assists the Co-Presidents. The main role will be to record and distribute meeting minutes for the PTO meetings. The secretary will also work with the Communications Co-Chairs on content for the Newsletters.
Communications Co-Chairs
Co-chairs: Emma Davis and Alissa Walmsley
The communications chairs assist the Co-Presidents with maintenance of the membership toolkit website and keep information current. Also responsible for sending out weekly newsletters and event notifications / reminders to everyone in the PTO directory.
Committee Chair Positions
We have a wide range of committee chair opportunities within the TJ School community. We wouldn’t be able to do anything without our volunteers! Below is a list of all of our committee chairs with descriptions, please consider signing up for one of our open positions! All parents are welcome and we need your help to make the Spring of 2022 and the 2022-2023 school year the best it can be for our kids. If you are interested in a specific committee that is already filled, please go to the committee volunteer sign up sections below to sign up to be part of the team! We can’t wait to work together!
Book Fair Co-Chairs
Co-Chairs: Kerry Hershberger and Leslie Van Der Heoff
Coordinate with vendors, promote the event and arrange with teachers for classroom visits to Book Fair. Organize book fairy and teacher wish-list programs. Volunteers set-up, help students select books, sell and takedown the Book Fair. Book Fair will be open one evening during TJ’s Literacy Night, in addition to normal school hours.
Catalog Fundraiser Chair
Chair: Keishin Kono
A catalog fundraiser coordinator to organize, collect, manage and distribute orders. For the 2021-2022 school year, please support the TJ PTO by shopping Boon Supply, where we earn 40% of any purchase.
Color Run Committee Co-Chairs
Co-Chairs: Christina Gulish and Jeremy Gulish
The October 2021 Fall color run event was our biggest fundraiser of the Fall and planning for the 2022 Color Run is already underway. The co-chairs coordinate logistics, volunteers, ordering TJ Titan t-shirts and sunglasses for the kids, donations before and during the event, etc.
Community Chair
Chair: Lauren Taylor
Responsible for annual Holiday Drive to support TJ School's families in need such as the Thanksgiving Basket Drive and the holiday gift cards. This chair also has the option to organize and implement additional charitable efforts during the year.
Cultural Arts Chair
Chair: Brenda Lopez
Works with the TJ School Administration to select the Arts in Education programming for the school year. Coordinates with the MEF and participates in roundtables for arts in education. Assists with contracts, booking dates, etc. Also responsible for assisting artists during their time at TJ.
Family Nights Co-Coordinators
Co-chairs: Nicole Olshefski and Claire Town
Organize and run 1-2 family fun nights through the school year. Coordinate event with parents & teachers, as well as ordering and sale of refreshments during the event. In the Spring of 2022 we hosted a Sports Night Event.
Fifth Grade Farewell Picnic Coordinator
Co-Coordinators: Alison Barber and Kerry Hershberger
Each year we need a fifth grade parent to coordinate volunteers and plan a day of activities, food and fun for 5th grade “graduating” students at an off campus location, usually Lidgerwood Park in Morristown.
Fifth Grade Yearbook Coordinator
Co-Chairs: Laure Ferrando and Charles Ferrando
The coordinator helps organize a committee of volunteers to collect photos, edit and produce a yearbook for the 5th grade class. 5th grade parent volunteers are needed to act as photographers, reporters and editors to complete this project.
Fundraising Co-Chairs
Co-Chairs: Emily Lipnick and Randi Albiston
Coordinates 3-4 fundraising events through the school year with local businesses where TJ families can order food or gifts, have restaurant nights, etc. and a percentage of each bill is given back to the PTO. 2021-22 events have included Mangiano’s Pizza in November and Verilli’s Bakery Valentine’s Treats in February.
Hospitality & Teacher Appreciation Chair
Chair: Donna Grutt
Volunteers are responsible for organizing and working at Teacher Luncheons for Back to School and Teacher's Appreciation Week as well as small "thank you's" throughout the school year. Organize committee volunteers to organize food and cash donations from parents, decorate, serve the luncheon and clean up.
Landscaping & Beautification Chair
Chair: Christina Sipley
Solicit donations, coordinate volunteers, plant seasonal flowers for front entrance of building and TJ Sign as well as miscellaneous school beautification projects.
Parent Night Out Event Chair
Chair: Katherine Vizzini
This committee organizes a TJ Parent night out fundraiser in the spring. In the past these events have included the March Madness Event.
Restocking the Teacher's Lounge Coordinator
Chair: Heather Hanna
Coordinates the restocking of the teacher's lounge with donated supplies from parents on a bimonthly basis, depending on need.
Rewards Programs Chair
Chair: Meg Lembo
Coordinate rewards programs for the TJ PTO including Box Tops for Education, Amazon Smile, Shutterfly, and any other additional programs. Provide education and communication to parents and staff about how to participate in these “free money” programs for our school.
Room Parent Coordinator
Chair: Sharon Lee
The room parent coordinator is responsible for assigning room parents based on applications as well as coordinating various volunteer and communication needs for TJ PTO events and programs. Classroom coordinators work closely with the grade-level helping teacher and room parents work closely with respective classroom teachers.
School Clubs Coordinators
Coordinator: Sara Osean
Teacher-led after school clubs are offered to the students for a fee. The committee organizes the offerings and is the coordinator for the teachers and parents. Clubs are offered in the Fall, Winter and Spring and cover varied topics: sports, games, art, etc.
School Store Co-Chairs
Co-Chairs: Amanda Plummer and Lauren Crescenzi
The school store is a sales event where students can purchase small novelty items, such as school supplies, themed items and collectibles, etc. and is usually run on various days throughout the year. The two largest school store events are the Winter Holiday Boutique (December) & Mother's Day Boutique (Spring). Co-chairs are responsible for purchasing items for sale, coordinating volunteers for set up and running the school store, etc.
Science Day Chair
Chair: Alissa Walmsley
Assist the Science teacher with the planning and execution of the annual STEM Day in the spring including coordinating activities and parent sign-ups to assist in the classrooms during the event.
Sneaker Drive Coordinator
Coordinator: Rosa Patino
Coordinate the ongoing sneaker drive for the 2022-2023 school year with GotSneakers, a social enterprise for recycling sneakers. The TJ PTO earns funds for every pair donated. Responsibilities include picking sneakers up from the drive box at the school and dropping the pre-labeled bags off for shipping, as well as coordinating drive boxes as specific PTO events.
Spanish Language Communications / Translator
Chair: Brenda Lopez
A Spanish language communications translator is a critical role within PTO and this person will assist the co-presidents, communication chair and committee chairs with translating important PTO documents, communications & flyers throughout the school year. This easy role can be done at home.
Spirit Wear Coordinator
Chair: Amita Gumpper
Coordinates the sale and distribution of school t-shirts, magnets and other TJ school merchandising at major school events throughout the year. Responsible for coordinating the online store, offering school related Spirit wear. items at the beginning of school.
Sunshine Coordinator
Coordinator: Donna Grutt
Sunshine Coordinator is responsible for sending notes and condolences to teachers and staff, as well as minimal gifts for momentous occasions (wedding, 1st baby, retirement). It’s a great way to show appreciation to our teachers for their big life milestones.
Ongoing Volunteer Committee Opportunities
If you don’t have the bandwidth to chair a committee but would still like to be involved throughout the year with the PTO, join one of our committees below! These opportunities are ongoing and happen throughout the year. It’s a great way to stay involved in the school community!
Room Parents
Sign-ups for room parents is in September of each school year. To learn more about room parents for each classroom, click here.
Fifth Grade Yearbook Committee
5th grade parent volunteers are needed to act as photographers, reporters and editors to create a yearbook for the entire 5th grade class under the yearbook coordinators. Photos from parents and teachers need to be collected and organized in addition to book layout creation. The yearbooks are a wonderful keepsake for the entire 5th grade class and wouldn’t be possible without parent volunteers.
I’m a 5th Grade Parent! Sign me up for the 2022-23 yearbook!
Hospitality & Teacher Appreciation Committee
Volunteers assist the Committee Chairs in providing lunches for Back to School and Teacher's Appreciation Week as well as small "thank you's" throughout the school year. Committee volunteers help to organize food and cash donations from parents, decorate, serve the luncheon and clean up.
Sign Up for the 2022-23 School Year
Landscaping & Beautification Committee
This committee needs volunteers to plant seasonal flowers by the front entrance and the TJ Sign, as well as miscellaneous outdoor school beautification projects throughout the year.
Sign Up to be on the committee
School Store Volunteer Committee
The school store is a sales event where students can purchase small novelty items, such as school supplies, themed items and collectibles, etc. and is usually run on various days throughout the year. The two largest school store events are the Winter Holiday Boutique (December) & Mother's Day Boutique (Spring). Volunteers are needed to help plan, set up each school store event, run the events, clean up from the event and during the holiday boutique provide wrapping services to students.
Sign up to volunteer for the 2022-23 School Year
Event-Specific Volunteer Opportunities
If you don’t have the bandwidth to chair a committee but would still like to be involved with the PTO for a one-off event, join one of our committees below! We need volunteers to assist the committee chairs with planning and organizing, as well as volunteers to fill time-slots during the event. It’s a great way to get involved when you have limited availability.
Book Fair (Spring of 2023)
Help organize and set up at the book fair. There will also be a need for parent volunteers to help run the book fair during the event.
I am interested in volunteering for the book fair committee for Spring 2023
Color Run (Fall of 2022)
The color run is our biggest fundraiser of the fall! Volunteers help run the event, organize supplies, sell spirit wear, take donations during the event, throw color on the kids, etc.
A big thank you to everyone who volunteered to help this year!
Family Nights: Spring Event (2023)
This committee organizes the Family Night Event in the spring. In May of 2022, the TJ PTO hosted a spring sports night.
I am interested in volunteering for the Spring Family Night Event Committee
Field Day (June 2023)
A fun-filled day full of outdoor games between classroom teams organized by Mr. Brown, the Physical Education teacher. Volunteers help run the event and organize supplies (water, cups, ice, ice-pops).
Keep an eye out for the sign up in early June!
Parent Night Out Event (Spring 2023)
This committee organizes a TJ Parent night out fundraiser in the spring. In the past these events have included the March Madness and the Kentucky Derby.
I am interested in volunteering for the Parent Night Out Event in Spring 2023
Fifth Grade Farewell Picnic (June 2023)
Each year we need a fifth grade parent volunteer to help with a day of activities, food and fun for 5th grade “graduating” students at an off campus location, usually Lidgerwood Park in Morristown.
Upcoming Events
- Friday, March 31
- Monday, April 3
- Tuesday, April 4
- Wednesday, April 5
- Thursday, April 6
- Friday, April 7
- Tuesday, April 11
- Monday, April 17
