Parent contributions
The PIMA Program recognizes parents from local school systems across the State of Maryland, nominated for their contributions in one or more of the five areas of parental involvement: Communication; Volunteering; Learning; Decision Making; and Community Collaboration.
Many of the semifinalists from previous years have become parent involvement advocates on the statewide level – serving as members of task forces, presenters at statewide meetings, and participants in education conventions as well as focus groups.
Semifinalist Brandy Hoot is the mother of three school-aged South Shore students and a parent volunteer extraordinaire. For the past three years, she has served as the school’s PTA president, taking it from a fundraising event organization to an organized parent-teacher voice focused on academic program excellence. She has worked to increase communication and connection between South Shore families and the school, helping parents understand and support curricular changes. She assisted students in creating a silent film for an international collaborative filmmaking project. She encouraged students to create Habitat Hall, a life-size mural to share their knowledge of different habitats. She also played a pivotal role in helping the school maintain its Maryland Green School status.
Dianne Kyle is the creative force and supervisor of the her school’s annual Read-a-Thon fundraiser, “Reading Across Huntingtown,” to promote childhood literacy and to raise money to purchase new equipment for the school. An enormous undertaking, she puts in over 100 hours each year for this program. Since its inception, the Read-a-Thon has generated over $26,000 to purchase new playground equipment, student laptops and charging stations, and build and outfit an outdoor learning pavilion for students and teachers. She has been on the PTA Executive Board for four years and is the current president. Dianne is a gifted communicator and involves the entire community in supporting the school. She also donates her time and talents to Back-to-School events, Breakfast with Santa, Scholastic Book Fairs and the Silent Auction. She is a tireless and passionate advocate for every single child at Huntingtown Elementary School.
