Thurston PTA Officers and Chairs
President - Lisa LaCorte
Vice President - Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal
Treasurer - Kelly Osborne
Recording Secretary - Melissa Vermilya
Financial Secretary - Laura Jumani
Historian - OPEN
Parliamentarian - James Azadian
Membership Chair - Lisa Jensen
Website Manager - Trisha Dearing, Kathleen Gonzales, Sharon Rose
Super Hikes Online Signup- Faith Mills
Ball Room - Leslie Heard
Constant Contact Communications - Howson Fong
Special Education Liaison - Stacy Collins Johnson, Lisa Barreth
Teachers/Staff 5 Meeting Breakfasts - Roshaunie Sirianni, Angela Chin, Lisa Britt
Cheddar Up Manager - Trisha Dearing
Sports Swap - James Azadian
Reflections Art Contest - Lori Werstein
Kindness Challenge - Staci Bina
Angels Family Night - Lisa Barreth
Book Swap - Sheri Morgan
6th Grade Oral History - Tammy Skenderian, Juliet Chesley
PTA Mission Statement
The mission of PTA is to represent our members and to empower and support them with the skills in advocacy, leadership, and communication to positively impact the lives of all children and families.
The National PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer association working exclusively on behalf of all children and youth. For more than 100 years, the National PTA has promoted the education, health, and safety of children, youth, and families.
PTA Mission Statement
The mission of PTA is to represent our members and to empower and support them with the skills in advocacy, leadership, and communication to positively impact the lives of all children and families.
The National PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer association working exclusively on behalf of all children and youth. For more than 100 years, the National PTA has promoted the education, health, and safety of children, youth, and families.
California State PTA Goals
Build awareness about the critical role of parents, families and PTAs/PTSAs in helping all children reach their full potential.
Promote, increase and support membership.
Promote, support and engage in advocacy on behalf of children, youth and families in our schools, communities, state and nation.
Develop, strengthen and diversify leadership at all levels.
Thurston History
Thurston Middle School was established in 1968. Originally known as Marie Thurston Junior High, the school was built to honor Marie Thurston who was the first principal of Laguna Beach Grade School in 1913 and one of the first teachers in Laguna Beach.
PTA Core Values
The California State PTA is a professional, non-profit volunteer organization committed to the well-being of all children.
We believe every adult has a responsibility to ensure that all children develop to their full potential.
We believe parents are children’s first teachers and that parent involvement is essential throughout a child’s educational experience.
We believe that family is the basic unit of society responsible for the support and nurturing of all children, and we recognize that “the family” may be defined in many ways.
We believe our responsibility includes advocating for the safety and welfare of all children and the opportunity for a quality public education for each child.
Basic Policies
The organization shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.
The organization shall work with the schools and community to provide quality education for all children and youth and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities.
The organization shall work to promote the health and welfare of children and youth and shall seek to promote collaboration between parents, schools, and the community at large.
No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, directors, trustees, officers, or other private persons except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (i) by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Upon the dissolution of this organization, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the organization, the remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more nonprofit funds, foundations, or organizations that have established their tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and whose purposes are in accordance with those of the National PTA.
The organization or members in their official capacities shall not—directly or indirectly—participate or intervene (in any way, including the publishing or distributing of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office, or devote more than an insubstantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise.
The organization or members in their official capacities shall not endorse a commercial entity or engage in activities not related to promoting the Purposes of the organization.
The organization shall not enter into membership with other organizations except such international, national, or state organizations as may be approved by the California State PTA.
The California State PTA or any of its divisions may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerned with child welfare, but a PTA/PTSA representative shall make no commitments that bind the group he represents.