The 2025/2026 PTO Board
President – Margaret Battat Silva – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Vice President – Rachanee Nelson – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
Treasurer – Janeen Jones – Bigelowtreasurer@gmail.com
Secretary – Lanni Isenberg – BigelowBulldog@gmail.com
2025/2026 Committee Chairs
School Directory – Kathleen Shields
Communications/Website – Jillian Feinberg
Teacher Appreciation – Laura Goldworm & Jenny Rosenthal
Creative Arts & Sciences – Zlatena Simeonova & Susan St. Pierre
2025/2026 Liaison Positions
PoPS (Parents of Performing Students) – Tui Sutherland & Jillian Feinberg
Green Newton School Connections – Alexander Lee
FORJ – Angela Brooks & Hai Ly Burk
Yearbook – Sheryl Rice – 7th grade Social Studies teacher
Bigelow PTO Board and Committees 2025-2026
Would you like to become more involved in the strategic aspect of the Bigelow PTO? Please join us in helping direct and manage the overall program for 2026/26. See below for open positions and email us at bigelowbulldog@gmail.com
| POSITIONS | DESCRIPTION |
| President | Rotating leaders who are accountable for the success of the PTO |
| Vice President | Work with board and committee chairs to coordinate fundraising activities |
| Treasurer | Track budget and finances for the PTO |
| Secretary | Take minutes, keep the PTO calendar current, communication flow |
| Communications/ Website | Maintain info on the PTO website, send newsletters |
| School Directory | Maintain database of parents/students. |
| Creative Arts & Sciences | Help enrich the curriculum by planning cultural events for the student body |
| Back to School Picnic | Coordinate the back to school picnic at Franklin Park with the school administration (September) |
| 6th Grade Potluck | Organize the 6th grade community “getting to know you” event (September) |
| 8th Grade Activities | Lead 8th grade parents as they organize the Moving On ceremony and other transition activities for the outgoing 8th graders |
| Ten Tables | Organize our Progressive Dinner fundraiser (Fall) |
| Big Night | Coordinate the planning our Winter fundraiser (Spring) |
| Teacher Appreciation | Organize the teacher appreciation luncheons and teacher appreciation activities throughout the school year |
| Scholarship Fund | Develop the The Cyndi Dailey-Smith and Howard B. Smith Scholarship Fund, which provides support for Bigelow students who might not be able to otherwise participate in cultural and curricular enrichment learning opportunities, such as field trips |
| Nominating Committee | Look for new PTO board and committee members. There are 5 members: the chair and the feeder schools representatives: Cabot, Mason Rice, Lincoln Eliot, Underwood, Ward |
| LIAISON POSITIONS | |
| Boston Parents | Liaison to the Boston parent METCO families. |
| POPs | Liaison between the PTO and PoPS parents to coordinate events and streamline communications |
| SEPAC | Liaison to the volunteer organization of parents of children with disabilities in Newton |
| FORJ | Liaison to the volunteer organization Families Organizing for Racial Justice (FORJ) helping our children learn about issues of power and inequality and how to stand up for racial justice |
| Safe Routes to School | Liaison to the volunteer organization that encourages walking, biking and taking the bus to school. |
| Green Newton School Connections | Liaison to the volunteer organization that promotes sustainability in schools (reduce, reuse, recycle and climate action). |
| Newton School Foundation | Liaison to the Newton Schools Foundation |