About Us

Our Mission

• To build a supportive network and foster communication between families, educators, elected school officials and the greater Andover community

• To secure the highest advantages in education for the children of West Elementary

• To cultivate and promote educational, informative, and volunteer programs and financial resources for the school

What We Do

• Every year we provide more than 20 curriculum based enrichment programs to ensure our students stay current and competitive. These programs include Techsploration, The Bay Colony Educators, Top Secret Science, Star Lab, WERAWC, and the list goes on.

• We host a variety of social events to foster a sense of community. Some of these events include Bingo Night, Ice Cream Social, International Night, Holiday Coffee, Sweetheart Dance and more.

• Our fundraising efforts have purchased many needed items for our school ranging from Smart Boards and ipads to playground equipment.

• We send weekly newsletters to keep the West Elementary community informed of the many happenings in school and within the Andover community.

• We attend meetings within the greater Andover community as representatives of West El

• We develop, organize, and recruit volunteers for informational meetings, social gatherings, and various other school events in an effort to foster a sense of community within the school.

• To aid our teachers and to recognize their efforts, we recruit and organize room parents for each of their classrooms and organize teacher appreciation breakfasts and luncheons.

How We Do It …YOU!

The West Elementary PTO is a successful and enthusiastic organization because of phenomenal parental involvement. Not only are all PTO programs, events and initiatives managed with 100% volunteer power, all PTO initiatives are 100% funded by charitable donations from parents and friends of West El.

PTO BOARD MEMBERS 2022-2023

MEET THE WEST ELEMENTARY PTO

BECKY CROW – CO-PRESIDENT

Becky has a daughter in third grade, and two boys in middle school. Way back in 2015, when a friend asked if she wanted to go to the open PTO meeting with her Becky asked “Why would I do that?” Clearly a lot has changed since then. Becky works from home, and spends the rest of her time driving her kids to sporting events and play rehearsal, and occasionally sneaking in a round of golf.

KATIE SMITH – CO-PRESIDENT

Katie has a daughter in fourth grade and a son in middle school. She started her PTO journey at Shawsheen and has kept it going here at West El. She also runs the social media pages for West El and West Middle. A former elementary school teacher, she now teaches Spin at two local studios. In her free time, she loves to go to concerts, musicals and visit family in Vermont and New Zealand.

JACI HOLLINGSWORTH – CO-VICE-PRESIDENT

Jaci has a son at West Middle, a daughter in 4th grade and a son in 1st grade. Jaci has been involved in supporting activities at West El since her son started Kindergarten. Volunteering at events such as book fair, WERAWC, Sweetheart dance, Ice cream social, etc and having the joy of being a room parent over the years while working full-time in Biotech as a QC Scientist. This year she took the plunge and accepted a position on the board. In her spare time she coaches soccer and Girls on the Run, is a cheer team mom, travels all over MA and southern NH/CT for Ninja Warrior competitions and Football games, and is a member of the board for Merrimack Valley Spartans Football & Cheer. She secretly would love to be a wedding/event planner so she is VERY excited to be planning the sweetheart dance this year.

LINDSAY CORCORAN – CO-VICE-PRESIDENT

Lindsay has two girls at West Elementary, and has been a valuable member of the PTO.

HEATHER NASH – CO-TREASURER

Heather has a daughter in 5^th grade at West El, a son in 8^th grade at WMS, and a son in 10^th grade at AHS. She started on the West El PTO as the Secretary in 2017 and has been the Treasurer since 2019. She is also involved in the PTO at West Middle and the Andona Scholarship Committee. Heather worked in marketing before becoming a stay-at-home mom/kid taxi service. She enjoys attending her kids' games/meets, taking boxing classes, and her guilty pleasure is watching anything on Bravo!

KRISTEN LINDAHL - CO-TREASURER

Kristen has two sons - one in first grade and one in pre-K. Kristen has a professional background in finance and is excited to use her financial skills to help the West El community. She enjoys coaching T-ball and curling up with a good book.

COURTNEY KWON - SECRETARY

Courtney has two sons in fourth and fifth grade at West Elementary. A few years ago, she was asked by a friend to join the PTO. Being part of the PTO allows her to support the school community in many ways. Courtney works as a school nurse at Wood Hill Middle School. She spends her time running marathons and being a taxi driver for her boys after school activities.

AMY BATTS – CO-SOCIAL CHAIR

Amy has boys in second & fifth grades at West El. and a daughter in 8th grade at West Middle School. She has been involved in the West El PTO since 2018 and recently started volunteering with the WMS PTO. As a former first grade teacher, Amy loves volunteering in the schools and staying connected. When she is not driving her 3 kids around to various sports & activities, Amy enjoys spending time on the beach at the Cape and on the mountains skiing in the winter.

NICOLE BARBAGALLO – CO-SOCIAL CHAIR

Nicole has three children, one daughter in middle school and two sons, one in fifth and one in third grade. She’s new to the PTO this year. Her background is in special education. She enjoys skiing and golfing with her family.

TARA BODINE- SEPAC LIASON

Tara has a son in fourth grade, and son in third grade and a one year old (future Shawsheen student!). She serves as the Vice Chair of the Andover Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Tara’s role on the PTO is to support the connection of the West El community with the SEPAC. The SEPAC provides education and networking opportunities for parents to learn more about Special Ed services and ensure the voices of our community are brought back to the schools. Tara works in Human Resources for an Andover based medical device company. She spends her free time with her family doing all things soccer and at their home away from home in Wells, ME.