‘The work they’re doing is amazing’: Windham graduate forms district PTO

Update Jan. 19, 2025: This article was updated to include comments from Regan Bowman-Weiss, the Windham Teachers Association president.

Before alumna Nikki Sweet, the Windham Exempted Village Schools went without a Parent Teacher Organization for over a decade.

Since Sweet started up the organization in November, the group has already raised $650, grew to 25 members and gained support from across the tight-knit village – and the plans keep on coming.

“It’s such a nice program that can provide so many resources,” said Sweet, a ‘07 Windham High School graduate who has children in the district. “It’s an opportunity for our community, for our school district and for our children, and a way to give back to the district and to our teachers. Anybody who wants to come and volunteer their time, we welcome them with open arms.”

The Windham Bombers PTO is not affiliated with the school, but it works with the district to fundraise and provide resources. Sweet said the volunteer organization acts as a booster club for the school, helping provide funds for various aspects of education like needed supplies for teachers and staff and organizing events to promote community.

PTOs also facilitate parent involvement in schools, allowing them to meet with other families and school staff.

Support from the village of under 2,000 people has been fantastic, Sweet said.

“We are a low-income community and school district, so being able to provide funds for programs and services for the students, the administration and the teachers that the school might not otherwise be able to have is a focus,” said Sweet, who is also vice president of the Windham Youth Baseball & Softball Organization.

The Windham Bombers PTO kicked off its fundraising efforts in December with a candy cane gram sale, where students could buy a $1 candy cane for a peer or school worker. The initiative raised $650. These funds helped pay for the PTO’s start-up costs and nonprofit license and will help begin the process for funding future initiatives.

A PTO did exist in the district around a decade ago, Sweet said, but after the then-president’s children graduated, no one took over the program. After talking with parents, Sweet decided to take the lead and bring back the organization.

With a call to Windham Superintendent Michael Dobran in late October, the group soon formed.

“It just took someone to step up and say, ‘Hey, let’s do this,’ and the rallying of support that I’ve had behind me has been amazing,” Sweet said. “I’m always a busy person who likes to establish things. I am very hands on, and my love language is acts of service. It’s just a gratifying feeling knowing that we are able to provide this, and I’m excited to see what the future brings.”

Regan Bowman-Weiss, the Windham Teachers Association president, said she has talked to teachers throughout the district that are members of the union, and most of them are very excited for the PTO’s reformation. The district’s junior high teachers were grateful for the PTO’s help with their Santa Shop, where parents came in and helped students wrap presents before winter break in December. 

The teachers are willing to help out wherever they can, whether that be with donations or assisting with activities, and Bowman-Weiss said she has already reached out to the PTO to let them know her association is there to assist. 

“They’re definitely looking forward to what the PTO is going to be able to do, and from what they’ve done so far, I feel like it’s going to take a lot of the extra off of the teachers and the administration,” she said. “The fourth grade teacher last year would plan and implement the school dance that they had at Katherine Thomas (Elementary School). So, we’re hoping that maybe the PTO can help out with that and plan it and get the supplies.”

Regular meetings, where Sweet said new and old business is discussed as members share laughs and get to know each other, started back up Jan. 7.

Potential PTO plans include celebrating National School Board Recognition Month in January. In February, they plan to honor National School Counseling Week, National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day and School Bus Driver Appreciation Day.

Dobran, who started in his position this school year, said the PTO enhances what the district provides.

“The work they’re doing is amazing,” Dobran said. “Maybe we can do some things that we haven’t been able to do in the past because of some of the ideas, some of the fundraising and some of the support that they’ve given us. It’s just awesome to see the excitement about our school district and all the people coming together and pitching in.”

Editor’s note: Sweet is the Around Windham columnist for The Portager.

Isabella Schreck
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