Episode Details

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supecast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They are in our schools and classrooms making a big difference every single day. On this episode of the Supercast, what it means to participate in PTA and why our schools simply wouldn't be the same without these incredible parent volunteers.

We're here at the Utah PTA offices talking with two members of the Executive Committee. I'm gonna let them introduce themselves, and then we're gonna talk about PTA.

Stacey Mollinet:
Hi, I'm Stacey Mollinet. I'm the President of Utah PTA, and I live in Layton.

LeAnn Wood:
I'm LeAnn Wood, I'm the Advocacy Vice President, and I live in Kaysville.

Anthony Godfrey:
I am also on the Executive Committee. I've served as the Administrator Representative, and I love being a part of it. And I have to say I'm blown away at the time that you put in the dedication and the knowledge. You guys know so much about what's going on in the state, and it's been really exciting for me to be part of it. Stacey, start off just talking about what got you involved in PTA, kind of your PTA journey.

Stacey Mollinet:
I just wanted to be involved with my kids at their school. I just wanted to volunteer in the classroom, help out, help enhance their education, and along the way I got to know their teachers. I found out that I was helping more than just my own child, and I got to know the administration, and I just really liked being in the schools.

Anthony Godfrey:
How about you, LeAnn?

LeAnn Wood:
Well, I'm a little bit more selfish than that. I had a son on the autism spectrum and didn't know it at the time. He started school and we had a lot of issues, and I found that through PTA I could get some parent training if I was to volunteer, and I needed all the help I could get. And so I volunteered in order to get some parent training. And along the way, I just found a community of people who really wanted to reach out and help others and cared about children. And so it helped my child, and then it turned into hoping to help thousands of children over the last 25 years.

Anthony Godfrey:
And you're right, you really do get to know a ton of great people when you become involved with PTA at the school level, at the region level, and at the state level. And the state level is why I'm here talking with you. First of all, most people don't even realize that there is a state office, like there's an actual building. I didn't realize that until I was on the committee and came by. Tell us a little bit about the office, where it is and, and how long it's been here.

Stacey Mollinet:
Yeah. We're at 53rd South exit just off of I-15. We used to have a building on South Temple that was previously owned by David O. McKay, and that building got too small. The parking wasn't very good, it was a little bit leaky and whatever, so we traded it in about 20 years ago. So we've been here at 53rd South for about 20 years and, and we own the building outright, so we don't have the expenses of rent or anything like that.

Anthony Godfrey:
One of the things that has stood out to me as I've attended conventions over the years is this idea that when PTA works together, PTA can accomplish things that families may not be able to accomplish on their own, or schools may not be able to accomplish on their own. So there's a synergy when everyone works together. What are some of the positive outcomes you've seen from the work that PTA does in the schools?

LeAnn Wood:
I think that reall