Leadership

2021-22 Executive Board

President

Tekia Stokes

Tekia Stokes is a new parent at CJMS and is excited to take on the role of PTSA president for the 2021-2022 school year. She has worked in the education and nonprofit industries as a strategic human resources partner and equity and inclusion practitioner for more than 12 years, but considers her most important job being mom to Christian (current 6th grader) and Cameron (rising 6th grader). She strongly believes that all children, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, neighborhood, or identity deserve a rigorous and high-quality education and is dedicated to ensuring that the right people are in positions to achieve that.

1st Vice President

Erika Schwartz

Erika is mom to current CJMS 7th grader Gabrielle, and Freddy who is a 4th grader at The McLean School. In her professional life she is a podiatrist seeing patients in Washington DC and Chevy Chase, Maryland. Erika was a Director on the Board of the Seven Locks Elementary School Educational Foundation while her kids were students there, and looks forward to getting involved now at CJMS as a member of the PTSA Board.

2nd Vice President

Martine Kiazand

Martine was born and grew up in France. She has 2 children Leonie (8th Grade) at Cabin John MS and Elise (10th Grade) at McLean School. She has lived in Germany, Connecticut, and California before moving to the area in 2014. At Seven Locks Elementary School, she chaired the book fair and the after school activities. She has a degree of Midwifery and is excited to participate in the PTSA and support the Cabin John middle school community.

Treasurer

Cher Serhal

Cher recently moved to our community last year and immediately volunteered to help at Cabin John. She has a rising 7th grader at Cabin John and a rising 11th grader at Churchill. She led our effort to create our first online school store during the 2020-2021 school year.

Secretary

Geeta De Silva

Geeta will be continuing to serve our community in this role for the next school year. She is the mother of two boys at Cabin John, in 6th and 7th grades. She has been in the area for three years, having moved from North Carolina. Before NC, they lived in New Jersey and New York City for several years. Previously, she was Co-Chair of the Community Service Committee at Seven Locks. She also volunteered for various events including the Fall Festival, Book Fair, Spelling Bee and Geography Bee, and served as a Room Parent. Her professional career has been focused on finance for educational institutions and the pharmaceutical industry.

Committees

COMMITTEE or POSITION
2020-21 CHAIR(S)
DESCRIPTION
After School Activities
*OPEN*
Plan, organize, market special after school programs
Book Fair
Yen Wang
Organize book fair: negotiate contract, volunteers -One book fair planned for 2020-21
Box Tops Chair
*OPEN*
Advertise and implement Box Tops drive
Churchill MCCPTA Delegate
Frank Wang
Coordinate with Churchill cluster; MCCPTA position
Community Service Days
Karen Derringer
Organize community service (SSL) volunteer days for CJMS students, staff and families
Communications Chair
Amy Rogstad
Coordinates all announcements and posts them to the PTSA website through an intuitive WordPress editor. All posts will get disseminated automatically as a weekly email to subscribers. Maintains the events listings on the PTSA website calendar. Web skills NOT necessary. Training provided if requested. Help post upcoming events and articles of interest to our community on the CJMS FB page
Directory
Amy Quakenboss
Coordinate production of Student Directory
GT Liaison
*OPEN*
Advocate for GT issues.
International Night
Sabah Iqbal, Qing Yu
Organize CJMS International Night – celebration of cultures!
First Lego League
*OPEN*
Parent run activity
NAACP Liaison
Nnema Byrd
Liaison between PTSA, CJMS, and NAACP Parents’ council
Nominating Committee
*OPEN*, Need 3 volunteers to start work in February 2021
3 volunteers to help vet a board for the upcoming year
Odyssey of the Mind school coordinator
Gunay Dogan
Liaison between Odyssey of the Mind and school, coordinating teacher(s), students and materials for competition
MathCounts
Wenjun Hu
Parent-led math club that meets after school and participates in competitions
Membership
Amy Quakenboss
Organize membership (starts Aug)
Model United Nations
Geeta De Silva
After School Activity coordination
Principal’s Teas
Cheryl Katz
Arrange the three grade-level Principal’s Teas
Reflections Art Contest
Jen Barlow
Promote, oversee and coordinate Reflections Art program; well suited to an “artsy” volunteer
Restaurant Night Spirit Night
Nancy Stark
Organize, promote and run 2-3 local restaurant spirit nights
Safety Chair
Peggy VanEepoel
Liaison with MCPS and CJMS for concerns over school safety
School Supply Kit Fundraiser
Erica Schwartz
Manage School Supply Kit fundraiser
School Store Chair
Cher Serhal
Manage store inventory and coordinate volunteers
Speaker Chair
*OPEN*
Arrange for speakers for the PTSA meetings
Special Community Liaison
Nancy Stark
Work with counseling office to coordinate school supply drives, coat drives, etc.
Special Needs Liaison
*OPEN*
Keep PTSA members informed of important items for our Special Needs community
Staff Appreciation Week
Joey Brookhart and Yen Wang
Coordinate and run Teacher Appreciation Week for CJMS staff in May
Staff Breakfast for Back to School
Yen Wang
Coordinate and run event the day before school starts
Staff/Teacher cookie buffet
Kemi Macaulay
Plan and organize event for teachers and staff in December
SGA Coordinator
Ms. Keller
Liaison between SGA and PTSA
Volunteer Coordinator
*OPEN*
Keep list of and reach out to members of the community who can help with events
Website
Matthew Barlow, SSL Volunteer, SSL Volunteer
Maintain and update the CJMS PTSA website
Back to School Picnic/Social
Gabriel Lai
Organize back to school event in early September
Wootton MCCPTA Delegate
Yen Wang
Coordinate with Wootton cluster; MCCPTA position