MEET THE PTA

2024-25 PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD

President: Jessie Kaye

Jessie fell in love with Maplewood’s artistic and inclusive community in 2016 with her husband Marco. She has 3 Tuscan Tigers–Vince (1st grade), Wyatt (3rd grade), Miles (Alum/6th grader at MMS). Last year as VP, she was on committees for the Walk-a-thon, Garden + Green team, Let's Glow dance, Teacher Appreciation Week and most proud to be a lead designer and volunteer for Team Unscreen. She’s currently an art director at Penguin Random House, specializing in Gift books. You can find her cheering on her kids at the baseball and flag football fields or running a 5K for a good cause. She served as communication director at Morrow Memorial Preschool and enjoyed community service. She can’t wait to bring her high spirit to Tuscan to make it the best school it can be and a welcome environment for all. Questions, comments, and criticisms are encouraged for a good cause. She can’t wait to bring her high spirit to Tuscan to make it the best school it can be.

Vice President/President Elect: Lauren Rosen

lrosen09@gmail.com

Lauren arrived in Maplewood in 2017. After years of missing NYC, she admittedly fell in love with Maplewood's charm and vibrant community. Lauren has 3 Tuscan Tigers- Jack (alum) starting 6th grade at MMS, Ella (3rd grade), and Oliver (Kindergarten). She taps into her creative energy by directing Tuscan Show skits, and her love of reading by volunteering at the Book Fair. Lauren is a School Psychologist who worked in NYC independent schools until 2021. She started her own consulting practice, Childhood Connected, to support the mental health of families closer to home. She is also the consulting School Psychologist at St. Rose of Lima Academy. Her passion for the well-being of children, parents, and educators is a driving force in her desire to support the Tuscan PTA. In her free time, Lauren can be found getting a latte at the Able Baker after pickleball, walking her beloved dog Winston, and chauffeuring her children across town.

Treasurer: Doug Doble

tuscanptatreasurer@gmail.com

Doug moved to Maplewood with his family nearly 9 years ago from...you guessed it...Brooklyn. His wife Cara works for a non-profit and is an avid reader and they have 2 kids, Josephine (7th grader at MMS) and Maximillian (4rd grader at Tuscan). Both kids are on travel soccer teams and also love playing basketball. Doug is a big sports nut...football (Jets), basketball (76ers) & soccer (USWNT, USMNT, Aston Villa, Man City & Real Madrid).

Doug served as Co-President of the PTO of his kids' preschool in South Orange for 3 years so it's not his first rodeo in this type of volunteer role and he is very excited to contribute as a 2nd-year Treasurer to a super fun 2024-25 school year!

Recording Secretary: Julie Hamilton

julielhamilton@gmail.com

Julie Hamilton is a writer, educator, and mom to a Tuscan tiger second-grade cub and a seventh-grade mustang. She believes community matters and involvement is essential, which is why she was thrilled to rejoin the PTA as the Recording Secretary for the 2024-2025 school year.

Communications Secretary: Lela Moore

tuscanschoolpta@gmail.com

Lela moved to Maplewood in 2021 with her family after a couple of decades knocking around Manhattan and Brooklyn and 15 years as a staffer at The New York Times. Her son Ned is a 2nd grader at Tuscan.

She is a freelance journalist (you may have seen her byline locally in Village Green, where she covers the Board of Ed) and also works part-time at the Maplewood Library while pursing a Masters of Information degree at Rutgers. She’s a member of the board of the South Mountain YMCA, a member of the SOMA Fox Running Club and recently became a Trustee of Achieve Foundation. She’s been a frequent recess and lunch volunteer at Tuscan and loves our community here.

She's excited to continue her position as Communications Secretary during the 2024-25 school year.

Co-VP Diversity Equity & Inclusion: TBD

Co-VP Diversity Equity & Inclusion: TBD

Ex-Officio: Amanda Durett Cercone

COMMITTEES and chairpeople

SEPAC Chair

Christy Mendoza cristyme@gmail.com

Website Manager

Regina Eckert reginaveckert@gmail.com

Social Media

Amanda Durett Cercone amandatheeditor@gmail.com

Membership Chair

Laura Schwinder laura.schwinder@gmail.com

Spirit Wear

Erica Dagley erica.dagley@gmail.com

Laura Carney laurakatecarney@gmail.com

Avery Freed avery.ella.freed@gmail.com

Yearbook tuscanyearbook@gmail.com

Arielle Betlyon arielle.kepler@gmail.com

Jennifer Padley jenniferkantor@gmail.com

Programming/Assemblies/Cultural Arts

Liz Schuppe eschuppe@gmail.com

Book Fair

Kate Bassel kabassel@gmail.com

Ice Cream Social

Amanda Durett Cercone amandatheeditor@gmail.com

Farmers Market

Laura Carney (lead) laurakatecarney@gmail.com

Sunshine Committee

Carrie McGee carrieleemcgee@gmail.com

Teacher Appreciation Week

Angela Jin Angela.jin.s@gmail.com

Memorial Day Parade

Lizzie Callahan elizabeth.zink@gmail.com

Mike Callahan mike@campuncommon.org

Picture Day

Vanessa Parvin vanessajuneparvin@gmail.com

Carrie McGee carrieleemcgee@gmail.com

Tuscan Show

Katie Rickard tuscanshow@gmail.com , rickard.katie@gmail.com

Maria Cramer cramer.maria@gmail.com

Dagny Baker dagnybaker@gmail.com

5th Grade Committee

Nóra C. O'Rourke noraorourke@gmail.com

Jill Noonan jillnoonan1@gmail.com

Lead Class Coordinator

Liz Millard liz.s.millard@gmail.com

Lost & Found

Amanda Willis Rabbat amanda.willis@gmail.com

Angela Jin Angela.jin.s@gmail.com

Lunch & Recess (Organize volunteers for lunch & recess duties)

Wen Zhu syselfamily4@gmail.com

Liz Millard liz.s.millard@gmail.com

Playground Equipment (Stock and maintain playground equipment)

Liz Millard liz.s.millard@gmail.com

Garden & Green Team Committee

Corinne Maulsby corinne.maulsby@gmail.com

Jenn Dugan dugan.jennifer@gmail.com

Hannah Shapiro Lewis hannahrshapiro@gmail.com

Regina Eckert reginaveckert@gmail.com

Amelia McCarthy rasche.a@gmail.com

Sinead Carew sineadcarew@gmail.com

Teacher Liaisons

Stefanie Wrembel swrembel@somsd.k12.nj.us

Jennifer Thomas jthomas@somsd.k12.nj.us

The following positions are currently open. Please sign up here or email tuscanptapres@gmail.com if you or anyone you know might be interested in learning more about the role.

SOMA Shares Liasion

Achieve Liasion

Harvest Festival (Fall)

5th Grade Committee

Fundraising Chair

International Festival (Celebrating all cultures)

Tuscan Tiger Mascot Committee (Maintain the costume and organize volunteers to wear it at events during the school year)

Sunshine Committee (Welcome Back Coffee, Appreciation Days, etc)

Movie Night (June)

Teacher Appreciation Week (May)

Tuscan Fair (Spring)

Principal