News Releases
February 2007 Volunteer of the Month:
Dawn Chambers, Co-president, Carl Sandburg Junior High PTSA
 February 1, 2007
“An exceptional PTA president … an active parent volunteer … a wonderful advocate for students, families, and school faculty.”
That’s how her nominator described Dawn Chambers, whose District 15 and PTA/PTSA “career” has spanned several years. As the mother of four current or former District 15 students, Dawn has been a very involved volunteer, both at Carl Sandburg and at Thomas Jefferson School. In fact, she holds the distinction of being selected as “Volunteer of the Month” for a second time; she was also honored in September 2002 based on her many contributions at Thomas Jefferson.
At Carl Sandburg this year, Dawn’s leadership has been “enormously successful” in raising school spirit. She helped initiate a new Spirit Squad sponsored by English teacher Kelly Meglio. When, to everyone’s surprise, 60 girls tried out, all were accepted. Teacher Matt Warren agreed to sponsor a newly created Pep Club. Both groups have been active at sporting events at the school this year, helping to create what Dawn describes as “a sense of community” within the school.
Dawn also organized and staffed concession stands to provide a service for students and families and raise funds to support student clubs and activities. As co-president, she helped develop a PTSA Web site and e-news, served as the PTSA spokesperson at several parent orientations and open houses, and simplified the membership form, including directory information and donation requests into a single form. She has promoted open communication and discussion among PTSA board members and recruited parents to serve on the PTSA board, even agreeing to help with the ways and means and membership committees when those positions remained open. She also supported several donation drives, recruited students to help out with “locker day” activities, and spearheaded efforts to update the organization’s by-laws.
Her volunteer efforts aren’t limited to Carl Sandburg. At Thomas Jefferson, Dawn helps in the classroom and at school events. She’s on the board of the Fremd High School Hockey Club; one of the parent organizers of the Fremd Vikettes, the flag squad; and a member of the Fremd Booster Club, where she recently helped out with the group’s fund-raising dance.
Dawn holds a bachelor of arts degree in advertising from Columbia College and worked full-time in advertising, payroll, and taxes before starting her family. She currently is a part-time administrative assistant for AMS Environmental, a small waste management broker. Dawn and her husband, Frank, are the parents of Frank, a senior at Fremd High School; Amy, a junior at Fremd; Danny, an eighth grader at Carl Sandburg; and Mary, a fifth grader at Thomas Jefferson. The Chambers’ leisure time is mostly centered around their children’s activities, a year-round involvement because all four are involved in sports. They also enjoy entertaining friends, and Dawn loves to read. Her current interest is reading books on national politics.
Dawn will be recognized at the February 14, 2007, Board of Education meeting, to be held at Walter R. Sundling Junior High School, at 7 p.m.
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