Volunteer Appreciation – Kim & Theresa

As we officially close the books on the 2020-21 PTSA year, we want to give a big thank you to two special volunteers that have dedicated their time to our local PTSA’s for a combined 43 years! We asked these two wonderful leaders some questions about themselves and their time in the PTSA. Here is what they had to say… SOME GREAT ADVICE for PTSA leaders, READ TO THE END. 

(Kim Lisk) Kim and her husband Stuart have 3 kids, all of whom attended schools in the Riverview District: Joshuah (33), Gibson (28) and Sydney (24). Kim will also be adding grandma to her list of accomplishments this September with the upcoming arrival of a grandson from her son Joshuah and his wife Christina (congratulations Lisk Family!).

Kim teaches swimming, bartends/serves at the Grange, and serves on the Carnation City Council. When she isn’t working or volunteering her time, she enjoys spending time with friends and traveling to see family.

Kim’s time with the PTSA began in 1994 with an auction that she put on at Carnation Elementary. She then served as the first president of The Parent Association Group at Eagle Rock when the school first opened. Kim continued on to serve on multiple boards over the years in various positions and was president of Tolt Middle School, Cedarcrest High School and Riverview PTSA Council. Kim says that she continued to be involved in the PTSA over the years due to her love of the kids, the schools and the community.

Some of her favorite PTSA memories are raising money for the kids, putting on events, all the back to school BBQ’s and grad night parties. Overall, Kim’s favorite thing is seeing all the smiling faces enjoying these events. Kim’s advice to new PTSA leaders is to have fun! If you are not enjoying yourself don’t do it!

(Theresa Tenney) Theresa has 3 kids with her husband Mike (of 26 years), Leo (21 ), Tabitha (19), and Piper (15). She also has a stepson, Christian, who with his wife Sarah have two young daughters. Theresa recently started working as the head secretary at Tolt Middle School. When she isn’t working or volunteering her time, she enjoys reading, sitting in the sun, taking walks, listening to podcasts, shopping, and planning home renovations.

Theresa’s time with the PTSA began at Carnation Elementary in 2005. Over the years she volunteered at Tolt Middle School, Cedarcrest High School and the Riverview PTSA Council. Theresa said there were many reasons that she continued to volunteer over the years. She could see the impact that the PTSA had on the schools (grants, staff appreciation and events), it is fun, and it helped her connect with the community. Theresa also wanted to instill the rewards of volunteering early on for her kids and they loved seeing her in front of the school as a leader. Theresa enjoyed being a part of creating a vision and goals for the PTSA’s that she worked on, she loved teaching training classes, sharing and learning from other leaders in the region and WSPTA, and she enjoyed helping develop future leaders.

One of Theresa’s favorite PTSA memories is speaking at a school assembly and seeing one of her kids sitting there with a BIG smile on their face, telling everyone that it was their mom up there speaking!

Advice Theresa would give to a new PTSA leader is to not be afraid to try new things (new events, communications, fundraiser ideas, etc.). Even if something has always been done a certain way, it doesn’t hurt to give another way a try just once! Theresa also urges leaders to get out and try new things; she noted that doing this herself helped her gain confidence in her public speaking skills.

Thank you, Theresa Tenney and Kim Lisk, for everything you have done for the Riverview PTSA Council and all your amazing contributions to The Riverview PTSA Council and the local PTSA’s throughout your PTA careers. We truly appreciate you!

Written by: Lori Rush