Our Mission
The Highland Park High School PTA is set up purely for charitable and educational purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Our main goal is to support and enhance education for children in the Highland Park Independent School District (HPISD), especially those at Highland Park High School. The PTA helps the school and district in various ways — from providing financial support and running programs to organizing volunteers — all to benefit the students and the school community.
2026-27
PTA Board of Directors
Nicole Brewer
Beth Birdwell
Allyn Waid
Kelley Curtin
Andrea Ballard
Amy Barker
Ashley Blanchette
Alison Lockard
Gretel Shipley
Carrie Cothrum
Neely Thrash
Julie Melihercik
Lindsey Brown
Jenny Merkle
Erika Yeaman
Destin Shore
Leigh Mundigner
Abby Neblett
Carla Cree
President
President-Elect
VP Finance
Treasurer
Treasurer Elect
Back-to-School-Signup Officer
Cafeteria Finance Officer
Cafeteria Finance Officer-Elect
Communications Officer
Member-at-large (Non-Voting)
Member-at-large Officer
Secretary
Scots Challenge Officer
Scots Challenge Officer-Elect
Supply Shop Co-Officer
Supply Shop Co-Officer
Supply Shop Officer-Elect
Supply Shop Officer-Elect
Supply Shop Treasurer
Scots Challenge
Scots Challenge Chair
Lindsey Brown
Scots Challenge Chair-Elect
Jenny Merkle
Scots Challenge Committee
Kate Bryant
Kate Meyer
Jennie Elverum
Brooke Messer
Kristen Evans
Charlotte Nelson
Allison Parks
Gina Grove
Marcy Simmons
Corporate Matching
Suzie Forsberg
Scots Challenge Bricks
Jacky Pincoffs
Donor Fulfillment
Allison Small
Supply Shop
Supply Shop Officers
Erika Yeaman
Destin Shore
Supply Shop Officers-Elect
Leigh Mundigner
Abby Neblett
Supply Shop Book Coordinator
Renne Lokey
Kristina Whitcomb
Supply Shop Volunteer Coordinator
Ashlie Schooler
Cafeteria
Cafeteria Volunteer Chair
Margarita Coale
Day Captains
Monday
Christy Everett
Cathy Amos
Tuesday
Alison Malone
Wednesday
Rachel Winner
Reagan Pace
Thursday
Ali Cullum & Surabi Shetty
Friday
Jessica Klein & Margarita Coale
Senior Activities
Senior Activities Chairs
Katherine Lewis
Neely Thrash
Elizabeth Miller
Secretary/Calendar Chair
Renne Lokey
Senior Picture Board Chairs
Lauren Shults
Kelli Wagner
Picnic Chairs
Elizabeth Hunt
Jennifer Irvine
Alison Malone
Addie Skinner
Cap & Gown Distribution Chair
Meegan Cramer
Honors Day Co-Chair
Tricia Perhirin
Ashlie Schooler
Elementary Reunion - Armstrong
Cortney DiCanio
Robin Nowak
Jenny Merkle
Elementary Reunion - Bradfield
Claire Baker
Libby Hegi
Amy Hegi
Elementary Reunion - UP
Rebecca Heck
Elizabeth Miller
Elementary Reunion - Hyer
Gina Grove
Amy McNulty
Last First Day
Cheryl Chantillis
Katie Head
Meredith Ferrell
Baccaulareate Chairs
Ashley Allen
Jaxie Alt
Dana Donahoe
Christina Elmore
All-Night Party Chairs
Kristin Baker
Maryann Denton
Alissa Gearing
Amy Hegi
Jean Schendle
Molly Thomas
Other Chairpersons
AP Testing Chair
Alexa Snellman
Back-to-School Signup Officer- Elect
Kristin Baker
Caring Scots Chairs
Tanya Benbow
Natalie Guerry
Holly Mathison
Krista Tanner
Ali Watkins
College Night Chairs
Meg Boyd
Amanda Hamilton
Fish Camp Chairs
Catherine Baldwin
Sara Faye Egan
Katie Walters
Graphic Design Guru
Lindsey James
Grounds & Building Chair
Sara Friedman
Kimberly Slade
Karen Schaffer
Mad for Plaid Chair
Beth Birdwell
Newcomers Chairs
Brooke Armbrister
Ali Watkins
Open House Chairs
Carol Gurganus
Claire Swope
Diana Swope
Prom Chairs
Allyson Booth
Laura Boynton
Chelsea Duvall
Destin Shore
Publicity Chair
Laurie Shults
Science Festival Chairs
Catherine Seals
Tori Snoddy
Science Festival Committee
Peyton Bonsack
Lacy Lange
Abby Ruth
Janey Steward
Molly Soper
Science Festival Chairs-Elect
Courtney August
Liza Raynor
Ambassadors
Peyton Bonsack
Scots Rewards Chair
Tracy Matthews
Scots Scoop - 9th Grade Chairs
Katie Chang
Ashley Sambrano
Liz Silva
Scots Scoop - 10th, 11th & 12th Grade Chairs
Adrienne Crosland
Megan Filgo
Social Media Chair
Tara Cosgrove
Student Registration Chairs
Jane Butler
Leah Ewing
Kris Jefferies
Teacher Appreciation Chairs
Stacey Beck
Margarita Coale
Chelsea Duvall
Sara Friedman
Lara Gaither
Julie Gonzalez
Berkley Litton
Lindsey Miller
Natalie Prieto
Shannon Williams
Teacher/Staff District-wide Appreciation Days
Missy Finger
Libby Johnson
Teacher/Staff Birthday Gifts
Cassie Carnahan
Volunteer (VSP) Chair
Esther Choi
Webmaster
Kacy Ellis
Why we fundraise
The state of Texas takes nearly 70% of HPISD’s tax dollars and redistributes them to other districts through what’s known as the “recapture” or “Robin Hood” program. Because of this, without private fundraising, our district would actually have less to spend per student than many neighboring districts — affecting everything from teacher pay and recruitment to the programs we can offer.
Thanks to the dedicated fundraising efforts of nonprofit groups supporting HPISD schools, like the HPHS PTA, an estimated $6 million annual budget gap is successfully covered each year. This crucial fundraising support allows us to provide an exceptional education for our students and offer competitive salaries to attract and retain great teachers.
To learn more about our fundraising efforts and how these funds are used, please visit our Scots Challenge page.
Why we volunteer
Parent volunteering in HPISD is a proud tradition that began over 100 years ago, when the first cafeteria opened and was staffed by parent volunteers — something truly unique to our district. Many HPHS graduates still fondly remember seeing their parents serving them lunch!
Today, volunteers continue to provide essential support to our staff, enrich programs and services for students, and help the district save money — freeing up funds for important priorities like competitive teacher salaries. Did you know cafeteria volunteers alone save the district nearly $1,000,000 each year?
Volunteering is also a wonderful way to connect with other parents, community members, and staff, all while setting a great example of service for our students: "Enter to Learn. Go Forth to Serve." Plus, you might even catch a glimpse of your own kids during the day — and it’s a lot of fun!
We’d love for you to join us! See our Volunteer page for more details.
Join the PTA
PTA dues are just $50 per year and help fund important programs like College Night, Fish Camp, Student Registration, Newcomers Coffees, Scots Scoop meetings, Open House, and many more.
The easiest way to join is through Back to School Sign-Up (BSSU), but if you missed it, no worries — simply email the PTA President to get signed up.
Past PTA Presidents
2025-26
2024-25
2023-24
2022-23
2021-22
2020-21
2019-20
2018-19
2017-18
2016-17
2015-16
2014-15
2013-14
2012-13
2011-12
2010-11
2009-10
2008-09
2007-08
2006-07
2005-06
2004-05
2003-04
2002-03
2001-02
2000-01
1999-00
1998-99
1997-98
1996-97
1995-96
1994-95
Nealy Thrash
Jean Signor
Katherine Lewis
Carrie Cothrum
Elizabeth Speicher
Elaina Peterie
Melissa Rieman
Alissa Sell
Vanessa Sloan
Lisa Kilpatrick
Kim Quinn
Gina Culpepper
Eloise Meachum
Susanna Ogden
Suzanne Laidlaw
Jenifer Cody
Annette Vaughan
Emily Deutscher
Martha Sheeder
Cindy Kerr
Barbara McKenzie
Nancy Williams
Lynn Lemon
Cheryl Sargent
Margie Bankhead
Laurie Harper
Gretchen Henry
Anne Leary
Betty Martin
Carol Mason
Anne Monning
Mary Montgomery
1993-94
1992-93
1991-92
1990-91
1989-90
1988-89
1987-88
1986-87
1985-86
1984-85
1983-84
1982-83
1981-82
1980-81
1979-80
1978-79
1977-78
1976-77
1975-76
1974-75
1973-74
1972-73
1971-72
1970-71
1969-70
1968-69
1967-68
1966-67
1965-66
1964-65
1963-64
Jane Morrill
Nancy Egan
Mrs. W. Philmore Evans III
Mrs. Jim Cochran
Mrs. Herb Story
Mrs. William J. Goodwin
Mrs. Stephen C. Mahood
Mrs. Robert M. Reed
Mrs. Frank E. McLain
Mrs. Sam P. Buford Jr.
Mrs. Robert Floyd
Mrs. S. Louise Moore Jr.
Mrs. Walter Lighbourn Jr.
Mrs. G. Douglas Gill
Mrs. Peter S. Chantillis
Mrs. Wendell A. Jones
Mrs. R. Douglas Coffin
Mrs. W. Richard Davis
Mrs. James C. Allums
Mrs. H. E. Patterson
Mrs. Millard B. Jumper
Mrs. James T. Pryor
Mrs. Addison A. Newport
Mrs. George A. Filak
Mrs. A. D. Sears
Mrs. John B. Jones
Mrs. Robert L. Manning
Mrs. Felix B. Goldman Jr.
Mrs. S. M. Mims
Mrs. Morris Harrell
Mrs. H. L. Morrison
Mrs. Dean Kipp
1962-63
1961-62
1960-61
1959-60
1958-59
1957-58
1956-57
1955-56
1954-55
1953-54
1952-53
1951-52
1950-51
1949-50
1948-49
1947-48
1946-47
1945-46
1944-45
1943-44
1942-43
1941-42
1940-41
1939-40
1938-39
1937-38
1936-37
1935-36
1934-35
1933-34
1932-33
1931-32
Mrs. Donald Bowles
Mrs. A. J. Kutner
Mrs. Frederick Burnett
Mrs. Curtis Sanford
Mrs. J. F. Chambers Jr.
Mrs. Hugh Peterson
Mrs. Paul Stotts
Mrs. J. D. Vanderwoude
Mrs. Dan C. Williams
Mrs. R. J. Price
Mrs. Kelly Brown
Mrs. G. R. Oglesby
Mrs. Gordon McFarland
Mrs. Sam McCorkle
Mrs. J. D. Ashby
Mrs. George W. Hutchison
Mrs. Tom Dees
Mrs. Ben Ball
Mrs. Ben Ball
Mrs. D. D. Redman
Mrs. Frank H. Garrott
Mrs. R. W. Roessler
Mrs. A. A. Rowland
Mrs. A. A. Rowland
Mrs. Bentley Young
Mrs. Bentley Young
Mrs. H. L. Pritchett
Mrs. H. L. Pritchell
Mrs. A. V. Cockrell
Mrs. A. V. Cockrell
Mrs. R. C. Dunlap
Mrs. R. C. Dunlap