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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. 

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.

Join PTA

2025-26
PTA Board of Directors

Neely Thrash
Nicole Brewer 

Kyle Huckaby
Allyn Waid 
Kelley Curtin
Gina Grove 
Ashley Blanchette

Carrie Cothrum 

Gretel Shipley 
Katherine Lewis 
Julie Melihercik 
Jennifer Lancashire 

Lindsey Brown
Jennifer Barfoot 
Mandy Hemphill

Erika Yeaman

Destin Shore 
Kristina Whitcomb

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 Officer 
Secretary 
Scots Challenge Officer 
Scots Challenge Officer-Elect 
Supply Shop Officer 
Supply Shop Officer 
Supply Shop Officer-Elect 
Supply Shop Officer-Elect 
Supply Shop Treasurer 

Supply Shop

Supply Shop Officers 

Jennifer Barfoot

Mandy Hemphill

Supply Shop Officers-Elect

Erika Yeaman

Destin Shore

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Supply Shop Book Coordinator

Renne Lokey

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Supply Shop Volunteer Coordinator

Ashlie Schooler

 

Scots Challenge

Scots Challenge Chair

Jennifer Lancashire

 

Scots Challenge Chair-Elect

Lindsey Brown

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Scots Challenge Committee

Vicky Campbell

Amy McNulty

Jean Schendle

Marcy Simmons

Alicia Wood

Hallie Lawrence

Charlotte Nelson

Allison Parks​​

Corporate Matching

Suzie Forsberg

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Scots Challenge Bricks

Claudia Williams

 

Senior Activities

Senior Activities Chairs

Gini Florer​​

Alicia Wood

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Secretary/Calendar Chair 

Amy Barker

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Senior Picture Board Chairs

Elizabeth McMillan

Natalie John

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Picnic Chairs

Kate Borders

Tara Bozman

Paige Slates

Kelsie Sumner

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Senior Breakfast on Honors Day Chairs

Allison Chandler

Jackie Converse

Elementary Reunion - Armstrong

Allyson Blow

Ashley McDowell

Robin Nowak

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Elementary Reunion - Bradfield

Anna Moss​

Michelle Pletcher

Cathy True

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Elementary Reunion - UP

Heather Deuillet​

Kyle Huckaby

Julie Melihercik

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Elementary Reunion - Hyer

Dansby Erwin​

Courtney Gerstenhaber

Layne Pitzer

Last First Day

Margarita Coale

Jen Munoz

Nancy Scripps

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Baccaulareate  Chairs

Rochelle​ Cullum

Jessica Jones

Emily Sacher

Charlotte Sharpe

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All-Night Party Chairs

Tanya Benbow​

Elise Danner

Hallie Lawrence

Sloane Phillips

Other Chairpersons

AP Testing Chair

Laura Haag

  
Back-to-School Signup Officer- Elect

Amy Barker

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Cafeteria Volunteer Chair

Margarita Coale

​​​

Cafeteria Day Captain

Arden Ellis

Alison Malone

Jessica Klein

Margarita Coale

Ali Cullum

Lisa Bedford

Janet Rice

​

Caring Scots Chairs

Stacey Beck

Tanya Benbow

Natalie Guerry

Ali Watkins

 

College Night Chairs

Katie Dulin​​

Carrie Rosamond

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Fish Camp Chairs

Kate Bryant

Jennie Elverum​​

Kate Meyer

​

Grounds & Building Chair

Sara Friedman

Kimberly Slade

Karen Schaffer

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Mad for Plaid Chair

Tracy Matthews

​​​

Newcomers Chairs

Brooke Armbrister

Ali Watkins

Open House Chairs

Sarah Jones

Marty Petit

Addie Skinner

​​​​

Prom Chairs

Nicole Brewer​

Rebecca Heck

Katherine Lewis

Kristin Moore

​​

Publicity Chair

Randi McParlin

​​​

Science Festival Chairs

Molly Owen

Abby Ruth

​​

Science Festival Committee

Katie Roach

Janey Steward

Peyton Bohnsack

Courtney Gerstenhaber

​

Science Festival Chairs-Elect

Tori Snoddy​

Catherine Seals

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Scots Rewards Chair

Allison Lockard

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Scots Scoop - 9th Grade Chairs

Cassie Carnahan​

Lindsey Hutchinson

Scots Scoop - 10th Grade Chairs

Chelsea Duvall​

Emily Lee

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Scots Scoop - 11th Grade Chairs

Meredith Ferrell​​

Alissa Gearing

Molly Thomas

​

Social Media Chair

Janice Van Arsdale

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Student Registration Chairs

Jane Butler​​

Kelley Ledford

Catherine Bacharach

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Teacher Appreciation Chairs

Sara Friedman

Lara Gaither

Lindsey Miller

Jen Munoz

Michelle Pletcher

Shannon Williams

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Teacher/Staff District-wide Appreciation Days

Missy Finger

Libby Johnson

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Teacher/Staff Birthday Gifts

Denise Thayer


Volunteer (VSP) Chair

Esther Choi

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Webmaster

Kacy Ellis

​

Past PTA Presidents

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

1993-94

​

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

Jane Morrill

​

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

1962-63

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

Mrs. Donald Bowles

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. 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

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