PTSA
BHS PTSA
PTSA Mission Statement
Create an inclusive, supportive community that cultivates a tradition of excellence for all students
Who We Are
* Become a Member * Volunteer * Donate *
Become a BHS PTSA member, advocate, or volunteer. Donate to help us close the funding gaps. Visit the Volunteer Opportunities to see how you can help out at Ballard HS no matter how big or small. The BHS PTSA is run by volunteers that donate their time to help promote and support the social, emotional, and academic well-being of all students. You can make a difference!
Come To A PTSA Board or General Meeting
23-24 PTSA Board & General Meetings Schedule
The BHS PTSA Board meeting are held on a Thursday of the month, unless noted differently below. Please email: BHS President Karla Rava for Board meeting location and/or Zoom link at bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com if you would like to attend.
PTSA Board & General Meeting Dates
- April 18: Board Meeting from 6 – 7 p.m.
- Off Site & Online: Join Us and see what the BHS PTSA is all about!
- For meeting link, email President Karla Rava at bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com.
- Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you!
- May 9: Board Meeting from 6 – 7 p.m.
- June 13: Board Meeting from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- BHS PTSA General Meeting Awards & Voting New Board at 7 p.m.
- BHS PTSA General Meeting at 7 p.m.
Become a BHS PTSA Member (not necessary to be a volunteer)
Why Become a Member of the PTSA?
We encourage everyone in the Ballard HS community to become a Parent, Teacher, Student Association member. If I become a BHS PTSA Member, do I have to go to meetings? No, but we hope everyone will attend our General PTSA Meetings, where a paid membership allows you to vote! If I become a member, do I have to volunteer? No, joining and becoming a paid member of the BHS PTSA is not the same as volunteering. If you choose to volunteer, we appreciate the parent/guardian and community help and support, but volunteering is not required.
Reminder! If you registered/joined in prior years, you will still need to renew your membership for every school year.
Current PTSA Volunteer Openings This Year and Next!
Please lend a hand and help fuel our efforts to support BHS students and staff! Check out some of the Board opportunities we currently have available! In addition to these identified roles, every one of our PTSA committees welcome and encourage your involvement. Reach out to the committee that matches your interests!
Membership Volunteer: We have an immediate opening. This role reaches out to the BHS Community and shares PTSA Membership information through newsletter updates.
BLT Representative: We have an immediate opening for a Building Leadership Team (BLT) PTSA volunteer. The BLT is a goal-setting body, and includes the principal, staff members, teacher reps, and parent reps from each grade. It is primarily charged with developing school-wide initiatives and strategies to further academic achievement and foster a positive school climate. Additional info is on the PTSA BLT page.
PTSA Communications (Newsletter Editor, Social Media – Instagram): Time to start thinking about next school year as our Newsletter Editor is graduating! Newsletter Editor and Social Media Chair positions can be shared. Have questions? Reach out to ballardhighnews@gmail.com or anyone on the PTSA Board.
Learn more about the Ballard HS PTSA on What Does the PTSA Do? Email VP Kim Flin at join.bhs.ptsa@gmail.com with any questions about these openings. We’d also love to have anyone interested in Ballard PTSA come to our next Board Meeting, from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, April 18 (online and in-person). For meeting link, email President Karla Rava at bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com. Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you!
PTSA Board Members 23-24
Executive Committee
President: Karla Rava; bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com
Vice President: Kim Flin; bhs.ptsa.vp@gmail.com
Treasurer: Shelley Rousseau; bhs.ptsa.treas@gmail.com
Secretary: Kelly Mazzola; bhs.ptsa.sec@gmail.com
Executive Board
Executive Committee: includes the positions listed above
Co-Volunteer Coordinators: Jen Wenrick and Joy Das Gupta;
volunteer.ballardhs@gmail.com
Co-Membership Chairs: Lisa Vanderford-Anderson and Deborah Frieze;
bhs.ptsa.membershipchair@gmail.com and an additional
Membership OPEN position. Email Kim Flin; join.bhs.ptsa@gmail.com
Legislative Liaison: PENDING; Email Kim Flin; join.bhs.ptsa@gmail.com
Principal: Ms. Abby Hunt; abhunt@seattleschools.org
Building Leadership Team (BLT): Karen Morse; karen.morse@gmail.com
and OPEN position: email Kim Flin; join.bhs.ptsa@gmail.com
Family & Community Engagement (FACE): Victoria Watson;
bhs.ptsa.face@gmail.com
Standing Committee
PTSA Newsletter Editor: Gloria Kruzner; ballardhighnews@gmail.com
Special Edition School & PTSA News:
Diane Taylor; dmtaylor@seattleschools.org
PTSA Social Media Facebook, Instagram:
Gloria Kruzner and Diane Taylor (Seniors);
ballardhighnews@gmail.com and diane@jdmt.com
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Shelley Bolser;
DEIatBHS@gmail.com
Grants: Libet Wallblom; libetwallblom@gmail.com and
Nancy Wesche; nwesche@hotmail.com
Direct Appeal Fundraising: Kristin Anderson; bhs.ptsa.directappeal@gmail.com
SPREE: Shelby Reynolds; shelby@ShineEventDesign.com
and Darcy Greene; craigdarcy@comcast.net
Reflections (PTA Arts): Anna Harper; bhs.ptsa.reflectionscmte@gmail.com
Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs:
Lisa Vanderford-Anderson & Lisa Willis; bhs.ptsa.membershipchair@gmail.com
Nominating Committee: Kim Flin & Victoria Watson; join.bhs.ptsa@gmail.com
Gala Dinner Chair: Carol Cheyne, and Laura Kitchel; ballardgala@gmail.com
BHS Website Editor:
Diane Taylor; (Ballard HS website) dmtaylor@seattleschools.org and
PTSA Pages (DEI, Legislative Advocacy, Fundraising, What We Do): Diane Taylor; diane@jdmt.com
As of March 17, 2024
Meet Some PTSA Members
PTSA President Karla Rava It was wonderful meeting so many of you at the new family information night. As a parent of an incoming 9th grader, I’m also excited for this next big step. Between Principal Abby Hunt, the counselors, teachers, and all the support staff, we are really positioned for success at Ballard High.
If you have any questions about the PTSA, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our Mission is to, “Create an inclusive, supportive community that cultivates a tradition of excellence for all students.” ~ Karla Rava; bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com
PTSA VP Kim Flin Why PTSA? I believe being involved at my kids school emphasizes that school is important while reinforcing they matter and are supported. Bonus about being involved at BHS, I’m more informed and get to know a wider circle of families and teachers. I have two boys; BHS Sophomore, Ramon and BHS 2015 graduate, Isaac. I was active at BHS with my oldest in many areas, football, PTSA, SPREE, GALA and many fundraising activities. I’m excited to be an active BHS PTSA again and support where needed.
Note: Kim was a PTA Golden Acorn Volunteer recipient in 2014-15!
Hello, I’m Gloria Kruzner, parent of a senior (and a BBHS 2017 alum, ahem!), and the PTSA Newsletter Editor. I joined the PTSA because I’ve enjoyed volunteering at my kids’ schools over the years, and although I usually purchased a PTSA membership, I never really attended a meeting. A chance posting that I did on the Friends of Ballard Facebook (go Botany Plant Sale!) led to me being asked to edit the newsletter. Which led to attending those dreaded meetings! But, I’ve come to find out they are actually really fun (especially online – !) and it’s great to see all the focused work on behalf of our students and staff. I love learning more about our community and bringing information to you every week throughout the school year in the newsletter. As one who was hesitant to sit at the table, let me know what I can do to make the PTSA more accessible for you! We want all our voices represented on our team. Reach out at ballardhighnews@gmail.com Go Beavers!
Hi, my name is Shelley Rousseau, a parent of two students at Ballard. My husband and I moved from Chicago to Seattle in 2001, and we have lived in the neighborhood, just down the street from the high school, ever since.
I have been active as a volunteer in various roles supporting Ballard Performing Arts and now PTSA as Treasurer. Prior to having children I was a history teacher, and I previously worked in finance. My role with PTSA is a great way to stay engaged in the school community, and allows me to use my skills in ways that helps others. I really enjoy working with the other parents and the broader Ballard community. It’s great to be back in school, and I’m looking forward to helping PTSA support our students and programs. Email Shelley at bhs.ptsa.treas@gmail.com.
Hello! I’m Gena Mason Frank, parent of a student at Ballard, as well as a student at Whitman MS. While I’ve been involved with both Whittier and Whitman when my kids were younger, I noticed that as my kids got to High School I felt less connected to the school and to other parents.
I joined the PTSA to be a bigger part of the high school school experience for myself, but also for my kids. I’m excited to be a part of a fun team of parents, but to also get to know administration and staff as well. I look forward to meeting new people and seeing your faces (virtually) at our PTSA meetings!
Currently supporting the 23-24 Gala with Jeannette Chen!
~ BHS PTSA Gala Committee Chairs: Carol Cheyne, and Laura Kitchel;
ballardgala@gmail.com
PTSA Weekly Newsletter – Stay in the Know
The BHS PTSA Communication Team: Gloria Kruzner, and Diane Taylor help get information out in various ways to the BHS Community via the PTSA Newsletter, Instagram, Facebook Accounts, and information posted on the School Website. The BHS PTSA Weekly Newsletter is a PTSA member volunteer-run informational newsletter that is emailed to subscribed families with important information for families and students, including sports, clubs, performing arts, community news and more! View PTSA Newsletters.
If you are not receiving the newsletter or want to add a 2nd email or a student (Personal email NOT student SPS email) Subscribe via the online sign up or email ballardhighnews@gmail.com (students grade & name).
Follow and Connect With Us!
Follow us on the school’s PTSA social media sites.
The Ballard High School PTSA is a 501(c)(3) entity, Federal Tax ID #91-1303069