I am truly honored to serve as the 2026–27 BTWHSPVA PTSA President. Stepping in last year as the PTSA 3rd VP of Communications proved just how much this community means to me and how deeply I value supporting our scholar artists. Continuing that service feels meaningful, and doing so during my youngest daughter’s senior year makes it even more special. (My last "hurrah"!) This school has given so much to my family, and I am grateful for the chance to give back as we move into a year shaped by the 2026-27 BTWHSPVA theme, Legacy in Motion. 

As PTSA President, my focus is to strengthen communication, build connections, and support the programs that make Booker T. extraordinary. I look forward to collaborating with our guilds, families, faculty, students, and the broader community to make this year both memorable and successful.

Coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the Arts Magnet, this year’s All School Musical, Shrek the Musical, will officially launch the Arts Partners portion of the celebration this September. The All School Musical is our biggest fundraiser and truly our pride and joy. I encourage you to volunteer and/or become a Sustaining Sponsor. Your generosity makes an extraordinary difference for our scholar artists and the work that brings this musical to life.  

Keep reading the newsletter and visit the PTSA website for updates, membership information, and ways to get involved.

I am especially grateful to the previous board for their leadership and to the incoming board for stepping forward with enthusiasm. Together, we are poised to soar to new heights and carry our Legacy in Motion into the next fifty years. 

Wishing everyone a joyful Fourth of July with loved ones!

With shared purpose and gratitude,

Jennifer

What is Parent University? It's Booker T.'s new parent orientation!

When is Parent University? BTWHSPVA Parent University will take place on Thursday, July 30, alongside Flight School and Pegasus Pick Up for all Freshman and New or Incoming parents, regardless of grade level, and should RSVP for one of the following times: in the morning at9, 10, 11 AM, or in the afternoon at 2, 3, or 4 PM.

What happens at Parent University? During Parent University, families will learn best practices for navigating the school year, hear important school safety information and announcements, and receive a parent and student Flight Plan designed to support both academic and conservatory goals. You will also have access to PTSA and Guild resources, and school merchandise will be available for purchase.

Is lunch served at Parent University? No. Parents should plan on picking up their student(s) immediately following Flight School Lunch at 2 PM (no later than 4:30 PM at the end of Pegasus Pick Up).

Do parents need to RSVP for Parent University? Yes. Please RSVP below to choose your time slot by 11:59 PM on July 24.

We need friendly, energetic volunteers to help during Pegasus Pick Up, July 28–30. This is one of our biggest opportunities to welcome families, grow our membership, and raise essential funds for our students. If you’re available to help on any of these days, we would love to have you join us. 

VOLUNTEER

As you prepare for the new school year, there are a few important tasks that will help ensure a smooth transition back to campus. The 2026-27 Back to School Checklist is your go‑to guide, offering key reminders, required steps, and helpful information for students and families. 

Take a moment to review it so you feel confident, organized, and ready for a successful start to the year. 

Shrek the Musical is the perfect match for the spirit of Booker T. Washington HSPVA. It celebrates authenticity, empathy, individuality, and the courage to stand proudly in your own story. These are the values we champion every day, and this show brings them to life with humor, heart, and a whole lot of swamp‑sized joy.

This production offers meaningful roles for our scholar artists and creates exciting opportunities for collaboration across every conservatory. From the performers onstage to the designers, technicians, musicians, and creative teams behind the scenes, this show invites the entire school to shine.

And this year’s cast is something special. Every student feels born to play their role, and the chemistry, talent, and sheer theatrical power in this ensemble make the entire company strong contenders for the Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theater Awards. The performances will be bold, hilarious, heartfelt, and unforgettable.

This is going to be a standout musical event that no one will want to miss. Audiences will laugh, cheer, reflect, and leave the theater feeling uplifted and inspired. Shrek the Musical at Booker T. is not just a show... It is an experience!

SAVE THE DATE | SEPTEMBER 16 (student preview), 17-20

This musical is SPECIAL... We are seeking excited and invested parents to sponsor a character this year. What does that mean exactly? Well, can Peter Pan fly? Not without fairy dust, a.k.a. your support!

Please consider donating to really make this musical SOAR!

SPONSOR A CHARACTER

We need incredible volunteers to help make the BTWHSPVA All‑School Musical, Shrek the Musical, run smoothly during show week, September 14-20. This is when the magic happens, and our students rely on the support of our community more than ever. If you’re available to lend a hand backstage, front of house, or anywhere help is needed, we would love to have you join the team and be part of this unforgettable production. 

VOLUNTEER

The BTW Parent Teacher Student Association - the PTSA - provides a wide variety of support for students, teachers, parents and the BTW school community. 

Your contribution as a sustaining sponsor helps cultivate the future of the performing and visual arts and enables the PTSA to provide school-wide productions, programs, resources and event support. Plus, our sponsors get great perks like Playbill ads, reserved parking and seating and a VIP invitation to our opening night.

This year, we are in desperate need... Our All School Musical, Shrek the Musical, is bigger, bolder, and swampier than ever, and we urgently need sponsors to help bring this fairytale to life. From dragons to castles to a whole lot of green magic, this production is packed with larger‑than‑life moments that only happen with the support of our amazing community. If you’re ready to fuel the fun, boost our scholar‑artists, and help make the swamp sparkle, now is the perfect time to jump in as a sponsor. 

To get the most out of any sponsorship, please consider becoming a sustaining sponsor today!

NOTE | The sponsorship levels coincide with the membership year (July 1- June 30). The deadline to secure a sponsorship as a Headliner, Director, Producer, or Manager for placement in the ASM Playbill is August 23. Logos/names and/or Playbill ads/assets must be submitted by August 24 to be featured on the production t-shirt worn by the cast, band, and crew and printed in the Playbill.

Senior portraits for the Class of 2027 will take place on campus July 27, 28, and 29 with photographer Angela P. Navarette. Hurry and schedule your session as time slots fill up quickly!

Quick Details:

Best Pricing | Prepay for your images today during checkout to lock in the lowest rates of the year.

Upgrade Your Experience | Get the most posing variety, add on Cap & Gown to your session, or order a keepsake print with your yearbook portraits!

Can't make it? | A makeup day will be scheduled later, but spots will be very limited. Book now to get your prime summer slot!

SIGN UP FOR SENIOR PORTRAITS

Stay connected as you prepare for senior year. The PTSA Class of 2027 Committee has several ways for families to stay informed and involved:

• Bookmark the PTSA Class of 2027 page to stay updated through the Membership Toolkit
• Subscribe to the Senior Class Newsletter
• Join the Class of 2027 Facebook Group | coming soon!
• Follow us on Instagram | coming soon!

If you would like to help support the senior class, you can join the Class of 2027 Committee by completing the PTSA Committee Interest Form or reaching out to Senior Class Chair, Magally Lopez.

You asked, and we heard you loud and clear. Seniors, we want your ideas. Fundraisers, events, traditions, celebrations... If it matters to the Class of 2027, we want it on the table.

Your Class Council President, El Wakefield, is ready to champion your voice, and Senior Class Chair Magally Lopez is right there alongside. Anytime inspiration strikes, just complete this form and one of them will follow up.

This is your year! Dream big, speak up, and help shape the senior experience you want to remember!

BTW Scholar Artists are making the most of their summer scholarships, studying and training at programs across the country and around the world. This year, we were proud to award more than $8,000 in summer scholarships. These opportunities are possible only because of the commitment, energy, and engagement of our incredible PTSA volunteers.

At the end of the summer, scholarship recipients will receive a brief survey to complete in accordance with scholarship guidelines.

Join us as we honor five decades of extraordinary artistry, innovation, and impact at the legendary Booker T. Washington High School. For 50 years, our campus has been home to the nation’s premier Arts Magnet School, shaping generations of creators, performers, and visionaries.

Arts Magnet 50 is a yearlong, multi‑event celebration featuring a five‑part Signature Series, with the first four events proudly hosted by current students from each conservatory. Guided by this year’s theme, Legacy in Motion, these events highlight the talent, history, and future of our remarkable community.

The celebration culminates in a major alumni event on March 5, 2027, bringing together decades of Booker T. graduates to honor the legacy they helped build.

Welcome, Rising Pegasi! New and returning families of students attending BTWHSPVA for the 2026–27 school year can now purchase PTSA memberships and pay class dues for this year.

Class dues* are collected annually and contribute to each grade’s Senior Fund, which supports senior‑year activities, celebrations, and traditions once students reach 12th grade. Paying dues each year helps build a strong foundation for an unforgettable senior experience.

Paying for PTSA memberships and class‑dues at the beginning of the year ensure a smooth start to the school year and allow our PTSA to begin planning with the resources needed to support our newest Pegasus families.

We’re excited to welcome all Rising Pegasi into the BTWHSPVA community and look forward to an amazing year ahead.

Click the graphics below to purchase!

Missed contributing to class dues in the past, or have family members who’d like to help? No worries, it’s never too late to support your class! 

Click on your class year below to make a contribution in any amount and help fund the senior year activities and celebrations that make this milestone unforgettable.

The BTWHSPVA PTSA is an independent organization, and each of the Guilds operates independently as well. Although we all work together to support our students, each group maintains its own structure, including membership enrollment, dues, fundraising, and volunteer opportunities. Families are welcome to join the PTSA, any Guild, or all of them, and each offers unique ways to participate in our school community. Please note that membership in a Guild does not include PTSA membership, and membership in the PTSA does not include Guild membership. Volunteer hours completed for a Guild, while greatly appreciated, do not count toward PTSA volunteer hours because each organization serves a different purpose within the Booker T community.

Each year, the PTSA requires twenty PTSA volunteer hours per family for students to be eligible for the PTSA Summer Scholarship Program. With so many opportunities offered by other BTWHSPVA groups, this can understandably be confusing. To clarify, only PTSA‑sponsored volunteer hours count toward the PTSA scholarship requirement. Hours completed for Guilds, Conservatories and Crew, or any other organizations do not apply.

NEW for 2026–27 | To make our volunteer system more inclusive and reflective of the diverse needs within our community, we have expanded the ways families can earn PTSA volunteer hours. Texas PTA guidelines do not allow volunteer credit for direct donations, but families who support PTSA productions and events now have additional options.

• Attending monthly PTSA meetings: Each in‑person or virtual attendance will count as one hour of PTSA volunteer time. (Parent must check-in via QR code during each meeting.)
• Planning time for PTSA-sponsored events: Time spent preparing for an event, including researching, purchasing supplies, or coordinating, may count for up to four hours per school year per family. (Parents must enter this time within one week of service.)
• Travel time for PTSA-sponsored event support: Travel time to deliver items needed for a PTSA event may also count for up to four hours per school year per family. (Parents must enter this time within one week of service.)

Because the Summer Scholarship Application Window opens in March, families who plan to apply must have all twenty PTSA hours completed before the window opens. Hours earned after that point cannot be counted toward eligibility.

While the PTSA provides volunteer opportunities throughout the year, most occur during the fall semester, with fewer available in the spring. Families whose students may apply for a PTSA Summer Scholarship are encouraged to begin volunteering early.

INSTRUCTIONS TO ENTER VOLUNTEER TIME FOR MEETINGS/PLANNING/TRAVEL (must create a free PTSA Membership Toolkit account prior to entering volunteer time):

To enter volunteer time for PTSA meetings (1 hour maximum per meeting), PTSA planning time (up to 4 hours maximum per school year), or PTSA travel time (up to 4 hours maximum per school year):

• click the link below
• Once on the volunteer hours page, click the "Record Hours" button.
• In the "Opportunity" drop-down menu, scroll all the way to the bottom and select "other".
• In the "Event Name" box, type which PTSA event you are recording time for. If it is planning or travel time, please also specify which, planning or travel, along with the event name (ex: "All-School Musical planning-snacks" or "All-School Musical travel-deliver snacks"). 
• Click "Save".

RECORD HOURS

Students are encouraged to explore their identity and express their unique perspectives by creating an original work of art inspired by the 2026–27 Reflections theme, “What My Culture Means to Me.” Submissions may be entered in a variety of categories, including Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to share their stories and celebrate the richness of their cultural experiences. Entries will be accepted in the fall, so summer is the perfect time to begin developing ideas. Be sure to review the FAQs and guidelines to help your creative vision shine. 

Reflections is a National PTA program that enables students to find a creative outlet in dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. The program began in 1969 and now more than 200,000 students participate annually.  

• President | Bethany Grubb | bethanygrubb@gmail.com
• Vice President | Kimberly Harris | harris.kn@gmail.com
• Treasurer | Kelly Epton | kellyj1074@yahoo.com
• Communications | Kristen Holland Shear | writeshear@gmail.com
• Secretary | Kay Wood | kay.wood@me.com
• Membership | Danielle Johnson | dalexander3@yahoo.com
• Fundraising | Sonja Messenger | mrs.mess1981@gmail.com
• Parliamentarian | Julie Griffith | julie.r.griffith@gmail.com

• President | Bonney Hodges | bonneyhodges@gamil.com  
• VP (27-28 President-elect) | Ashli McLeod | ashlimcleod@gmail.com
• Treasurer | Andrea Derryberry | andreatroup@hotmail.com
• Secretary | Kelly Guerra | kellydguerra@gmail.com
• Parliamentarian | Aaron Moore | aarmoore@fdic.gov

• President | Kathy Gameros | kgameros@sbcglobal.net
• VP: Guild Activities | Rene Noris | rene.noris@yahoo.com
• VP: Student Activities | Emily Cabral | emily_cabral@hotmail.com
• VP: Fundraising/Outreach  | Shelby Bobosky | boboskysl@gmail.com
• Secretary | Alexandra Sabater | asabater@yahoo.com
• Treasurer | Angela Medrano | amuras23@yahoo.com
• Assistant Treasurer | Jan Kuehmann | kuehnemann.jan@gmail.com
• Hospitality Chair | Donna DiStefano | donna.distefano@gmail.com
• Membership Chair | Adam Mora | adam_mora@yahoo.com
• Merchandise Chair | Alicia Rico | earthtoricos@gmail.com
• Concessions Chair | Carey Hurst | churst@hurstlending.com
• FTK Co-Chair | Anne Underwood | anneundertherose@gmail.com
• FTK Co-Chair | Ami Edge | amiedge@gmail.com
• Volunteers | Sheryl Collins | theturnaround316@gmail.com
• Playbills | Becky Wade | the-wades@sbcglobal.net
• Scholarship | Heather Guild | heather@heatherguildgroup.com

• President | Alison Silliman |alisonsilliman@gmail.com 
• Vice President | Andrew Snow |afsnow@gmail.com 
• Treasurer | Tiffani Turner |tsmccombs81@gmail.com 
• Secretary | Rachel Sun |808linlin@gmail.com

The PTSA Weekly Newsletter is produced and published by 2026-27 BTWHSPVA PTSA 3rd VP of Communications, David Hall. For questions or issues, please complete the PTSA Inquiry Form.

Thank you for your engagement & support!