MX PTA BOARD POSITIONS — 2026–2027

Updated October 22, 2026

Interested in getting involved with the MX PTA? Below are the current board members and committee leads, the positions we still need to fill, and descriptions of what the roles involve. Questions? Email ptaboard@mxpta.org.

OPEN POSITIONS — WE NEED YOU!

Interested in any of these roles? Email ptaboard@mxpta.org or complete the PTA Interest Form.

  • Executive Vice President — Description coming soon.
  • Financial Reviewer (Auditor) — Review and audit PTA financial records annually.
  • Historian — Document and preserve MX PTA history through photos and records.
  • E-Commerce Secretary — Manage PTA online store and sales administration.
  • Online and Pop-Up Sales (MX Merch) — Run the MX merchandise store and pop-up sales. Description coming soon.
  • Facilities & Safety — Description coming soon.
  • Audiovisual Coordinator — Liaison with Drama, Dance, and Music departments; work with event coordinators for A/V equipment at events; help operate equipment in the 105C room and/or auditorium; coordinate with DJs and musical talent. Equipment directions sheet available from Kat Healy.
  • FUSE (Families for Social Equity) Coordinator(s) — Coordinate the FUSE family group at MX.
  • Rainbow Club Coordinator(s) — Volunteer(s) needed to run Rainbow Club. Description coming soon.
  • Yard Beautification Coordinator(s) — Organize efforts to improve and beautify the school yard. Description coming soon.
  • Seed Library Coordinator(s) — Manage MX’s seed library program. Description coming soon.
  • Fall Movie Night Chair(s) — Organize the annual fall outdoor movie night (October). Description coming soon.
  • Valentines Event Chair(s) — Description coming soon.
  • Pi Day Co-Chair — Co-lead Pi Day alongside Jaclyn Rapadas. Description coming soon.
  • Literacy Night Co-Chair (January) — Co-lead Literacy Night alongside current chair Alexis Filippini. See full description below.
  • Holiday Craft Fair Co-Chair (December) — Co-lead the Holiday Craft Fair alongside Santina Rohner Moran. See full description below.
  • Board Members at Large — Join the board and help wherever needed. Multiple positions available.

2026–27 EXECUTIVE BOARD

2026–27 COMMITTEE LEADS

2026–27 EVENT LEADS

ROLE DESCRIPTIONS

Roles without a description below are still being written up. If you hold a role, please send your description to namita.dodeja@mxpta.org.

1. President

Current holders (Co-Presidents): Ramesh Perera — ramesh.perera@mxpta.org
Hilary Winters — hilary.winters@mxpta.org

Key Responsibilities:

  • Registered Compliance: Your name is registered with the California State filing of the 501c3 non-profit (along with the Secretary and Treasurer). Maintain a solid understanding of MXPTA Bylaws and IRS compliance requirements; ensure all meetings, events, and activities are conducted accordingly.
  • Email Management: You will have official PTA email addresses (firstname.lastname@mxpta.org and president@mxpta.org). Respond directly to parent and partner inquiries, or forward to the most appropriate person. Copy the Secretary on anything needing follow-up.
  • Oversight of Fundraising & Events: At each meeting, stay aware of upcoming events and ensure organizers have taken the necessary preparation steps. Use the event form to track compliance and safety requirements.
  • Board & Chair Recruitment: Promote and fill all board and event chair positions. Inspire parent participation and communicate the importance of the organization.
  • Supporting Board Members & Chairs: Identify inefficiencies and address issues; resolve directly or add to the meeting agenda for discussion.
  • Bank Signatory: Serve as a signatory on PTA bank accounts; provide 2nd signature on checks as needed.
  • Meeting Agendas: Work with the Secretary to prepare and narrate meeting agendas, alongside the Vice President.
  • Public Speaker & Representative: Give speeches and announcements representing the MX PTA to the school and broader community. Email announcements go out under your signature.
  • Liaison: Attend district meetings (listen and ask questions), community events, and partner organization fundraisers representing the MX PTA. Other schools may contact you to share ideas and collaborate.
  • Events Calendar: Organize the school events calendar and post it on Google Calendar.
  • Beginning-of-Year Events: Help organize the PTA events at the start of the school year, including the TK welcome, the first-day coffee, and the September all-school welcome dinner.
  • Budget Retreat: Host and organize the budget retreat at the end of the school year or right before the new year.
  • Working with the School: Work with administrators, teachers, and the rest of the board as issues arise; maintain a presence at events and sometimes say a few words.

Time Commitment: About 5–10 hours a week, more around events. The beginning of the year is busiest, and recruitment and elections pick up toward the end.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Enjoy organization and project management and talking with people, and are willing to check email regularly and respond in a timely way. You don’t need to be a CEO to do this job.

You don’t have to do it alone: You work with a co-president and a team of smart, driven PTA volunteers, along with other PTAs and the Berkeley PTA Council.

You want to hold this position because: You help your kids’ school, meet and connect with families from across the grades, learn how the school functions, and get to know MX teachers, administrators, and staff. Your child also sees you involved at school.

What we wish every potential volunteer knew: You can shadow others or share a role, start small with small projects, and see where it goes. Ask for help. There are a lot of resources in our community to draw from. Set aside a good amount of time and energy before committing.

“Be cool, be sociable, be inspiring — and always give lots of thank-yous to everyone involved in the effort. Enjoy being the main representative of our organization that directly enriches our children’s education.”

2. Secretary

Current holder (Recording Secretary): Namita Dodeja — namita.dodeja@mxpta.org

Brief Description: At the beginning of the school year, create Zoom meetings for monthly board meetings and Google Calendar invites for all PTA board members. ~Two weeks prior to each board meeting, request agenda items and compile them into a template. ~3 days before meetings, send the agenda to etree to share with the MX community. Start Zoom meetings, keep minutes, make announcements as needed, and call for a vote to approve previous minutes. A few days after board meetings, email the minutes, action items, and decisions to the board. Keep agendas and signed meeting minutes organized in Google Drive. Add new board members to calendar event invites. For community events (e.g., Spring Fair) where the general membership votes on a motion, create an agenda for the general association meeting and record and organize the minutes in the Drive.

Time Commitment: About 1–2 hours a week, or ~4–5 hours a month organizing the agenda, cleaning up the minutes, and sharing them. The beginning of the year is busiest, getting people settled into new roles and orienting new PTA members. Uses Google Calendar reminders and a tracking spreadsheet to stay on top of tasks. Most of the role can be done remotely.

You don’t have to do it alone: The outgoing Secretary is available to help while you learn the role.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Are organized, detail oriented, can attend monthly board meetings, and can keep up with your email inbox.

You want to hold this position because: You enjoy interacting with other PTA members and staff.

Tools, Organizations, etc. involved: Google Suite — primarily Gmail and Drive.

3. Treasurer

Current holder: Tyson Miklebost — tyson.miklebost@mxpta.org

Brief Description: Budgeting, bookkeeping, and financial reporting for the PTA.

Time Commitment: About 2 hours a week. Busiest at the beginning of the year when the budget is put together.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Like spreadsheets and crunching numbers and looking at bank statements. An accountant’s background helps but isn’t required.

You don’t have to do it alone: You work with the Financial Secretary and the board.

You want to hold this position because: You get to work with the other PTA teams.

What we wish every potential volunteer knew: It truly is a team effort!

4. Financial Secretary

Current holder: Karina Decima — karina.decima@mxpta.org

Brief Description: Support the Treasurer by making deposits, reconciling bank statements monthly, and helping with Treasurer tasks throughout the year (paying insurance, ordering checks, and similar).

Time Commitment: About 10–15 hours a month. Things get busy at the start and end of the year, when most teachers turn in reimbursements.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Enjoy process and operations-type tasks. You don’t need a finance background.

You don’t have to do it alone: You work with the Treasurer and the President to review the budget and answer questions about what the PTA can pay for or reimburse.

You want to hold this position because: The role meets a critical need, and the tasks are predictable. It is a great way to contribute if you would rather not do fundraising or sales. You meet PTA parents from other grades, and you stay in touch with what is happening at school.

What we wish every potential volunteer knew: It is very fulfilling to contribute your time to your child’s school. Your kids see it and appreciate it, and you get to know other parents and MX staff better. You don’t have to do anything alone — everyone is here to help.

5. Fundraising Chair

Current holder: Will Rohrer — will.rohrer@mxpta.org

Brief Description: Raise money to support all the MX programs we love: drama, dance, music, PE, and much more.

Time Commitment: About 10 hours a week in the fall.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Have financial or email-marketing experience, enjoy talking with other parents who love Malcolm X, and like crafting fun emails.

You don’t have to do it alone: The Operations Chair helps put up posters and hand out flyers, and other teachers and parents help send out emails.

You want to hold this position because: You make sure the programs continue for the coming years.

What we wish every potential volunteer knew: Malcolm X families love our school and community!

6. Teacher Representative (Teacher Liaison)

Current holder: Suzanne Middleton Fraser — suzannemiddletonfraser@berkeley.net

Brief Description: Attend PTA board meetings and some events, and communicate between teachers and the PTA board.

Time Commitment: About 1½ hours a month.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Like knowing what is going on at school in a broader sense and sharing that with teachers and staff when needed.

You don’t have to do it alone: You work with other teachers.

You want to hold this position because: You get to see our amazing PTA board in action and stay active in the broader school community.

What we wish every potential volunteer knew: Volunteering for the PTA is a great way to be part of the Malcolm X community and contribute to it.

7. Communications: Weekly Newsletter

Current holder (Communications Chair): Namita Dodeja — namita.dodeja@mxpta.org

Brief Description: Compile all events and news sent to Etree into a newsletter sent to ~1,400 recipients in the MX community each week.

Important Events/Deadlines: Newsletter is compiled over the weekend and finalized/released roughly every Tuesday. Multiple communications per week when needed.

Time Commitment: Uses an AI tool (Tasklet) to draft the newsletter; human review, editing, and sending takes ~20–30 min/week.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Are good at wordsmithing and concisely conveying important information.

You want to hold this position because: You can help remotely on your own schedule in a way that is necessary and impactful, but doesn't take too much time.

Tools, Organizations, etc. involved: Membership Toolkit (website and newsletter platform).

8. Social Media Chair

Current holder: Namita Dodeja — namita.dodeja@mxpta.org
Status: Additional volunteers are welcome. Description coming soon.

9. Website Coordinator(s)

Current holders: Patrick Oh — patrick.oh@mxpta.org
Namita Dodeja — namita.dodeja@mxpta.org
Status: Patrick and Namita are working as a team. Additional volunteers are welcome.

Brief Description: Update the MX PTA website, manage Google Workspace, and look for tools that help the MX community connect.

Important Events/Deadlines: Mostly ad-hoc depending on events and timeline.

Time Commitment: About 1 hour a week; a bit busier at the start of the year. A team is in place and plenty of other PTA members are willing to help.

This position is a good fit for you if: You enjoy technical work and tinkering with online tools, and want to help people connect. You want to volunteer on a flexible schedule without large time blocks. Willingness to learn on the job is welcome.

You want to hold this position because: You can really help the MX community stay informed, connected, and working together, and you see tangible results fast.

Tools, Organizations, etc. involved: Membership Toolkit (website and newsletter platform); Google Groups (email and file management).

10. Volunteer Coordinators

Current holders: Santina Rohner Moran — srohnermoran@gmail.com
Michelle Lee — michellelee06@gmail.com

Brief Description: Help people get excited about volunteering. Recruit parents to help with PTA board roles and events throughout the year, and match interested community members to needs they can fill.

Time Commitment: About an hour a week, more in the lead-up to an event (roughly 2 hours per event).

This position is a good fit for you if you: Are a people person who enjoys talking with new folks, sending emails, and a little data organization and logistics. You understand that people want to help and you are helping them do it.

You don’t have to do it alone: You work with a co-coordinator, and your family pitches in too.

You want to hold this position because: Someone says, “Thanks! I signed up for X.” You also get more involved with the PTA and meet new people.

What we wish every potential volunteer knew: It is not too much of a commitment, and it is fun to get involved. We are all doing the best we can, and every effort — big and small — is appreciated. You don’t have to contribute in big ways to make a big collective difference.

11. Room Partner Coordinator

Current holder: Tamar Graff — tamar.graff@mxpta.org

Brief Description: Send emails to Room Partners for distribution. Answer Room Partner questions (teacher gifts, building community, general school questions).

Important Events/Deadlines: Sending emails as quickly as possible. Facilitating an orientation at the beginning of the year. Sending out teacher appreciation survey to teachers. Helping Room Partners with teacher appreciation.

Time Commitment: 10 minutes to 2 hours per week depending on the time of year.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Are somewhat organized and enjoy community building.

You want to hold this position because: You can help remotely on your own schedule in a way that is necessary and impactful, but doesn't take too much time.

Tools, Organizations, etc. involved: Google Drive and email.

12. Rolling Drop-off Coordinator

Current holders (Co-Coordinators): Joseph Brown — josephbrown999@gmail.com
Nat Smith — nathaniel.f.smith@gmail.com

Brief Description: Set up SignUpGenius at the beginning of the year, update it weekly, and email room partners weekly. Check the rolling drop-off cart in person once a month as needed.

Time Commitment: ~2 hours at the start of the year (setup). ~5 min/week ongoing (remote). ~10 min/month in person.

13. Afterschool Enrichment Coordinator

Current holders: Balark Mallik (Vendor Relations & Contracts; Parent Relations & Emails) — balark.mallik@mxpta.org
On-site coordinators by day: Chris Joseph (Mon/Tue), Julia Moss (Wed), Alice Yee (Thu), Nicole Freeto (Fri). Backup volunteers are welcome.

Brief Description: Speak with vendors teaching interesting classes, recruit in-person volunteers (one is needed each day), find classrooms, and communicate with parents and guardians.

Time Commitment: About 20 hours per semester. Things get especially busy at the beginning of each semester.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Enjoy emailing and are willing to put out fires. You don’t need to be a project manager. You like helping kids and want to make Malcolm X a more equitable place.

You don’t have to do it alone: About 20% of costs are raised as scholarships. You work with several in-person volunteers and get support from ASE faculty, MX classroom teachers, and LEARNS backup staff. The Treasurer handles the money, and the communications team advertises the program.

You want to hold this position because: You get to match scholarship students to the best classes, knowing they are getting the best education possible.

What we wish every potential volunteer knew: This is one of the most important PTA programs of the year. It exposes our kids to experiences they may not have had before.

14. Afterschool Program Chaperone

Current holders: On-site coordinators Chris Joseph (Mon/Tue), Julia Moss (Wed), Alice Yee (Thu), and Nicole Freeto (Fri), with chaperones for each afterschool class day. Backup volunteers are welcome.

Brief Description: Walk students from their classroom to their afterschool class, ask the vendor faculty to take roll, and let the right person know if a student is missing.

Time Commitment: About 1 hour (60 minutes) a week. Things get busiest in the first few weeks of class.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Like coming to school during drop-off (1:20–2:20), enjoy getting your steps in, and are willing to show up. You don’t need an education background.

You don’t have to do it alone: You work with a team of about 5 other in-person volunteers and a volunteer coordinator, and you get support from school staff in an emergency or illness.

You want to hold this position because: You help kids try classes they might never otherwise take, especially since MX has a need-based scholarship policy.

What we wish every potential volunteer knew: This program gives students experiences they won’t have otherwise. Chaperones make a difference to 75–90 kids every day.

15. Fall Fair Co-Lead

Current holders: Danise Olague — daniseo@gmail.com
Ayesha Mahmud — asmahmud@gmail.com
Whitney Smith — kwhitneysmith@gmail.com
Advisor: Damon Guthrie, who organized the Fall Fair in past years — damonguthrie@gmail.com

Brief Description: Organize, facilitate, and plan the Fall Fair.

Time Commitment: About 1 hour a week from August until the event, and more time in the 2–3 weeks leading up to it.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Are a detail-oriented event planner and a good communicator who enjoys logistics and social events, and want MX to be a more community-oriented, welcoming, and joyous place.

You don’t have to do it alone: Co-leads share the work, which makes it both more fun and more doable.

You want to hold this position because: You feel more connected to your child’s school and part of a bigger community beyond your child’s class.

What we wish every potential volunteer knew: You can make it what you want and add your own flavor!

16. T-Shirt Design Contest Co-Lead

Current holders: Damon Guthrie — damonguthrie@gmail.com
Teresa Oja — teresaoja@gmail.com

Brief Description: Create posters, volunteer at events, and co-lead the student art contest.

Time Commitment: About 1 week of focused work around the contest.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Enjoy organizing art contests and are artistic.

You don’t have to do it alone: You work with other parents.

You want to hold this position because: You help teach kids about ranked-choice voting and get to see them get involved with art.

17. Winter Craft Fair Chair

Current holder: Santina Rohner Moran — srohnermoran@gmail.com
Status: Santina is continuing as chair through the 2029/30 school year. Would love a co-chair but can manage alone if needed.

Brief Description: Coordinate student and community sellers for a winter craft fair fundraiser/community event. Includes a raffle, bake sale, pizza for sale, a kids craft table, and a choir performance.

Important Events/Deadlines: Event is generally the 2nd or 3rd weekend in December. Coordinate with choir teacher in September to finalize date; begin reaching out to past/new sellers by end of September. November: Facilities Use Application, flyers, volunteer coordination, craft table prep. Day of: full day of setup/coordination/cleanup.

Time Commitment: Sept–Oct: ~1 hr/week (primarily email). November: ~1 hr/week (email + logistics). Week prior: 2–3 additional hours. Day of event: full day (~9am–4pm).

This position is a good fit for you if you: Are good with logistics and enjoy crafts/crafty events.

You want to hold this position because: It's a wonderful winter community event bringing together the school and larger Berkeley community. A great learning experience for student sellers — planning, pricing, talking to customers, and making change.

Tools, Organizations, etc. involved: MXCraftFair@gmail.com account; Google Drive with records dating back to 2016; master planning spreadsheet.

18. Literacy Night Chair

Current holder: Alexis Filippini — alexis@wordsinthewild.us
Status: Alexis is happy to continue with a co-chair (ideally a parent of a younger student who can take over the following year). Also open to serving as co-chair if someone else wants the lead role.

Brief Description: Plan the January Literacy Night. Goals: Celebrate literacy, engage families in reading and writing, provide access to books.

Important Events/Deadlines: Literacy Night is typically in January as part of the kick-off for Readathon. Everything realistically needs to be planned before Winter break. Strongly recommend recruiting volunteers and vendors in Oct/Nov before the winter holiday crunch.

Time Commitment: If you start organizing early, it's a small commitment until right before the event. If you wait, it's a big push at the end. Strongly recommend distributing the responsibilities.

This position is a good fit for you if you: Like event planning and/or reading and writing. Ideally, there are two of you to cover that span of interests/skills.

You want to hold this position because: You want to contribute in a meaningful way that does not have full-year, day-to-day responsibilities.

Tools, Organizations, etc. involved: Past booksellers, the library, authors, and community organizations have been involved. Detailed doc with last 2 years' info available from current chair.

19. Executive Vice President

Current holder: Open — we need you!

Description coming soon.

20. Online and Pop-Up Sales (MX Merch)

Current holder: Open — we need you!

Description coming soon.

21. Facilities & Safety

Current holder: Open — we need you!

Description coming soon.