CHAIR POSITIONS

We have many chair positions that lead specific committees or events. Below is a list of all the current positions and their availability. 

If you are worried about making a large commitment and want to start small please reach out and offer your support to a chairperson as a volunteer for their event.

Interested in volunteering for an open position? 

Complete the form on our Volunteer Event Sign-Ups and someone will reach out!

Committees

5th Grade

Current Chair: Jillian Echard/Michelle Kenny

2026-2027: Vacant

Time Commitment: Year-round

Description: Visit the 5th grade page for full details

Cultural Arts

Current Chair: Melissa Testa and Vacant Co-Chair

2026-2027: Vacant

Time Commitment: Year-round

Description: Research and plan special educational and entertaining events for the school. Coordinate with office staff, PTO, and other schools for scheduling and pricing discounts. Introduce the educators/entertainers, take pictures during assemblies or coordinate those who can. Chairperson must assure that one adult member of the PTO is present at all times, in the presence of any students, at any event.

Memory Book

Current Chair: Jillian Echard 

2026-2027: Vacant

Time Commitment: Year-round

Description: Organize and oversee the production of the school's memory/yearbook. He or she shall work with the publishing company and volunteers to take photos, edit pages and layouts. Publicize the sale, distribute and collect order forms and monies from sales, order memory books from publisher and distribute.

Scholarship

Current Chair: President - Megan Mele

Volunteers Needed: 3 parents and 3 teachers

Time Commitment: April/May/June

Description: SHS Scholarship Coordinator shall help review the essays and help the Scholarship Committee select the scholarship winners among the Southington High School applicants who are graduates of Urbin T. Kelley School. Chairperson collects essays, coordinates a meeting to select a winner and publicizes said winners.

Staff Appreciation

Current Chair: Angela Lauretano (a_lauretano@yahoo.com) and Krista Antigiovanni

2026-2027: Angela Lauretano and Krista Antigiovanni

Volunteers Needed: Many different opportunities throughout the year. Reach out to Angela for more details 

Time Commitment: Aug/Dec/April/May

Description: Coordinate Staff Appreciation Events including: Welcome Back Staff Luncheon the day before school starts, Teacher appreciation holiday treats, Nurses Day Gift, Administrative Assistant Day Gift, and Teacher Appreciation Week which includes Coordinating a week of events/food/activities for the school staff to show appreciation. Schedule volunteers, communicate with custodial staff any needs, or help needed, set up, break down and clean up.

Clubs

Art Club

Current Chair: Pam Daly

2026-2027: Pam Daly

Volunteers Needed: 2-4 Parents to attend each meeting and assist chairperson with activities

Time Commitment: Year-round, 1 after school meeting per week plus coordination time

Description: Help prep and assist the kids with their art projects at the monthly meetings. Schedule monthly meetings and report said dates to the Executive Board. Chairperson must assure that one adult member of the PTO is present at all time, in the presence of any students, at every meeting.

Be Kind Club

Current Chair: Angela Lauretano (a_lauretano@yahoo.com)

2026-2027: Angela Lauretano

Volunteers Needed: 2-4 Parents to attend each meeting and assist chairperson with activities

Time Commitment: Year-round, 1 after school meeting per month plus prep time

Description: Organize an after school club where projects focus on kindness, inclusion, community and improving the school. Chairperson must assure that one adult member of the PTO is present at all times, in the presence of any students, at every meeting.

Drama Club

Current Chair: Ms. Kahl, Lauren Mellitt, Maren Tarfano

2026-2027: Ms. Kahl, Lauren Mellitt, Maren Tarfano

Volunteers Needed: 1-2 Parents to attend each rehearsal and assist chairperson

Time Commitment: Sept-Feb

Description: Directed by two high school students and will coordinate auditions, rehearsals, utilizing middle school for show, tech week, fundraising, ticket sales, and costumes. 

STEM Club

Current Chair: Angela Lauretano (a_lauretano@yahoo.com)

2026-2027: Angela Lauretano

Volunteers Needed: 1 Parent per week to attend after school meeting and assist program teacher

Time Commitment: Year-round, 1 after school meeting per week plus coordination time

Description: Coordinate the STEM Concepts after school program including contracting external vendor, advertising and assisting with enrollment. Chairperson must assure that one adult member of the PTO is present at all times, in the presence of any students, at every meeting.

Events

Apple Harvest Parade

Current Chair: Jake Yankus

2026-2027: Jake Yankus

Time Commitment: August/September, full day on parade day

Description: Coordinate with the Apple Harvest Festival Coordinator, the theme, timing and rules for the parade. Coordinate a trailer, truck driver, decoration, volunteers, and student/parent sign ups for the parade. Ensure the school is registered for the event in August.

Book Fairs

Current Chair: Emily Fickel

2026-2027: Emily Fickel and Vacant Co-Chair

Time Commitment: 1 week during school in Nov & May plus all prep/coordination time

Description: Organize the fall and spring book fairs, coordinate with book fair company as well as schedule volunteers to set up, work during and break down book fairs. 

Field Day

Current Chair: Jill Burns/Jake Yankus

2026-2027: Jill Burns/Jake Yankus

Time Commitment: May

Description: Organize the Field Day events. The day is split between Mr. Korp events and PTO events. Order items needed for both sides, coordinate volunteers, timing, set up, and clean up.

Holiday Fair

Current Chair: Laura Silva and Katie St. Marie 

2026-2027: Laura Silva and Katie St. Marie

Time Commitment: November/December

Description: Organize, purchase products to sell, publicize the event, schedule volunteers, work with custodians to set up, break down and clean up after the event. 

Ice Cream Socials at Book Fair

Current Chair: Katelyn Ziegler

2026-2027: Katelyn Ziegler

Time Commitment: October and May

Description: Work with the PTO and Book Fair volunteers on menu, publicize the event, secure volunteers and work with custodians to set up and break down.

Spring Egg Hunt

Current Chair: Vacant

2026-2027: Vacant

Time Commitment: March/April

Description: Coordinate day, Rain date and volunteers to stuff Eggs, Easter Bunny, and hide them. Coordinate donations and/or purchasing items for the event.

Trunk or Treat

Current Chair: Harmony Harrington and Katie Manke

2026-2027: Harmony Harrington and Katie Manke

Time Commitment: October

Description: Coordinate a date for the event with a rain date, coordinate car signups, and parking plan, collect donation and/or purchase and pass out candy to be handed out.

Welcome Back Picnic

Current Chair: Michelle Kenney

2026-2027: Michelle Kenney

Time Commitment: September

Description: Plan the annual back to school celebration outside at the school. Chairperson shall obtain and organize a food provider and entertainment, publicize the event, collect ticket orders, provide tickets, schedule volunteers, communicate with the custodial staff of any needs, help custodial staff with set-up, break down, and clean up.

Fundraising

Butter Braids

Current Chair: Kelly Connellan

2026-2027: Kelly Connellan

Time Commitment: Feb/March

Description: Organize the sale of the butter braid products. He or she shall contact the product distributor, work with the PTO Executive Board to schedule sale dates, distribute order forms to students, publicize sale, collect order forms and collect monies, place order with distributor, and distribute orders when received. 

Display My Art

Current Chair: Melissa Testa

2026-2027: Melissa Testa

Time Commitment: Sept-Dec

Description: Coordinate with the Display My Art program, provide class lists to the company, review finalized art work and coordinate sales, profit percentage, follow up with the program for fundraising funds.

Holiday Raffle

Current Chair: Vacant

2026-2027: Vacant

Time Commitment: Nov/Dec

Description: Secure prizes and create gift baskets to be raffled at the Holiday Fair. Chairperson shall publicize drawing, provide and sell raffle tickets, collect funds from ticket sales, schedule volunteers, record and provide a list of prize winners for publication. 

Lyman Pies

Current Chair: Marissa Salvo / Seth Korn

2026-2027: Marissa Salvo / Seth Korn

Time Commitment: Oct/Nov

Description: Organize the sale of Lyman Pies. He or she shall contact the product distributor, work with the PTO Executive Board to schedule sale dates, distribute order forms to students, publicize sale, collect order forms and collect monies, place order with distributor, and distribute orders when received.

Operation Egg Drop

Current Chair: Melissa Testa

2026-2027: Melissa Testa

Time Commitment: May/June

Description: Work with Mrs. Kahl to coordinate the fire dept ladder truck coming to the school to drop eggs and advertise the event.

Shamrock Fun Run

Current Chair: Jon Connellan

2026-2027: Jon Connellan

Time Commitment: November

Description: Plan the Fun Run at School, Set up fundraising platform, advertise, coordinate with teachers the schedule for the day.

Sports Fundraisers

Current Chair: Amy Ledoux

2026-2027: Amy Ledoux

Time Commitment: Nov/Apr/May

Description: Organize group ticket events such as: Wolfpack, Yankees, and Yard Goats.Publicize, sell, and distribute tickets to said events.

Spirit Wear

Current Chair: Nicole Gavagni

2026-2027: Nicole Gavagni

Time Commitment: Year-round

Description: Coordinates the sale of a variety of KES apparel items. They shall publicize and promote sale, distribute order forms and collect monies, place orders with the distributor and distribute items when received. Coordinate spirit/theme weeks with the school and promote monthly spirit days.

Store Rewards / Box Tops

Current Chair: Megan Mele

2026-2027: Megan Mele

Time Commitment: Year-round

Description: Recruit volunteers to assist parents in enrolling in the store rewards programs by providing program information, collection information and inputting members into the system, and managing the rewards program in general. (BoxTops, Price Chopper, Stop and Shop) Terracycle