Alexis Fleming
President
president@hazelwoodptsa.org
My name is Alexis and I am excited to serve as your PTSA President! A little bit about me… I have wanted to be involved with the PTSA since I was a child (no, I’m not kidding!) after watching my mother enjoy participating year after year. My husband, Michael, and I grew up not far from Newcastle and we are very happy to be raising our two daughters, Paige (8) and Bridget (6), here. Hazelwood Elementary is a strong community made up of involved and caring parents and we are fortunate to be a part of it. I look forward to applying my experience as a parent and board member to this year’s PTSA.
Vice President of Events and Fundraising
Jennifer Milligan
vpevents@hazelwoodptsa.org
Hi, I’m Jennifer and I’m excited to be the VP of Events and Fundraising this year. This will be my daughter’s fourth year at Hazelwood and I couldn’t be more proud of this community over the past three years, which is what encouraged me to join last year and remain this coming year. The love and commitment by the staff and families is second to none!
I volunteered on a couple committees my first year, chaired a committee my second year, and this will be my second year as a board member. I feel a calling to help raise as much money as possible to provide supplemental tools, supplies and equipment towards our children’s education.
Feel free to reach out if you are interested in fundraising or volunteering for an event. I would love to hear new ideas on how to bring our community together and engage more families.
Vice President of Events and Fundraising
Jessica Veazey
vpevents@hazelwoodptsa.org
Wow!!! It’s hard to believe that our family has lived in Newcastle for 3 years now. Granted, those 3 years were far from typical. But as we embark on the 2022-2023 school year, I know that we will emerge as a stronger school community. We are ready to embrace a full schedule of activities, programs, and learning at Hazelwood this year.
Our oldest daughter, Lily, is thrilled to be starting her first year at Risdon Middle School. While Rosalie is ready to make her mark on the 3rd grade here at Hazelwood. Elliott finished up his work on Climate Pledge Arena this Spring and is now traveling to LA for work for a while. Which means we get to stay in Newcastle a bit longer. Yay!!!
Although this is my first year on the board, I have been very involved in many of the committees here at Hazelwood. I also held the same position at our previous school in Elm Grove, Wisconsin. I enjoy making a positive contribution to the school community.
Our goals this year for Events and Fundraising are to enhance the Hazelwood experience through 5 main categories: Academic Enrichment, Social Programming, School/Family Relations, Community Outreach, and Fundraising. We are focused on working hand in hand with the incredible Hazelwood Staff to build community enriching opportunities for everyone.
I also look forward to getting to know more of our generous and dedicated families better. Without your participation we would not be able to give the scholars the unique experiences they enjoy at Hazelwood Elementary. We appreciate you!
It’s going to be a fantastic year!!!
Erin Wolford
Vice President of Communications and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access
ErinW@hazelwoodptsa.org
vpDEIA@hazelwoodptsa.org
I grew up just around the corner and as a child attended the old Hazelwood Elementary, which is now the site of Risdon Middle School.
My husband and I are high school sweethearts and together we have two kiddos that are in the 1st and 3rd grades here at Hazelwood! I am grateful that my work as a Compensation Consultant and my husband’s work as a Fire Fighter allows us tremendous flexibility to be active in our communities and as a family.
In my ‘free time’ you may find me… substitute teaching right here in the Renton School District, co-coaching (with my husband) our boys and girls youth soccer teams, paddle boarding/kayaking, hiking, bouldering, swimming, jogging with our pup, or reading.
Work of Passion:
I was privileged to attend Washington State University (Go Cougs!) where I earned my degree in Comparative Ethnic Studies, with a second major in Women (and Gender) Studies and minored in Sociology and Psychology. I like to joke, that I went to school to study people… however, what I truly walked away with was a passion and commitment to my own journey of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) allyship.
Professionally, I have been able to speak at conferences and partner with many organizations working towards pay equity and uncovering systemic challenges frequently concealed in business policies and procedures that may be hindering progress of DEI initiatives.
Three years ago, my own DEI journey took a bend I was not expecting. I learned that my children (and later, myself) had ADHD and the three of us were considered neuro-diverse. We also identified learning differences (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia, etc.), and the real loop-de-loop…functional vision challenges that although their eye tests showed they had 20/20 acuity (with glasses/contacts)… they frequently experienced their sight as blurred or even doubled. One word kept coming up… Access. How, in the world were my kiddos going to access their education in the public-school model, learn to read, or engage in any other endeavor they wanted to pursue.
My answer for access was to recognize my own privilege, learn as much as I could from doctors, researchers, other parents, etc., get involved, and find partnerships that allowed opportunity to improve access not only for my own children, but hopefully find ways to remove unnecessary barriers for all children similar and different from my own.
My own diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging (DEIA) journey has weaved along landscapes that I didn’t always expect or was even prepared to undertake… I have been inspired by so many individuals, families and friends that have generously shared their own learnings along this journey, that when nominated and elected to our PTSA board, I jumped at the opportunity to serve and partner with our phenomenal Hazelwood community to collectively seek more opportunities for improving diversity, equity, inclusion and access in all its forms right here at Hazelwood.
I look forward to serving on the board and identifying more ways to partner with our entire Hazelwood community. Please reach out to me if you would like to engage in more discussions, have questions, or if I can be of any assistance. Thank you!
Lindsay Jensen
Treasurer
treasurer@hazelwoodptsa.org
Hello! This is my third year on the board and I’m very excited to serve. I look forward to working with the PTSA community and school to identify funding opportunities to benefit Hazelwood children. I’m passionate about literacy. PTSA has been involved in funding critical literacy tools and books. Please reach out if you would like to find out what PTSA has funded in previous years or what items have been proposed for future funding to improve our children’s education.
Sara Patteson
Secretary
secretary@hazelwoodptsa.org
I have had the opportunity to experience the wonderful teachers, staff and leaders at HWE who have nurtured both of my children over the past 7 years. This year I look forward to supporting the scholars and teachers as a member of the PTSA Board. My background includes leadership and board positions within the greater Seattle area and in my free time you can find my kids and I at the pool or on the ski slopes.