Our mission is to give our Barnwell Bears the tools and resources they need to reach their full potential, both in school and out. We are the parents and teachers who advocate for our children. We strive to use our voice to make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of Barnwell students and families.
There’s no better way to know what’s happening in your school
The PTO offers a variety of programs designed for parents as well as students.
PTO functions are opportunities to meet other parents and teachers, building rapport and discussing issues that are on your mind. You can share ideas, concerns, and experiences.
PTO can be a way for you to more effectively suggest change at your child’s school.
By volunteering with your PTO, you put your skills and hobbies to use for a noble cause—your child and all children in the community.
By getting involved at your child’s school you’ll be part of the solution, helping make positive changes. PTO play an important role by supporting building improvements through advocacy and play an important role in fundraising for curriculum based programs and social events.
Melissa Branen has been a PTO Board member for four years and is serving as Co-President for a second term. She and her husband Eric have a daughter named Morgan, who is now a second grader. Melissa works as a parapro at Barnwell and also volunteers as a Bible StudyTeacher and Girl Scout Troop Leader. Her daughter keeps her busy with swimming, soccer, dance, and girl scouts. She loves Barnwell and the local community and plans to stay actively involved for many years to come.
My name is Melissa Renzi and this is my third year as a Barnwell parent and my second on the Barnwell PTO. I have previously served as a room parent and Co-VP of Academic Enrichment and am now serving as Co-President. I have two daughters attending Barnwell; Caroline is in 2nd grade and Tessa is entering Kindergarten this year! My husband Nick and I are originally from Buffalo, NY (#GoBills) but have lived in Atlanta for about 18 years, and even met, got married, and started our family here. We love our Barnwell community and look forward to continuing our involvement here!
Hey y'all, I'm Michelle Maenpaa (Man-paw) and I'm excited to be returning to Barnwell's PTO for a 2nd year and assuming the role of Treasurer for 2024-2025! My husband of 11 years, Michael, and I have two sweet (and stubborn) children at Barnwell this year. Sawyer will be in 1st grade, and Bryce will be starting her journey in PreK. Our family moved back to Georgia in 2020 after 9 years away, and we are thrilled with where we landed here in Johns Creek and at Barnwell. Outside of volunteering at Barnwell and responding to any of the 1 trillion times a day my children say "Mom/Mommy/Mama", you can find me in my home office where I work full-time for Zillow, leading a small team in Business Operations. Whenever I can squeeze in other things I enjoy going for a run after the morning drop-off (please wave hello if you see me!), traveling, or spending time with my family outdoors in any capacity we can.
Hi! My name is Paige Wuyek (Wee-yak :)) and I’m excited to be on Barnwell’s PTO Board as Co-VP of School Enrichment. Although this is my first year on the board, I’ve had lots of fun experience as Chair of the Yearbook Committee for the last 5 years. One of my favorite things is volunteering and supporting the teachers, staff, and students at Barnwell. I am a stay-at-home parent, but I previously worked as a Special Education teacher for many years. I have 2 beautiful daughters, Lauren (5th grade) and Adelyn (3rd grade). I have been married to my awesome husband, Billy, for 12 years. This is our family’s 7th year at Barnwell and we absolutely love being a part of the Barnwell community! I look forward to another fun and exciting school year ahead!
Hi! My name is Hillary Ely. This is our second year at Barnwell and I am happy to be serving as Co-VP for School Enrichment for the second year in a row. I have been married to my husband, Justin, for 12 years. We have three kids - Hannah (1st grade), Sarah (4 years old) and David (1 year old). I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and I work part time so I can be home with my kids part time as well. I am involved in our church and enjoy reading and hiking. We have loved our experience at Barnwell so far and look forward to many years to come.
Hi! My name is Heather Roberts and I am excited to serve as the Co-VP of Family Events for the second year. Last year, I really enjoyed helping to organize events that brought our school community together to connect and have fun! My husband of 13 years, Drew, and I are from Martinez, GA, moved to the Johns Creek area immediately following college and love every aspect of this community that we have called home for 16 years. We have two busy boys: Harlan, who is a 3rd grader at Barnwell and Hayes, who is 3 and already counting the days until he gets to walk the halls as a Barnwell Bear! When I'm not refereeing wrestling matches, playing sports in the backyard or running between two schools and activities, I enjoy traveling, reading a good book, and spending good, quality time with family & friends. I look forward to working with our wonderful PTO this year to continue supporting the teachers and staff that make Barnwell such a special place!
Hi! My name is Sonja Parcell and I'm excited to serve as the Co-VP of Family Events on the Barnwell PTO board. Relocating to Georgia in the Spring of 2023, my family is still relatively new to the area and we’ve been absolutely thrilled with the warm welcome we’ve received, great friends we’ve made and the fantastic Barnwell community. My husband, Jordan, and I have two children, JoLee (3rd grade) and Hendrix (Kindergarten). As a former Event Planner - turned Stay at Home Parent, I’ve genuinely enjoyed volunteering at PTO events, decorating doors for teacher appreciation week, working on the Yearbook team and serving as Room Parent for both of my children’s classrooms this past year. My husband and I are High School sweethearts; we’ve lived in 5 states and 3 countries; and our family loves traveling together. We’re glad to be part of the Barnwell community and look forward to a wonderful year ahead!
My name is Lauren Kermani. I am Co-VP Fundraising and I am excited to support our Barnwell Bears! My husband, Frank, and I have 3 boys, Koosha and Kian are in college and Kasra is a 2nd grader at Barnwell this year. I am a local real estate Broker with a small team specializing in North Atlanta. I am excited about serving on your PTO because I know that the best schools have strong parental support and a strong foundation in school is so important for the kids and our community. I look forward to working with you this year!
Hi! I'm Jenny Browne and the Co-VP of Fundraising & Sponsorship and excited for the opportunity to support Barnwell and ensure our community has the resources they need for a successful year currently and for years to come. My husband, Nate and I have two daughters. Sylvie is in 4th grade and Ellie is in 2nd. I am a Cybersecurity Account Executive and focused on keeping businesses, schools, governments and healthcare safe from cyber criminals. I am excited to join the PTO because I understand how important it is to have strong partners in our community along with the financial resources the school needs to continue to improve. I look forward to a successful year ahead!
Hi! My name is Adva Fershtman and I am excited to start my first year in the PTO as a Co-VP of academic enrichment. My husband Daniel and I have two children - Eitan (3rd grade) and Ari (Kinder) and we look forward to a wonderful year at Barnwell!
My name is Ilond Tshipau, and I am thrilled to embark on my first year with Barnwell PTO. This marks our fifth year at Barnwell, and I have enjoyed serving as a room parent every year and always welcome opportunities to contribute to the Barnwell Family as we wrap around the support to our future leaders. My husband, Steeve, and I have two wonderful children: Kellie, a 4th grader, and Jayden, a 2nd grader. We have called Georgia home since 2006. Professionally, I am the VP of Operational and Program Services at the Bobby Dodd Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with differing abilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independence, and inclusion within their communities. I am passionate about fostering an inclusive environment both at work and in our Barnwell community. I look forward to a fantastic year ahead, supporting our children and working alongside other dedicated parents and educators to make Barnwell an even better place for our future leaders to thrive!
My name is Holli Freeman, and this will be my third year on the PTO board. This year, I’m excited to be Co-VP of Teacher Support. My husband Eric and I have been in Alpharetta for 14 years, and our son, Cooper, is in 3rd grade. Eric grew up in Kennesaw and I’m from the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Long Beach). I lived there for 30 years before moving here in 2010. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom in 2016, I enjoyed working at WSB-TV in the Programming department. We enjoy spending as much time with our families as possible, traveling, and cooking. I dearly love the Barnwell community, and look forward to working with others on the board to support the teachers and staff.
I’m Kim Quilty, co-VP of Teacher Support. This is my second year on the PTO board. I have also helped coordinate Staff Appreciation Week for the past several years. My family and I relocated to Johns Creek in 2020 from the suburbs of Chicago. We have a senior and a sophomore at Centennial High School and Claire, our youngest, is a 5th grader this year! When I am not working as a speech language pathologist, volunteering at school or during my kids’ extracurricular activities, you might find me walking in Newtown Park with our dog Larry or gardening in our yard. I’m looking forward to being part of the PTO, spoiling our staff, helping with fifth grade events, and making our last year at Barnwell the best yet!
I joined PTO as a positive way to dedicate my time with supporting our school and the future generation of Barnwell Elementary. It feels good in knowing that by volunteering my time, I assisted in providing great experiences for my child and all the other children attending Barnwell Elementary.
My name is Saudhy Fahm and this is my first year as the Co-VP of Community Outreach. I am the proud mom of two beautiful and smart girls, Eliana (4th) and Sami (1st), and am very excited to be a part of this year's PTO. I love traveling, reading and hanging with family/friends!! What I love most about Barnwell is the diversity the school has to offer, my girls being Colombian-Nigerian-Americans, makes them feel as if they belong! I love Barnwell and this community and look forward to doing some fun things this year!
Hi everyone! I am Shelby Peck, your co-VP Communications and Technology chair. I joined the PTO to help our hardworking teachers and staff provide an incredible experience for our children. My husband, Mike, and I have two daughters at Barnwell. Melody is in kindergarten, and Summer is in third grade. Before this, I was a room mom for each girl and led Barnival games for the last two years. My day job is leading Brand Marketing at the PGA TOUR Superstore. Yes, I love and like to play golf but unfortunately, I spend most of my time cleaning up after my little munchkins.
Hi everyone, this is my first year on the PTO board and I'm serving as co-VP of communications and technology. Kevin and I have two sons: Alex, who is in 1st grade at Barnwell, and Oliver, who is eager to become a Barnwell Bear in a few more years! We moved to Johns Creek last year after a long time in the DC area, and being part of the Barnwell community played a big role in our decision on where to settle down. During the day I work on digital investigations before turning my focus to become chauffeur, personal chef, and sparring partner for my boys! I am excited about keeping everyone informed on how we can work together to make this year special for our students, teachers, and staff!
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