Sanjita Sethi: Nominee for PTSO President

Over the past year, I’ve gotten to experience the unique challenging environment in which the PTSO is operated. I also got to witness the hard work of a few good volunteers who ran the organization. It was a good year in which a lot got accomplished in terms of fundraising efforts and distribution of funds to teacher & club grants. Through my nomination, I want to ensure that there is continuity with past years efforts while bringing in fresh ideas and new parents who will lead in future years.

I have two daughters who will attend LCPS school’s next year; Isha will be a senior attending PFHS and AOS and Riti will be in 7th grade at RBMS. My volunteer services within the school system include being an OM coach at Potowmack Elementary for three years, starting the Science Olympiad (2011-2014) and Mathcounts (2010-2014) Clubs at RBMS as well as volunteering for them. This past year I’ve worked as the PFHS PTSO Treasurer, co-chaired the Full Steam Ahead event with Theresa and Judy, filled in as secretary as needed and organized the PTSO Spirit nights. I also volunteered as a parent teacher for RBMS’s STEM Club programming classes and Math Academy. I would be honored to serve the PTSO.

Stephanie Groot: Nominee for VP Communications

As the mother of Nathalie, Senior, and Sophia, Sophomore, I realized I want to be more involved in my school and community. It is time for me to give back to PFHS. Our Potomac Falls HS community is enthusiastic and eager to help students, but often we don’t know how to reach the right audience or larger number of students. Sometimes messages are lost in cyberspace or never shared with anyone. In the role VP Communications, I want to get everyone talking about the achievements of PFHS students and the opportunities available for everyone at PFHS. I’ll review and learn the tools we use, to determine the best methods for sharing ideas, good news, and information with students and the entire PFHS community.
By day, I am the Sr. Director of Product Management at a local IT firm where I work with diverse and distributed teams on complex software. Keeping people on all levels, from Executive to Business Analyst, informed on work in progress, ideas, and strategy is my job. I set the vision and work out the steps to achieve that goal. As your PTSO VP Communications Board Member, I’ll use my skills to advance PFHS. Go Panthers!

Rachel Olia: Nominee for PTSO VP Programs

This is my second year as a parent at PFHS. I have a daughter, Erin, in 10th grade, and a daughter, Kate, who will be a freshman in the fall. My husband and I have lived in the Cascades neighborhood for 15 years. For over a decade, other parents have worked relentlessly to provide our kids with care and support as they grow, and develop skills for life. I am excited to have the opportunity to give back!

Tonya Mead: Nominee for PTSO Secretary

My name is Tonya Mead. My husband, Dorian and I have a son, John Christian Mead attending PFHS. He is in the 11th grade. I am interested in serving as the Recording Secretary. I’d like to help support the PTSO with a specific focus on recognizing the unsung heroes (teachers, staff and administrators) who go above and beyond to provide excellent educational programming for our children and to encourage other educators to be equally supportive of our kids as the rigor of the curricula demand. Professionally, I am a fraud examiner and investigator with a specific focus on the education sector and youth serving organizations.

Sandie Richmond: Nominee for Treasurer

We have lived in Cascades for 22 years. I am native to Northern Virginia, went to George Mason University and have a CPA for 30 years. My son graduated from PFHS and we have a daughter who is currently a sophomore. Throughout my children’s school years I have been an executive member of the PTA or involved in a committee in some capacity and am willing to step up to the plate again next year as Treasurer.

Erick L. Gonzalez: Nominee for Joint VP Resources

I’m very honored to be nominated for VP of resources for the Potomac Falls High School PTSO. I am a father to four boys. The oldest will begin high school next school year. Here is a summary of my experience, accomplishment and skills descriptions.

1999 High graduate 3.8 GPA, Computer and Spanish club president, soccer athlete, all while working full-time to support two brothers and help support single mother.
3 years of ROTC as a senior leader of an Air Force platoon.
Won the American Legion’s Freedom Foundation medal and a trip to Washington D.C. for leadership demonstrated in the community and essay.
2000-2007 Served in military as a Navy Corpsman in a Marine infantry unit
2 deployments to Iraq. Combat action ribbon, GWOT with Marine Corps eagle, Expert Rifle and Pistol, Good Conduct. Honorably discharged.
2007-2009 Oracle University – DBA/SA and Java Developer education.
2009-2010 Oracle DBA/developer, Oracle Corporation -Reston, Virginia.
2010-2016 Oracle DBA, Treasury Department – New Carrolton MD.
2016 – Present, Oracle/MySQL DBA/SA/Lead Software Developer at Department of Defense, Washington D.C.

Extracurricular activities:

Virginia Veteran CTO, I was charged of raising funds to help elect veterans.
Wounded Warriors: assist other veterans in finding jobs and provide a network of support.
Team Rubicon member: we deploy to assist in disaster areas across the U.S. and overseas.
Veterans for Americans POC, an organization that stands for the constitutional rights of Americans and provides support in the form of shelter, food and water to less fortunate people in remote locations across the U.S. Raised over 1.2 million dollars to help move more than 2,000 veterans in support of our operations at Standing Rock in December 2016.
Soccer coach for Loudoun Soccer, Sterling Recreational League.

Public speaking and interviews:

Tonya Lovelace: Nominee for Joint VP Resources

I am happy to continue supporting the PFHS PTSO again next school year. I have 2 sons that have attended/currently attending Potomac Falls; Ricky Jr. is a 2009 graduate and Xavier will graduate in June, Class of 2017.
I have been involved with PFHS for many years, mainly through the Athletic Department and now the PTSO. I stepped up this year to serve as the VP of Communications; I look forward to serving again as a Joint VP of Resources. Next school year I will not have a student attending PFHS, however, it is my intent to continue to volunteer wherever there is a need! I believe that it is important to give back to help support the educational needs of the community and I will continue to do so.
I am a member of the Loudoun County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and our organization is very active in the County; providing scholarships to young women in our community; working with local non-profits in the community; providing political awareness, financial fortitude and assisting wherever there is a need.
I am a Contract Specialist with the US Dept. of the Interior, and have been a dedicated public servant with the Federal Government for over 30 years. I am an experienced public speaker and enjoy working with diverse groups of people. I have a BS in Business from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and an MBA from the University of Maryland, University College. (UMUC).