2024-2025 Executive Board
President
Melissa DeLaGarza
president@dlepto.org
Vice President
Natasha Jackson
vicepresident@dlepto.org
Secretary
Meri Sampson
secretary@dlepto.org
Treasurer
Jenise Millsaps
treasurer@dlepto.org
2024-2025 Board Officers
Parliamentarian
Shannon Boyer
parliamentarian@dlepto.org
Student Activities
Jenn Penick
studentactivities@dlepto.org
VIPS Coordinator
LaRoyshia McLaughlin
vips@dlepto.org
Staff Appreciation
Michelle Parada
staffappreciation@dlepto.org
Teacher Representative
Gabrielle Forrest
gabrielle.forrest@fortbendisd.com
Publicity
Joshua Jenkins
publicity@dlepto.org
Educational Coordinator
Rochelle Hayes
educationalcoordinator
@dlepto.org
2024-2025 Committee Chairs
Staff Appreciation Chair
Sara Bartolone
Field Day Chair
Kelli Galle
Palooza Chair
Kayla McPhail
Boosterthon Chair
Nicole Fabozzi
School Supplies Chair
Melissa Williams
Spirit Night Chair
Christine Vest
Educational Enrichment Chair
Jen Leak
Staff Appreciation Chair
Samantha Trate
Special Events Chair
Shaina Karabin
Spirit Store/Spirit Wear Chair
Rubi Reyes-Fuentez
School Store Chair
Gloria Amesquita
All Pro Dads Chair
Danny Boyer
5th Grade Promotion Chair
Lenae Fowler
Community Relations Chair
Kristi Hansen
Staff Appreciation Chair
Mattie Givens
Shared Dreams Chair
Hollis Young
GLC/Room Parent Chair
Whitney Powell
Graphic Design Chair
Stacy Radke
Pawprints Chair
Katie Vela
Social Media Chair
Alex Liston
Website Chair
Lauren Moyer
Yearbook Chair
Jeanette Rios
JOIN THE PTO
Are you interested in getting involved with the DLE PTO? We’d love to have you! Recruitment for the following year begins every January. If you are interested in a position - either on the Board or as a Chair - we ask that you complete the respective Nomination and Interest Form below. These will be used by the Nomination Committee and Board to select the best candidates for each position. Any questions on open positions or descriptions of the PTO roles, please reach out to the Parliamentarian at parliamentarian@dlepto.org.
2024-2025 Meeting Dates
PTO Board
The PTO Board meets monthly at 10 a.m. in the DLE Extended Day Room or Virtual. Everyone is welcome and invited to join us. It is a great opportunity to hear what the PTO is doing and share ideas with us; however, only PTO Voting Members and Board Members can vote on motions that are on the agenda. The PTO Board will convene on the following dates:
July 18, 2024 (Virtual)
August 15, 2024
August 26, 2024-BOARD ONLY
September 12, 2024
October 17, 2024
November 14, 2024 (Virtual)
December 5, 2024-Board ONLY
December 12, 2024
January 16, 2025 (Virtual)
February 6, 2025
March 6, 2025 (Virtual)
April 10, 2025
April 24, 2025-BOARD ONLY
May 8, 2025 (Virtual)
PTO General Body
The PTO General Body meets twice during the school year: once during fall semester, and again in the spring semester. The PTO General Body will convene on the following dates:
September 5, 2024
March 6, 2025
A Message From Our President
Welcome back, Lion families! The summer has flown by, and we are back in action! There are many things about the start of the school year that I love. It is a fresh beginning, watching our kids grow, and excitement that brings optimism as we enter the doors on the first day. Our family has been a part of DLE since 2018, and each year I grow more in awe of our outstanding school community. Our campus Administrators, teachers, and staff work attentively for our children, bringing out the potential in each student through fostering their love of learning and creating an environment where each child may flourish. As I continue to serve on the PTO Board, I want to encourage each of you to become part of the team! There are many opportunities throughout the year to serve across the school, including: teacher projects, picture days, book fair, fundraising events, school store, class parties, financial support, room parents, board meetings, just to name a few! Through volunteering, you have the chance to connect to DLE and your child’s community. There is something for everyone! Throughout the year, please stay in the loop with DLE happenings! This is as simple as signing up for Paw Prints, our weekly e-newsletter, as well as following our social media pages. If you don’t know where to start, please reach out! I am eager to connect you to a volunteer need that fits you!
Wishing you the best 2024-2025 school year!
Melissa DeLaGarza
DLE PTO President
president@dlepto.org
Meet Our Board
Melissa DeLagarza
President
This year, I am eager to serve alongside remarkable volunteers as PTO President. This will be my sixth year on PTO, and fifth on the PTO Board. My husband, Valdo, and I have been married for 16 years and are the parents of two boys, Augie (13) and Mac (9). I am a native of Missouri City/ Sugar Land and didn’t travel far for college, graduating from the University of Houston with a degree in Education and Creative Writing. Outside of DLE, our family is involved at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church as well as activities where our kids participate. In our “free” time, Valdo and I can be found cheering on our boys in baseball, football, and basketball. Leonetti Elementary is an exceptional school! Volunteering on campus strengthens our students’ education and enhances their experiences at DLE. Our school emerges as the leader of the pack with strong campus leadership, nurturing teachers who cultivate a foundation of learning for all students, dedicated support staff, and incredible students and families. DLE truly is the “Greatest Place to be!”
Natasha Jackson
vice president
I’m so excited to serve as your DLE PTO Vice President this school year! I’ve been a PTO volunteer for 8 years, serving in many leadership positions including my role last year as the Educational Coordinator on our DLE PTO Board.
My husband Nygel and I have been married for 17 years and we have three boys - Mason (12) who is a 7th grader at Ronald Thornton Middle School, as well as Caden (10) and Gavin (8) who are in 5th grade and 3rd grade respectively at Leonetti. I attended the University of Oklahoma for undergrad and the University of Arkansas College of Pharmacy where I completed my PharmD. I currently work full time as a director in the area of hospice pharmacy. Our family can always be found supporting our boys at swim, basketball, lacrosse, karate, or an art show!
Volunteering at our school and in our community fills my heart with so much joy! I’m honored to serve in this role on the PTO board, supporting all Leonetti students, teachers, staff, and families. DLE is really the best place to be and I look forward to a fantastic year!
meri sampson
Secretary
I am excited to serve as the Secretary for the DLE PTO. I am a mom of two boys; Will (7th grade at RTMS) and Jack (4th grade) and have been married to my hubby Kyle for 17 years. We have lived in Sienna for 12 years and both grew up in the Atlanta area. I graduated from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) with a Bachelor's degree in History. Our family is very involved in the Houston rodeo and love everything the rodeo offers.
I currently work for an healthcare software company and am so thankful to be able to work full time and serve on the PTO. I’m excited to serve this year and look forward to the year ahead at DLE!
!
Jenise MilLsaps
Treasurer
I am so excited to serve as the Treasurer for DLE PTO this year! I am a mom to two, Easton (6) and Ellie (4). I am a native to this area, going to all Fort Bend Schools k-12. Went to Texas State University where I graduated with a degree in education. I taught Kinder for 6 years at CME in Sugar Land ! I now work for a clothing company named Poppy Kids Co! Our family is involved in many sports activities in the area and attend RPC! Looking forward to a great year here at DLE!
michelle parada
staff appreciation
I am so excited to serve a second year as Staff Appreciation Coordinator for the DLE PTO. I’m so grateful for all the staff at DLE and I can’t wait to show them how much they truly are appreciated. My husband Marvin and I have been married for 11 years and we have 2 daughters. Isla is in 5th grade and Mila is in 1st grade. We’ve lived in Sienna for 8 years and this will be our 4th year at DLE. I look forward to another great year alongside this amazing group of volunteers.
Jenn Penick
student activities coordinator
I am so excited to start my journey for the second year with the Leonetti PTO, and my first year as a member of the board.
My husband, Jesse, and I have been married for 8 years and we have two boys. Jacob is 7 and will be a second grader this year. Jensen is 4 and won’t head to the hallowed halls of Leonetti until Fall of 2025. He currently attends pre-school and loves it. We are known to many as J4.
We have lived in Sienna for just under 6 years, but both Jesse and I are natives of the Houston area.
I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in History from Sam Houston State University, but I like to say that I am a University of Houston Cougar by marriage. After working in corporate retail for 15 years, I wanted a change, so I recently have launched my own Disney Travel Agency business. I am a full fledged Disney Adult, ask me about it anytime you want, and I will not stop talking. I am an avid reader in every spare minute I can find, and our little family is addicted to traveling to so many new places, and back to Disney World, a lot!
I am so pleased to have been chosen to represent Leonetti on the board, and I am looking forward to making a difference in my new role. I will always do whatever I can to make Leonetti the best place to be!
Joshua jenkins
Publicity
I am truly excited to serve as the Publicity Coordinator for the 2024/2025 school year. My husband and I moved to Sienna in 2021. We have a daughter in the second grade this year and another one that is 3 years old and will be a lion in no time at all. John and I love to travel whenever we can or visit our families that reside in Wisconsin and Tennessee. I do work full time as a Business Development Account Director but love to volunteer on my free time as much as possible. The staff at Leonetti school is so amazing, and I love being able to give back and help as much as I can. The PTO has been a great way for me to get involved with the school and meet some absolutely amazing people I get to call my close friends.
Gabrielle Forrest
Teacher Representative
I am so excited to serve as the Teacher Liaison for the 2024-2025 school year. I have been the music teacher at DLE since it opened in 2017 and am a product of FBISD schools.
My husband, David, and I have lived in Sienna since 2010. We love the community and have raised our four children here, Eamonn (24), Ethan (22), Evan (19) and Chloe (14). DLE is truly the Greatest Place to Be (and work)!
Rochelle Hayes
educational coordinator
This year I’m excited to serve as your DLE PTO Educational Coordinator! I am a mom of three boys; Dorian a senior at Ridge Point HS and twins Kaine and Kao who are in 3rd grade at Leonetti. My husband Chuck and I have been married for 10 years and have lived in Sienna since we got married. My dad was in the navy growing up so I have lived many places growing up, I was born in Guam, lived in Arizona, British Columbia, Washington State, and California. Our family loves basketball so we can always be found at a game cheering on our boys as they play. I love to read and in my spare time, I’m usually lost in a good book.
I currently work for as a realtor in the Houston area, and as a working mom, I’m thrilled about also being able to serve on the PTO. I love to get creative with our school’s on campus activities and I’m looking forward to doing a lot of crafting and designing this year! It’s going to be a great year at DLE with all our students, staff and families!
Laroyshia Mclaughlin
VIPS Coordinator
I am excited to serve my second year as the VIPS coordinator for our PTO. This is my fourth year on the PTO. I love volunteering at Leonetti and seeing all the kid’s smiling faces. My husband, Marlon and I have been together for 24 years. We have three kids Tahlik (16), Nasir (8), and Sadè (6). We moved from the West Coast six years. We are a very busy athletic family. My husband coaches Football at Elkins high school where my oldest attends. Our kids play football, basketball, softball, soccer, and golf.
I own my own professional organization business. I love what I do, because I love helping families out to create strategies that work for them. Owning my own business also allows me to work around my schedule, not miss any activities for my kiddos, volunteer at school.
I love serving on the PTO board to get to know the staff, kiddos, and the DLE families!!
Shannon Boyer
PARLIAMENTARIAN
I am blessed to serve as the Parliamentarian for the DLE PTO this year. It's an honor to volunteer alongside outstanding staff, teachers and families - making DLE the best place to be. This is my 7th year on the DLE PTO and I have volunteered in many different roles from laminator leader, room mom, GLC, Educational Coordinator, President, Field Day chair, and more. It's my goal to help each volunteer find the best place for them to help at DLE- whether you are a stay at home parent, working full time, can only help from home, however...there's a place for you to help!
I am a mom of three children; Brayden (10th grade), Trystan (7th grade), and Kameryn (4th grade) and have been married to my husband Danny for 19 years. All three kiddos have been a Leonetti Lion! We have lived in Sienna for 15 years and both grew up in the Houston area. I graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and University of Houston, Clear Lake with a Masters degree in School Counseling. Our family is very involved in the community through the schools and our church. I’m excited to serve this year and look forward to the year ahead at DLE!
