Nov. 17-21 is Parent and Family Involvement Week in FCPS

Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Linda Borkosky is one of those parents who’s always in the mix. From leading a PTA membership drive to launching a lacrosse team, she has a hand in whatever she thinks will strengthen Fayette County Public Schools and enrich life for the students.

“I like to take on a project, conquer it and move on to the next one,” said Borkosky, who has a sixth-grader at Tates Creek Middle School.

Noted for her energy and organizational skills, Borkosky has logged countless hours for her son’s schools. “If I see there’s a need, I’ll definitely help,” she said. “My enjoyment is seeing the kids succeed. That’s probably the most rewarding – making a difference in a few kids’ lives.”

Borkosky wasn’t always able to be so involved. She worked full-time as an accountant while her two daughters were in school (they’re now in college). These days, she’s a self-employed business consultant and can set her own schedule and carve out time for volunteering.

“I think it’s our responsibility as parents to be involved in our children’s education. We need to support our teachers and do our part to help educate our kids,” she said.

Fellow parent Connie Neal described her as a mentor and “Superwoman.”

“She was just always a permanent fixture (at Millcreek Elementary) – very involved with pretty much anything that went on. She’s full of energy and ideas and motivation,” Neal said. “She just has a genuine concern and care for the kids and the school – to make it the best it can possibly be.”

Borkosky got a lot done there, too, introducing “Science To Go” classroom experiments, coaching a Lego team and taking the parents’ lead on the stream restoration project, just to name a few.

“One of the things I’m most proud of was an anti-bullying campaign. We started a program and had kids sign pledge cards. I was excited about that,” she said.

She was elected PTA president at Millcreek for two terms and also served as vice president and treasurer. This past summer, the state PTA named her Volunteer of the Year.

“You just have to decide to do it, and go for it,” Borkosky said, explaining her commitment.

This year, she has taken a different tact at Tates Creek Middle as a member of the School-Based Decision Making Council – “to see what I can accomplish from that angle.”

“Sixth-graders aren’t as anxious to have Mom around, so I’m sort of keeping a low profile,” she said.

“Low profile” for Borkosky is still quite a level of involvement. “She’s here basically every afternoon,” Principal Greg Quenon said. “Anything I need, I can contact her. She’s a go-to lady.”

Band director Gay Begley agreed.

“Linda is a tireless volunteer ... She has made contacts, organized, found resources, done paperwork and anything else that is needed,” Begley said. “She has been a great liaison between parents, administration and teachers. In other words, she is the kind of parent we would like to clone.”

Borkosky knows that not everyone can devote as many hours to volunteering. She’s familiar with that old axiom that 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work and says it generally holds true for parents’ joining PTSA and other school-related causes.

“You have to have a passion for it. Some people just aren’t comfortable going into a school,” Borkosky said. “(But) if you can get folks involved on a small scale and they feel that sense of accomplishment, they’re more likely to come back. … You never know – you may find your niche.”

Interested?

To find out how to get involved in your child’s school, e-mail Alice Nelson, the Family/Community liaison for Fayette County Public Schools, or check for details on the FCPS Web site. There you will find useful links, including the 16^th District PTA, a volunteer application and the Parent Tool Kit.