Chesterfield mom named Virginia PTA Volunteer of the Year

Athana Martin was recently named Virginia's PTA Volunteer of the Year for her efforts at Evergreen Elementary and Midlothian Middle schools.

Athana Martin has been chosen as Virginia PTA Volunteer of the Year. She received the award on Oct. 27 during the Virginia PTA's convention in Portsmouth. Last spring, Martin was selected as the PTA's James River District Volunteer of the Year.

Martin, who has a fourth-grade daughter at Evergreen Elementary School and a sixth-grade daughter at Midlothian Middle School, volunteers at both schools.

"I'm at one of the schools everyday," Martin said. "I had to sit down when I learned about this. I thought, 'I shouldn't be getting an award.' I just love doing it, and there are so many other people who volunteer. I'm amazed at receiving this honor."

New this year to Midlothian Middle, she serves the PTA there as student appreciation chairperson. A volunteer for many years at the elementary school, she has worked on close to 100 projects at Evergreen, according to Principal Joyce Lanier. Martin said that her children enjoy seeing her in their schools and often help with PTA projects on weekends.

"I was so happy when I heard about Athana Martin being chosen for this award," Lanier said. "No one deserves it more. She is an outstanding volunteer and an outstanding person. She's always upbeat and positive and willing to help out whenever and wherever there is a need."

Among Martin's projects at Evergreen Elementary is the Mileage Club, created to help fight childhood obesity. The program, where students and their parents gather at the school early in the morning to walk or run together, has proven so popular that it expanded this year to two mornings a week. And the PTA reports that registration for this year is full. The program also provides PTAmade birthday treat bags to students in lieu of parent-provided birthday cupcakes or other sweets.

"The students are so excited when they receive the treat bags," Lanier said.

Another Evergreen project Martin helped create is the Eagle Excellence program. Starting with Lanier's idea to recognize students who exemplify the school system's core values of respect, responsibility, honesty and accountability, Martin worked out the details: Students nominate their peers to be recognized and then the nominations are displayed on a school bulletin board. The principal honors these students once a month and presents them with a "Proud Parents of an Excellent Eagle" bumper sticker.

Martin also initiated a Parents as Readers group, modeled after Evergreen Elementary's Teachers as Readers study group, to study strategies for reading comprehension. The PTA purchased copies of "Seven Keys to Reading Comprehension: A Guide for Educators and Parents" for group members. The teachers' study group had used that guide a year earlier, so the parents' group learned to use the same strategies at home that teachers use in the classroom.

In addition to PTA activities, Martin works part time as a marketer for her husband's insurance agency. She also volunteers for a mentoring program that is a result of a partnership between Evergreen Elementary School and a local church. Children in the program receive homework help and more.

"Sometimes they just need somebody to talk to," Martin said. "We talk about their interests, and I share mine with them.

"I won't stop participating in the mentoring program when my youngest child moves on to middle school," Martin said. "This is the most fulfilling thing I do as a volunteer."