Birch’s PTA president honored with parade in Merrick

Knowing they wouldn’t be able to honor their outgoing president at Birch School’s traditional end-of-year dinner, members of the Parent Teacher Association decided to surprise Perri Thaler-Schlechter with a car parade on June 10.

That night, Membership Chair Dana Isaac texted Thaler-Schlechter to come outside her house on Beach Drive, where a driving DJ booth blasted music and streamed disco lights into the air. Suddenly, a procession of nearly 50 honking cars materialized from one of the side streets, each decorated with posters, streamers and balloons.

“I was totally shocked,” said Thaler-Schlechter, who served as PTA president for two years. “To be recognized was very touching since I was not expecting it. It just shows how dedicated and supportive everyone in this community really is.”

Driving in the parade were Birch families, faculty members and PTA committee chairs, Isaac said, noting, “Many teachers who work at Birch but don’t live in the area [even] came to support her, which was really lovely to see.”

For the past seven years, Thaler-Schlechter has volunteered her time to the association by serving lunch at Birch and helping to organize its annual Founders’ Day and Fall Festival events.

“She makes it known that anybody can come to her for anything,” Isaac said. “She’s committed to Birch’s staff and students, and it was very beautiful to see her honored in this way.”

Thaler-Schlechter said her time as PTA president was an “incredibly rewarding experience. “It’s special to know that you’re making a difference in the children's lives,” she added, “and making it a wonderful place for the teachers to work.”