The Meadow Elementary School PTA honored the founding leaders of the New York State PTA while celebrating members of its own community at its annual Founders Day Dinner and awards ceremony last week.
PTA Founders Day, celebrated annually on Feb. 17, marks the founding of the National Parent Teacher Association in 1897. Established by Alice McLellan Birney, Phoebe Apperson Hearst and Selena Sloan Butler, the PTA was created to improve the education, health, safety and well-being of children nationwide. Founders Day serves as a time to reflect on the organization’s lasting impact and the important role family engagement and advocacy play in student success.
For Meadow Elementary, the event gives the PTA and school community an opportunity to recognize volunteers and educators who support students throughout the year.
“It reminds us that PTA is built on advocacy, service and family-school partnership,” Meadow PTA Co-president Sophea Sainsurin said in an email to the Herald. “At Meadow, it is a time to celebrate the impact of volunteers, educators and families who work together to create enriching experiences and supportive opportunities for students. It allows us to honor the individuals whose dedication strengthens our community and helps every child succeed.”
The event took place on Feb. 10, and the highlight was the announcement of the 2025-26 Honorary Lifetime Membership Award recipients. The award is one of the highest honors the PTA presents, recognizing those who demonstrate exceptional dedication and service to children and the school community. It honors a lasting commitment to advocacy, leadership and supporting family engagement, and the impact recipients have made on students and families.
In addition to this distinction, PTA units may also present Distinguished Service Awards to recognize longstanding and extraordinary contributions to the school community. Meadow also highlighted partnerships with SEPTA, which supports students with special needs and their families, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and ensuring that all school families feel supported and represented.
Recipients are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to children, families and the school community, including leadership, service, advocacy and meaningful contributions that strengthen partnerships in the school.
According to Sainsurin, the selection process begins with nominations from members of the Meadow community, followed by committee review and final selection.
“Each year, the process is incredibly meaningful and challenging because there are so many deserving candidates,” she wrote. “Honorees are not notified in advance and typically learn of their recognition during the Founders Day celebration.”
This year the Meadow PTA recognized Sainsurin, Pria Das, Helen Singson, Andrew Wright, Nikki Dupo and Catherine Mercedes, representing SEPTA, as Honorary Lifetime Members. The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Vincenza Simal, for her continued dedication to the Meadow school community.
Das, a second-grade teacher and Community Problem Solvers coach, said the recognition reflects the collaborative spirit in the school. “It truly feels incredibly meaningful to be recognized by the Meadow community,” she said. “This recognition feels less like an individual achievement and more like a celebration of the collective effort we put into supporting our students and strengthening our community.”
Das said her motivation comes from watching students realize the power of small acts of service and kindness. “Supporting Meadow allows me to help create meaningful opportunities for students to recognize needs in their community and take action,” she said. “It’s inspiring to watch them realize that their voices matter and that they have the power to make a difference. When I was younger, the teachers that always made a lasting impact for me were the ones who invested just a little more in who I was as a student.”
Mercedes, Meadow PTA co-president and a SEPTA advocate, said the recognition was emotional and unexpected. “I began this journey with the simple goal of giving back and supporting our community for the well-being and growth of our children and school,” she said. “To be recognized for doing meaningful and valuable work is incredibly rewarding.”
Mercedes added that her children inspired her involvement and commitment to ensuring that families, especially those in the special-education community, feel supported and informed.
“It truly takes a village to raise a healthy and well-educated child,” she said. “When we show up for families who may need additional support, we help create a more inclusive and empowered community for all students.”
Wright, Meadow’s assistant head custodian, said the award felt personal because of his lifelong connection to the community.
“It was truly an honor and surprising,” he said. “This community has supported me throughout my whole life, from childhood to now. I always wanted to give back to the community that helped make me into the person I am today.”
Simal, who received an Honorary Lifetime Award in 2012, said her passion for teaching keeps her committed to Meadow. “Being recognized by the Meadow community feels truly special,” she said. “It is an honor to be acknowledged for doing what I love. Seeing the excitement in a child’s eyes when they learn something new and being part of their journey is incredibly rewarding.”
The evening also featured live entertainment after the ceremony, with mentalist David Lawrence, of Magic of the Mind, impressing attendees before families gathered for a buffet dinner.
PTA leaders said the celebration ultimately reflects the purpose behind Founders Day itself — recognizing that schools thrive when families, educators and volunteers work together in service of children.
“PTA is more than an organization — it is a movement built on advocacy, service and community,” Sainsurin said. “As we celebrate our past and look toward the future, we remain committed to supporting every child, strengthening partnerships, and continuing to be strong advocates for students and families.”
