Greenwich Schools PTA Council Honors Volunteers with Essence Awards

On Tuesday morning a large group of Greenwich Public Schools PTA volunteers gathered at town hall to honor nominees for the Essence awards. This year there were an unprecedented 16 nominees.

Greenwich Schools Superintendent, Dr. Toni Jones said she was grateful to all the PTA volunteers.

“We appreciate the work our PTA does on behalf of our students and staff,” Jones said, adding that PTAs recently did an amazing job during Teacher Appreciation Week to make staff feel appreciated.

As for gifts, Jones noted that since the BOE ended the gift cap, last year PTAs contributed well over $1 million to Greenwich’s public schools.

“You make such a difference in enrichment and everything else you do,” she said.

Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, who volunteered in her children’s PTAs for many years before serving on the Board of Education, was the first recipient of the Essence award, back in 2011.

The award was created to honor a consistently active and longstanding PTA volunteer.

“Thank you so much for all you do for our public school children. Whether or not it is financial – it’s your time,” Rabin said. “What you do matters. I don’t think GPS cold run without PTA support.”

Committee co-chairs Kerri Murphy Gruss and Laura Kostin, along with John Fisher introduced the nominees.

This year there were a record 16 of them.

The  committee members were Beth Acerbo, Lori Gyesky, Michelle O’Donnell and Amena Ali.

The  qualifications for the award include selflessness, ongoing involvement, being a willing team member, a motivator, a person who significantly improved the school community and a representative of the PTA values of collaboration, commitment, respect, and integrity.

This year the PTA Council Essence Award for Excellence in Volunteerism went to Maureen Harper, and the 2026 PTA Council Essence Lifetime Award for Excellence in Volunteerism went to Monica Huang.

A highlight of the event was Mr. Fisher’s rap in honor of Ms Huang, who was nominated by Dr. Jen Bencivengo, Cristina Broderick, Gia Burton, Mikaela Kull-Baig, Maureen Harper and Mr. Fisher.

Over the years, Huang volunteered for years at Old Greenwich School, Eastern Middle School and Greenwich High School.

Mr. Fisher’s rap, in part, went as follows:

Monica been movin’ nonstop since 20-13,
In as VP Parent Liaison, caring for fa-mil-ies.
From 13 to 2017 she hit every committee:
Academic Excellence, Math & Science, Pub-li-ci-ty,
Teacher Appreciation, Outreach, Hospitality —
Whenever there’s a signup, Monica’s like, “yeah that’s for me.”
Pumpkin Patch co chair 2015 to 17 —
fall fantabulous done magically.
Next two years she’s producing stage shows under the lights:
First grade Swamped, then 4th and 5th grade musicals…

As for Maureen Harper, the committee said that consistent with the spirit of the PTAC Essence Award, her impact reflected more than a decade of sustained service grounded in equity, access, and long-term community benefit for the Greenwich community.

Ms Harper’s leadership—whether spearheading fundraising to ensure equitable access to the Washington, DC middle school trip or creating a dignified, accessible food pantry for high school students facing food insecurity—demonstrates a steadfast commitment to removing barriers so all students can fully participate. Importantly, this service extends well beyond the years her own children are enrolled, reflecting a commitment rooted in community responsibility rather than circumstance.

Ms Harper was nominated Angie Hartofilis, Joan Hall and Setul Pardanani.

 

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