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Connect Canyons
Learning is about making connections, and we invite you to learn and connect with us. Connect Canyons is a show about what we teach in Canyons District, how we teach, and why. We get up close and personal with some of the people who make our schools great: students, teachers, principals, parents, and more. We meet national experts, too. And we spotlight the “connection makers” — personalities, programs and prospects — we find compelling and inspiring.
Connect Canyons
Episode 113: Beyond the Classroom: The Impact of School Volunteers and PTA
Behind every successful school stands an army of dedicated volunteers—parents who give their time selflessly to enrich student experiences and support faculty. Every day thousands of volunteers are lending a helping hand all across Canyon School District. Whether they're spending time in the classroom, cutting out shapes for a kindergarten project, or helping on a field trip, they're the relatively unknown force behind our educators.
This week is Public School Volunteer Week, so we sat down with two volunteers who have dedicated thousands of hours to their children’s school. Sandy Elementary PTA President Mallory Boggs say she started volunteering to be closer to her own children and now she feels like she is the fun aunt of more than 500 students.
"I met this community of people that I didn't really know I needed," she says, “but I did and I love it. They’re such valued members of my life now.”
Boggs grew up watching her mom who was PTA President at Sprucewood Elementary and knew she wanted to be a part of that community when she had children of her own. Now, Boggs is leaving her impact not just on the Sharks community, but the entire state as she has been named the 2025 PTA Outstanding Volunteer Award for the state of Utah.
Boggs says she has seen the impact of parent volunteers, whether helping at one event, cutting out shapes for a class, even seeing parents start out small and jump into the deep end of PTA and volunteering – like Sandy’s PTA president-elect for next year, Kara Olson.
“I just got hooked by these crazy ladies and I love being in the school,” says Olson. “I love getting to know the kids. I love getting to know the teachers.”
Boggs and Olson say they are lucky to be able to spend as much time volunteering at Sandy Elementary as they do, but they understand not all parents or guardians can give the same amount of time, but they’ve seen even an hour of volunteering pay off.
“Your teacher always wants your help,” says Olson. “Whether it's cutting out shapes, coming in and doing a bulletin board, reading, volunteering, correcting, spelling tests, anything, just reach out to your teachers.”
Episode Chapters
2:42 The Role of PTA at Sandy Elementary
Our volunteers talk about the roles they play at Sandy Elementary, how they help teachers, faculty and staff, and most importantly, the students.
7:37 Why They Choose to Volunteer
Boggs and Olson share why they decided to volunteer and what keeps them going back to help their Shark community.
11:22 Making a Difference with Limited Time
While some parents like Boggs and Olson can have given thousands of hours to their school, many parents and guardians don’t have a lot of free time. Our volunteers explain how every little bit helps and no amount of volunteer time is too small.
17:34 Final Thoughts on School Volunteering
Boggs and Olson share their biggest takeaways from their time helping students, how it’s impacted their own lives, and the friendships they’ve made along the way.
Thank you. Every day, thousands of volunteers are lending a helping hand all across Canyon School District. Whether they're spending time in the classroom cutting out shapes for a kindergarten project or helping out on a field trip, they're the relatively unknown force behind our educators. Welcome to Connect Canyons. I'm your host, frances Cook. This week is Public School Volunteer Week and we're celebrating those hardworking volunteers. I'm joined by two of them now Mallory Boggs and Kara Olson. Mallory is the president of the PTA for the Sandy Elementary Sharks and Kara is the secretary slash president-elect For next year. They also serve on the School Community Council. First of all, they also serve on the school community council. First of all, thank you both for the work that you do and, secondly, thank you for joining us today.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having us. Thank you.
Speaker 1:Let's start with what it is you do. Most parents know about PTA and probably know some of the basics. But, Mallory, let's start with you. Would you tell us what the job of a PTA president is?
Speaker 2:PTA president. I think at most schools you get to help form committees and plan all the fun activities that students get to do and help teachers and support the staff and admin and everybody At our school. I feel like it might be a little bit more involved.
Speaker 1:You guys go all out.
Speaker 2:We do, we, we hit it hard um you know, we just love to plan all the fun events and and help teachers lives be easier, but make sure that these kids are getting some opportunities that maybe they hadn't before, or you know we are a title one school, so we're serving those who are maybe socially and economically challenged, so making sure that those kids have a fun and a safe place to be yeah, help plan things like our fundraisers teacher appreciation.
Speaker 4:We run book fairs a lot of fun, a lot of fun we do our ribbon weeks help promote bully free, anti-drug weeks.
Speaker 2:Those are fun.
Speaker 3:We do our spirit weeks all the time to help keep school spirit up.
Speaker 2:We plan spirit nights at different local restaurants or businesses. That are kind of cool because then it brings money back into us. But it's also the community coming together and you get to see your friends and eat together and play together.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so it's really fun. Eat together, play together yeah, so it's really fun. So, Kara, let's talk about some of the elements, how they're broken down. Right, so you're planning events, but there's somebody who's in charge of one thing and someone who's in charge of another.
Speaker 3:Right, so we have Mallory, who's kind of our district coordinator. She goes to the PTA council meeting so she reports to us what we need to be keeping track of for the district PTA council meeting. So she reports to us what we need to be keeping track of for the district and she's kind of our not really our boss, but make sure that we make sure we know what we're supposed to be doing and what's going on.
Speaker 3:I serve as secretary so I take notes during meetings and just make sure I email all of our parents so they know what's going on at the school. And for us, our PTA is mostly. We're a very small core group that does most of the work, and then we bring in parent volunteers for our bigger events. And we have a good friend named Michelle. She is in charge of all of our teacher appreciation week that we do in May and she helps with our Book Blitz program as well. And then we have a sweet friend named Amanda, who we just call our old reliable because she doesn't really love to come to meetings, but she is there for whenever you need her Love that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know you mentioned the parent volunteers. There are many ways that people can get involved right, Not just PTA. What other ways have you seen that people can maybe volunteer at their kid's school?
Speaker 3:Your teacher always wants your help, that people can maybe volunteer at their kids' school. Your teacher always wants your help, whether it's cutting out shapes, coming in and doing a bulletin board, reading, volunteering, correcting spelling tests, anything, just reach out to your teachers.
Speaker 1:They really need your help, and I feel like there's also the hang-up of assuming that if you're volunteering, you have to have, you know, 40 hours a week available. But that's not true.
Speaker 2:No, no, Kara and I are at the school most days, all day. But even if you just have an hour a week or if you only want to help with one event per year, we have parents that come out and just help us for the fun run in October and it's great because we need a lot of you know volunteers. Any amount that you can give back to a school makes a difference in the teacher's lives, in the students' lives, and they know it, and it makes a big difference. And you know, if we have a lot of people only giving an hour, it makes a lot of hours. So, no matter how much time you have to give, I would say it's worth it.
Speaker 1:What is it that made the two of you decide to volunteer?
Speaker 3:We had moved into the area about a year before my daughter started at Sandy Elementary and there were not a lot of little kids in our little neighborhood and I wanted to get to know some other moms and some other friends in the neighborhood and I just got hooked by these crazy ladies. And I love being in the school, I love getting to know the kids, I love getting to know the teachers. So you know, just one tiny step in and now I'm clear in the deep end of this swimming pool of PTA life.
Speaker 2:I do remember one thing Kara said once when she showed up for our fun run and she was helping and she goes. I just came here to meet friends and I was like what a bold thing to say, but really like friends. And I was like what a bold thing to say, but really like we are friends and we've become good friends and you meet this community. I mean speaking for myself, I met this community of people that I didn't really know I needed, but I did and I love it and they're such like valued members of my life now.
Speaker 2:And you know, I watched my mom be PTA president at Sprucewood in the nineties and it was really cool to have her in the school and to still see some of the projects she did the Million Penny Project at Sprucewood and it's still there in the back of the school and it's so cool to see that like that kind of lives on and I remember her and her friends doing it and so I always knew that I wanted to be a part of it. But you know, you don't know until you get in and then it's always really intimidating. But again, I had another mom kind of take me under her wing and Bree and she taught me everything you know, that I know and yeah, you just meet some amazing people and you get to do all these fun, crazy ideas and school just lets you roll with it for the most part.
Speaker 3:So it's a lot of fun. They're happy to have the help. I hope so.
Speaker 2:It can be a lot sometimes.
Speaker 1:I loved how you put that. It was a community of people you didn't know you needed. You were going to help them, but they're also helping you.
Speaker 2:I get a lot from it and it is really. It sounds kind of cheesy to say but it really is one of the biggest blessings in my life. You know it's. I just remember being like a postpartum mom and you think like, oh my gosh, all I do is sit here on the couch. You know you're mentally kind of sad or off, but then it's like give it a couple of years and you know I mean you see the good that you do in the school and it's awesome and you meet these different teachers and friends and admin and it's just a really cool way to form a relationship with people. You're all working towards the good of these kids and that's a really cool thing. I don't think that most people get at their job no-transcript.
Speaker 3:I just know our teachers don't have the free time that they need. I know that. You know we're in public education so they don't have the extra funding and it's not always the most glamorous and glorious job. So I love to be there to support my kids' teachers. I love to volunteer because it selfishly makes me feel good and I also, you know, like I said before, I've made these great friends, so it gives me a little bit of an outlet to have fun and laugh and just get to know these ladies and just do fun, crazy stuff together.
Speaker 1:I don't think that's selfish at all. I think we have to, you know, we have to have that almost a feeling of self-worth right. And just knowing that you're doing something good for your community.
Speaker 2:And others are benefiting.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I love getting to know the kids. The kids are my favorite part. There's so many, they're like oh my gosh, did you see this kid today? He's so cute.
Speaker 2:And it's fun to watch the kids learn who we are. And most of them don't even know our name, and so they were just PTA. Oh for sure. And most of them don't even know a name, and so they're just PTA. Hey, PTA.
Speaker 3:Hey, PTA, it's really fun when you see them other places. They're like I know you.
Speaker 4:Wait a minute, it's coming, I can see you somewhere.
Speaker 3:Oh, you're at my school, you work there? No, I don't work there, I wish.
Speaker 2:I did. It's fun to make a difference and see, like, the help that you can provide to these. Like she said, teachers don't have this plethora of time and so, if you know, just making a bulletin board for them makes their whole day. I mean, that's a fun thing for us to do so, you know, we get our creative juices flowing and it's, you know, for me it's like I get to go and do all the fun stuff. I don't have to be disciplining kids, I don't have to be doing those things. I can be the fun person at the school.
Speaker 1:You're the fun aunt.
Speaker 2:Yes To 550 kids.
Speaker 1:You know I think you brought up a good point that whatever your skill set is, it's needed somewhere, right, If you're creative and want to do something like helping set up a bulletin board, there's that. But then you know you need people who are good with numbers. I mean, PTA involves money with people, with the fundraisers that you do and things like that. There's something for everyone, Absolutely, Absolutely. What would you say to people who are thinking about volunteering but they're just maybe not sure, or they're not sure if that one hour will make a difference?
Speaker 2:I would say do it.
Speaker 2:Do it, you know I yeah, I volunteered to help at I think it was the fun run my first year when my son was in kindergarten and now, four years later, I'm there all the time. But I mean you do see the difference that that made. And like when Kara volunteered, you know she helped us take down everything. I mean it just went so much faster and we told her like hey, thanks for helping. This is amazing. Just this small amount of time. But yeah, it takes all kinds for our school and any amount of time you can volunteer in the school would make a difference. It's probably going to be awkward at first. We've all been there. It's been awkward. You don't know anybody, you don't know his name, you don't know where anything is yeah, you don't. But then you look back and I'm like, oh, I used to be that person and now look what I've, look what this is. Now it's a great.
Speaker 3:It's a great thing, yeah. And looking back also, we just think, oh my gosh, I remember being that person. But then I think I'm so glad I stuck it out I'm so glad that I've been able to be here and build these relationships, so I didn't let that awkwardness stop me from that's so true.
Speaker 1:And now you're there to help those new volunteers who are unsure Well, yeah, come join the awkward yes.
Speaker 2:We love being awkward and weird. Yeah, we're not as scary as we look.
Speaker 1:Okay, you're not scary looking at all, what would you say has been your biggest takeaway of spending time with the students at the little sharks at Sandy Elementary?
Speaker 2:I mean for me, I love seeing my kids every day and seeing the environment that they're in and, you know, seeing kind of what's going on in their classroom and knowing what's going on in this school that they spend so much time in, and but also knowing too, like what's going on at the district and what's you know. You, I feel like you're just more in tune with your kids' education and I get that. That's a privilege for a lot of people to be as involved as I am, but I'm very grateful for that and it's I just love being a part of you know, like I've said, like this community and being able to make a difference and to have my voice heard, but also to hear all these other. Oh, this is why they do this, this is why this, it helps me to understand things differently that I didn't before, or maybe that I cast judgment on too quickly didn't before or maybe that I cast judgment on too quickly.
Speaker 3:My biggest takeaway has been probably the opportunity to really just get to know and be familiar with the situation my kids are in and help them with that. But then also it has been so fun to bring joy to our students. We have, like we said before, we have kind of some lower social economical situations for our kids.
Speaker 3:So they don't maybe necessarily have a home life where they're being able to be given all this extra oomph in their life, so being able to add a little bit of joy to their day has really been something that I've enjoyed Our school.
Speaker 2:We don't have a lot of volunteers compared to other schools, and so it's really cool that we can step in and say, hey, we're willing to take this time and do these kinds of things and to make it more fun and all these things that I'm sure the teachers and admin want to do, but they just simply don't have the time or the energy to do it. Well, that's where we can step in and make it overly obnoxious, but everybody's going to benefit from it, so that's been really fun.
Speaker 1:I will say watching from afar on social media. Like we said in the beginning, you guys go all out for your school.
Speaker 3:We have zero restraint.
Speaker 1:It's beautiful, though. You dedicate a lot of time, but you also appreciate the value of even an hour or a couple of minutes. I have to give a shout out because we just learned that Mallory here won the 2025 PTA Outstanding Volunteer Award, not for Canyons, but for the entire state of Utah.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Yes, that was thank you to everyone that nominated for that. It was very humbling, awesome. It's very humbling, awesome. It's nice to be recognized. So it's not, you know, I don't do this for the recognition, but I do think it's cool to put our school in the spotlight.
Speaker 1:Absolutely yeah, and I think it just goes to show your dedication to the school and to the Sharks in general.
Speaker 2:Love my Sharks.
Speaker 1:Does that come with any added responsibility? Are you touring the state? Now and telling everyone how wonderful it is.
Speaker 2:Yes, no, I was invited to. The PTA convention is in May, that me and Kara have been to a few times and there's an award breakfast and an award. Yes, that I can get, so that will be fun. So we have to be on time this year, yes, we have to be on time.
Speaker 2:So that's kind of you know it's cool and for me it's. I love the spotlight being shined on Sandy and it's. You know, I have felt in the past like maybe Sandy was not forgotten, but just not as big and, as you know, showy as some of these other schools. But we are a great school and we have a great staff, admin and our students are just phenomenal and some of these things that these kids have overcome is simply incredible. So I learn a lot from them and I feel very blessed to be a part of our school. I don't take it lightly that I get to be there every day.
Speaker 1:That's lovely Final thoughts. What do you want people to know about PTA, about volunteering? What would your final message be?
Speaker 2:If you want to get involved, do it. It might be awkward, it might be kind of weird at first, but you eventually will find something that you love and something you know whether it's a book fair or teacher appreciation or something. But no matter how many hours or what your skills are, you are needed in the schools. So these teachers, the staff, these kids, they need us and it's an amazing sense that you can get from it. There's a lot you can give back.
Speaker 3:And even if it's just simply helping take out the garbages at the end of an event, that really means a lot to the people who have spent hours putting that together. We really appreciate any minute you can give us, we will take, and I think again it's kind of selfish reasons, but it's so great to hang out with those kids. They are so much fun and I love what you said earlier about you kind of get to be the fun teacher and don't have to worry about the hard parts of being the teacher.
Speaker 4:Like I don't have to teach them anything right, I get to be their friend and I just love, just love being there yeah, and you can meet some really cool people.
Speaker 2:I mean, you know, I probably would have ran into kara, but you know, we've become really good friends and I've made really good friends with like a lot of the other ladies too, and it's really cool because your kids are the same age and they're going through the same stuff.
Speaker 3:So it's cool, it's a fun fun thing to be a part of, definitely more than just PTA we're definitely it's a good chance to talk about life and other things that are going on around you. Have some mom, some more mom. Parent help with situations.
Speaker 1:That's awesome and, let's be honest, she doesn't like a good book fair. Right, I mean, if I could still go to the book fair and buy bookmarks and posters and oh well, you can.
Speaker 2:Our BOGO book fair is on April 29th.
Speaker 3:Yes, yeah, yeah, buy one, get one free. It'll be amazing.
Speaker 1:Say less. I'm there, I'm totally there. I just want to thank you both for joining us today and for the countless hours that you have spent helping our little Sandy Elementary Sharks swim towards success. On behalf of, I'm sure, their parents and just really the district, thank you for all of the hard work that you put in for no pay Other than the sheer joy you get out of it.
Speaker 3:It's worth it. It's well worth it.
Speaker 1:Beautiful. Thank you both Thank you for having us and thank you for listening. If there's a topic you'd like to hear discussed on the podcast, send us an email to communications at canyonsdistrictorg.
Speaker 4:Thanks for listening to this episode of Connect Canyons. Connect with us on Twitter, facebook or Instagram at Canyons District or on our website, canyonsdistrictorg.
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