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E-mail This StoryOn any given day, Tamra Sadafsaz is rushing from a PTSA meeting to a choir booster club meeting and then to one of her boy’s choir performances. However, she did manage to carve out some time on Friday to accept an award.
Sadafsaz traveled to Austin’s William B. Travis building, which houses the state board of education, to accept the Heroes for Education award. The award is given to individuals who volunteer their time, effort and support to public schools and students. These volunteers advocate for students and public education in Texas. The awards are given annually in recognition of outstanding service and dedication to helping provide each Texas student with a meaningful and positive learning experience in school. At Friday’s ceremony, 15 people from the districts in Texas were honored.
“Being recognized for the award was a great honor,” Sadafsaz said. “I was surprised that I was one of the 15 honored.”
For those that know Sadafsaz, they were not surprised by her award.
Cara Mendelsohn, president of the Plano ISD council of PTAs, said Sadafsaz is a low key, very consistent, always dependable volunteer.
“She is the kind of person that will miss any meeting to be at her kid’s school,” Mendelsohn said. “She is very easy to work with and she’s very giving and kind.”
Mendelsohn and Sadafsaz work together on the PTA council board; Sadafsaz is in her fifth year on the board. Mendelsohn said during her five years of working with Sadafsaz, the only change she has observed is that Sadafsaz has become a mentor and advisor to the board.
This is Sadafsaz’s second year serving as the president of Vines High School’s PTSA. Vines principal, Sarah Watkins, said she is a delight to work with.
“Tamra’s easygoing, but very focused and well organized,” Watkins said. “She manages efficiently. Every organization she becomes involved in, they eventually want her to be their president.”
Sadafsaz is a mother of three boys, Mirza John, 18, Christopher, 16, and Marcus, 14. She and her husband, Moe, moved to Plano in December 1993 because they wanted to put their children in a better school district than the one they were currently in.
“I wouldn’t pick any other school district than Plano ISD,” Sadafsaz said.
Sadafsaz originally wanted to be a second grade teacher, but when that didn’t happen and she got married and started a family she instead threw herself into her children’s schools. She started with the Early Childhood PTA, then followed her oldest to Saigling Elementary and joined the PTA. Sadafsaz became active on the Saigling PTA Executive Board by being PTA President, Secretary, Parliamentarian, second Vice President of Membership, and Room Representative. When her children advanced to Haggard Middle School, she was the PTA President, first Vice President of Programs, and Parliamentarian. At Vines she has served on the Vines PTSA Board, been in charge of Spirit Wear, was first Vice President of Programs, and is currently president. At Plano Senior High School she became a part of the PSHS PTSA Board with AP Proctor/Exam Reader Volunteer Coordinator and first Vice President of Programs/Aide to the President.
Throughout her 15 years with the PTA, Sadafsaz said she has no regrets.
"I love being involved and standing up for what PTA stands for, and that is 'Every Child, One Voice,'" Sadafsaz said. “I do what I do not only for my children, but for all children. I hold key positions within the PTA because I love helping students and staff.”
Contact Heather Smith at HSmith@acnpapers.com
