Harvest Park principal Jim Hansen and long-time Parent Teacher Association leader Vicky Reinke were honored with the California PTA Honorary Service Award Feb. 16 during the PTA Council’s Founders Day luncheon. The award is given to individuals who support the PTA and Pleasanton schools. Past recipients include Superintendent John Casey, Trustee Juanita Haugen, Go Green founder Jill Buck and last year’s recipient, former district Public Information Officer Jerri Long.
“This is such an honor,” said Hansen. “I am very appreciative of everything the PTA does for Harvest Park. I know we couldn’t do what we do without the support of the PTA and our parents.”
Harvest Park PTA President Toni Hume presented the award to Hansen saying “he not only encourages his staff to be involved with the PTA, but to be active members.” She added that he is one of the first to write PTA volunteers thank you notes and has an uncanny ability to know all his students’ names.
PTA Council President Debbie Look presented the award to Reinke, highlighting Reinke’s years of service to the Pleasanton PTA as well as her active role in the Peralta District and State PTAs. Reinke, a Pleasanton resident for 20 years, has two sons who graduated from Amador Valley High School in 2005 and 2003. She got her start in the PTA as president of the Fairlands Elementary School PTA and was active in getting the PTA started at Mohr Elementary School. Later, she was a founding member of the PTA Council and currently serves as the organization’s parliamentarian.
“You do these things because it is what you love doing, not for an award, but it really does make it special,” Reinke said. “Keep doing things for kids and schools, it’s worth it,” she added, addressing the other PTA volunteers in the audience.
Although she has been very active in the Pleasanton community, Reinke and her husband will be retiring to Angels Camp in the coming year.
“There will be a huge void in the community because Vicky is someone who truly makes a difference,” Look said.
In addition to the award, the PTA Council made donations to the California PTA’s scholarship fund in Hansen’s and Reinke’s names.
The PTA celebrates Founders Day every year as a way to honor PTA volunteers and to recognize the contribution made by the PTA’s original founders, including local legend Phoebe Apperson Hearst. The Museum on Main provided displays about the life of Hearst and her involvement in starting the PTA. The displays decorated the banquet hall at Castlewood Country Club where the event was held.
Assemblyman Johan Klehs (D-18) attended the event and introduced keynote speaker Delaine Eastin, the former California Superintendent of Public Instruction. Assemblymen Guy Houston (R-15) and Alberto Torrico (D-20) and Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty sent representatives. Other members of the community and school district also attended, including Casey, Haugen, Board President Steve Pulido, Trustee Kris Weaver, Council Members Steve Brozosky and Jerry Thorne, City Manager Nelson Fialho, President of the Association of Pleasanton Teachers Jacqueline Smith and principals from nine Pleasanton schools.
