Turnagain PTA's Purpose
The Turnagain PTA shares common purposes with the National PTA and the Alaska PTA. Between the three organization, all purposes are addressed. However, I'd say our local school PTA makes the fourth point our top priority..
- To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship
- To raise the standards of home life
- To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth
- To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth
- To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education
Turnagain PTA's Partner
Our PTA is one of two parents organization at Turnagain Elementary School. PTA supports kids and teachers in both the neighborhood and the Russian immersion sides of the school. The other parent organization is MIR which stands for Mission is Russian. MIR supports the Russian immersion program at Turnagain, Romig Middle School and West High School. Both organizations are important to the health of our school. Learn more about MIR by visiting their website at mirparents.org.
Our PTA Leaders
Contact Us
Hanna Eklund
Hanna is very excited to join the PTA board as the president for the 2021-2023 term. In the past she's helped the PTA in the STEM and Skate-a-thon committees. She enjoys meeting new people and learning about different cultures and languages. Her boys are in second and fifth grade in the Russian Immersion Program and her family live in the school neighborhood. She's originally from Finland and in their free time her family enjoys camping and harvesting, music and scouting! Professionally Hanna is a Projects Coordinator at the Insitute of the North and the Honorary Consul of Finland in Alaska.
Scott Boarders
Hello, my name is Scott Borders, and I am one of the Vice Presedent's in the PTA this year.. I am a special education teacher working with kids who are in 4-6th grade at Turnagain Elementary School. I have 3 kids who attend Turnagain in the Russian Immersion program . ( Eden 4th grade, Violet 2nd, and Roah who is starting Kindergarten this year.) I feel fortunate to work and be in the PTA in my own neighborhood and am exited to have kids back in school
Scott Borders M.S. Ed
Turnagain Elementary
Lisbeth Huddleston
I am happily married and have two amazing children. I work at the Alaska Heart and Vascular Institute as a certified medical assistant and a external monitor technician. I love God and both of my countries, I was born and raised in the Dominicana Republic, but now I am a proud citizen of the UNIted States of America. I am bilingual and can speak English and Spanish fluently. This is me in a nutshell.
Thank you!
Lisbeth Huddleston
Melanie Rasskazov
This is Melanie's third year as a Turanagain Tiger parent and second year on the PTA Board. She enjoys volunteering on field trips and at events. In her role as a Treasurer, she maintains records to track funds and financial transactions. She is also responsible for preparing annual budgets and financial reports for the PTA. She and her spouse have two children in the Turnagain immersion program. As a family, they enjoy hiking, biking, reading, traveling and hockey. Her professional background is in accounting and finance.
Jessica Smirnoff
I was born and raised here in Anchorage. I have one student in the Turnagain Immersion program (Anna 3rd Grade), and in 2023 will have another (Mia) joining in Kindergarten. I have wanted to get more involved in PTA and school activities, so I am excited to join and help in any way I can. Our family enjoys family backpacking trips, traveling, hiking, and camping adventures in our free time. I currently work as a Records & Information Manager for a local non-profit, Chugachmiut.