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Show guper-mom aids Lindon kids everywhere i '''' I ; I ., .... I , . . H f if. : ! . . ' t . x 1 t ' ' - . - - ' ByKALYN SECRETAN UnW can a young mother take of her home and family, be lved in civic and scho1 affairs also Serve as a leader in church Valerie Gibson's answer, "I try to .ork smarter instead of harder." Valerie is the Lindon Elementary J. president and she is seen linost daily at one time or another J, the school. she is usually carrying a three-nnth-old baby, the youngest of her f children. The others are ages six and four. Valerie loves young children. She creative person and initiated a iVam called, "One Small Step." Realizing the Citizen ofthe Month nroeram involves such few Lents, Valerie came up with a nrouram where children are recognized for the small acts ac-fomplished. ac-fomplished. Footprints with children's names teve reached a long way in the hallway at the school. The program A young mother on the go. . . A three-month-old baby doesn't slow down PTA President Valerie Gibson. has generated enthusiasm among the faculty as well as the students. Valerie wants the PTA and the faculty to be united. She has 100 rcent of the faculty as members o( the PTA which goes to show how D,e PTA feels about her. The PTA president was seen in August heading a ' booth at the Lindon City Fair. Hamburgers, drinks and other foot items were sold as a fundraiser. The money raised was given to the library to purchase books for grades kindergarten through third. Valerie recognized a need for a safety area for parents to drop off children at school. She met with city council and school officials to solve the problem. A program has been introduced to honor teachers called, "Follow in Your Footsteps, Our Great Teachers." A big footprint serves as the background to the rotating cartoon drawings. Teachers are spotlighted and children discover outside interests in-terests and the good things a teacher is involved with. Children are encouraged to follow the example set by teachers. The PTA held a get acquainted luncheon for the teachers to start out the new year. "Serving as a PTA president would be impossible without the support of a good husband," explained ex-plained Valerie. Her husband, Bill, encourages her in her position. Bill is also a busy young father and manages Pan-chitos Pan-chitos in University Mall, along with his parents. Faculty members look at Valerie as a hard worker. She was tremendous as a room mother and is very involved with her own students at home. Valerie has been involved in other areas. She served as the crusade chairman for the American Cancer Society covering the Pleasant Grove and Lindon areas. She served as a committee chairman for the Festival of Trees. She spent five years as the stake Primary music leader and shared her ideas with hundreds through a display at Education Week. Valerie said a lot of volunteer positions were dropped as she serves as PTA president this year. The school has become her second home. She is the homemaking leader in her ward and teaches piano lessons in her home. Valerie is definitely one of today's Super Moms and truly loved in her home, school, church and community com-munity affairs. |