Meet Drue Allison of Stanford Montessori PTO

Today we’d like to introduce you to Drue Allison

Hi Drue, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In April 2021, I decided to walk away from my full-time job with a company where I had worked for over 18 years. I’m rarely a trend setter, but soon learned I was part of the first wave of “The Great Resignation.” Turns out I fell in line with the 2% of American workers who weren’t satisfied with their jobs and inspired to find something different after the pandemic. It’s something I had thought about for a long time; never sure if I should be a stay-at-home mom and be more supportive at home or work full time and help support my family financially. When I talk about this decision even now, I find that most moms struggle with this idea. Should I work or stay home?

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to leave my job, all thanks to my supportive husband who had always encouraged me to do what I feel is best for me. I sat with the decision for about a month, then finally decided to leave that part of my career behind me, at least for a while. People asked me what I was going to do next and my answer was always the same: “I’m going to see what comes my way.”

I’m originally from Nashville and an MNPS graduate, and have always been a supporter of public schools, so the obvious place to invest some of my time was at my son’s public elementary school, Stanford Montessori in Donelson. I had helped at Stanford here and there, but hadn’t really focused on it. I finally got the nerve to send a message to the school’s PTO’s Facebook page to say that I was interested in volunteering more often, and was put to work right way. I found myself at school all the time, doing all sorts of things. It started pretty small and then I took over as the grounds beautification lead. I have a green-ish thumb, so this felt good. I had my hands in flower beds, cleaning up landscaping that had been neglected for a while (for example, trimming down crepe myrtles that had grown taller than the gym roof). It was when I was finally put in charge of something I was interested in that I began to feel like it was meaningful work.

Funny enough, I remember dropping my son off at his very first day of pre-school and knew they would one day ask me to be the PTO President. I just knew it. At that time, that felt like the most daunting idea and I had no desire whatsoever. Being a part of the PTO seemed like the most cringy thing to do. It made me think of door decorations, candy grams and class parties. I was never interested in that (and still not). However, the day came, just as I had predicted, when the PTO President at the time asked me to consider taking over. After thinking about it and receiving some encouragement from a few others, I decided to embrace however cringy it was going to be and lean into the idea that this was “the thing” that had come my way.

It didn’t take long to figure out it was a ton of work, especially at first. I had stepped into the president’s role without any real PTO leadership experience. I went from organizing grounds beautification events to leading a board of executive officers, fundraising, recruiting volutneers and overseeing a budget. Ick. However, over time I figured out that supporting a public school is important and impactful work. Also, I learned even more that getting to spend time at my son’s school is a gift.

It’s two things that are so special to me. First, it’s creating memories for students. I love being able to carry on special traditions at Stanford Montessori, especially when families can enjoy them together. Students spend so much time at school on their own, so anytime parents can come to school to participate with their student is important. Even the smallest thing, like taking a picture together in their classroom, can mean so much. I took this for granted until I was on the other side of the events. The most special memory I’ll keep is seeing through the construction of an outdoor classroom for our school. This was a dream for a long time. Seeing students gathered in this beautiful outdoor space is the best feeling. It was definitely a labor of love and one that I’m proud of.

Secondly, it’s the people – the teachers, students and volunteers. I figured out that students like it when you know their name. I think this gives them a little boost of confidence. It is the sweetest thing to walk the halls and say hello to children. I also love seeing teachers and classrooms at work and having fun. My favorite memory is walking into a classroom to find the teacher and students doing the cupid shuffle! It’s that sort of thing you get to witness when you spend time at a school. Finally, the group that really gets me going is the volunteers. These are the people who use their time and talents to make the school better. The graphic designers, fundraisers, communicators, landscapers, artists, photographers, and so many more, who give up their time, to do what they do best, to make Stanford better. I’m so grateful for these people. They make our school so special.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Going from having never attended a board meeting to leading an active and successful PTO was a wild decision. I was so green. I had no choice but to trust my instincts and figure stuff out. I’ve learned that’s what it takes for this type of non-profit work. There’s no handbook. Maybe there’s notes from someone who did it before. Otherwise you just dig in and go for it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m the PTO President for Stanford Montessori School in Donelson. We’re a public school for pre-school through 5th grade students, and a part of the Metro Nashville Public School System. Our students engage in the Montessori method, which is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play. It’s a wonderful environment for students.

Our PTO is dedicated to the successful education and encouragement of all Stanford students. We do this through:
-supporting teachers and staff
-supporting students and families
-fundraising
-family engagement

Our PTO is successful because of engaged parents and supportive community partners. It’s truly a special group.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stanfordmontessoripto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StanfordMontessoriPTO