Amy Russell

Ector County Independent School District Council of PTAs information officer Amy Russell, right, looks on as students work on an English assignment Thursday afternoon at Dowling Elementary.In addition to substituting at Dowling, Kevin Buehler|Odessa American

Amy Russell made a decision six years ago that changed her life.

Her choice allows her to volunteer in her children's education and also helps shape the future of Ector County Independent School District students.

The 36-year-old mother of two left her 12-year career as an internal auditor for the Odessa-based travel agency, OneTravel Inc., to volunteer and start substituting in her children's school, Dowling Elementary.

After her first year volunteering by helping make copies, answering phones and filing records, Russell became interested in doing even more.

She joined the school's PTA.

"That really was my big hook," she said, adding that she now serves on ECISD's Council of PTAs as its information officer.

More recently, Russell and others on the council wrote a letter to ECISD administrators last fall asking for the district to define and detail parental involvement in a written policy for ECISD parents by the end of the current school year.
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Koepp and Russell said they appreciate the current ECISD administration asking council members' opinions on various educational issues.
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It shows that the administrators care about their input, Russell said.

But if the interim ECISD administration changes, Russell said, the council's input may not be sought as readily.
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Russell, who also chairs the Volunteers in Public Schools program, said when she decided to leave her career to volunteer at Dowling it was an easy decision.

"My children were more important," she said.