president@harvardelementarypta.org

Hello! My name is Helen Lee and I am honored to serve as President for the 2025-26 school year. This is my fourth year as a Harvard parent and my second year on the PTA Board. Previously I have volunteered as Co-Auction Chair for the Fundraiser Gala, helped out with Spirit Store sales, and served as a Nom Com member.

I am originally from Rochester, NY and graduated from MIT with a chemical engineering degree. I work for Savion Energy developing utility-scale solar and battery storage projects in Texas and Louisiana. I am married to Dan (Ramsay) and we have two sons, Hugo (3rd grade) and Walter (1st grade). We've lived in the Heights for 10+ years and we really enjoy being a part of the Harvard community.

advisor@harvardelementarypta.org

Hi! My name is Anar Abasov, and I am excited to serve as President for the Harvard PTA. My wife, Sarah, and I love the Heights community and are excited to further contribute to its growth. My family immigrated from Azerbaijan to Houston during my childhood thanks to the Energy industry. I have called Houston my home ever since then. I hold a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Sarah and I have three wonderful sons. Our two oldest sons attend Harvard Elementary School, and we look forward to the younger one joining them in the next few years. We look forward to working with the Community and the School this year.

parliamentarian@harvardelementarypta.org

Hello, I’m Sharda Sharma, and I’m very excited to serve as your Pre-K / Kinder Representative! I was born and raised in Houston, and I went to undergrad and law school at UH. Can’t seem to escape this city BUT love being here and part of the Heights/Harvard Elementary community! I met my husband in law school and we married shortly after graduating. I am an attorney specializing in personal injury and immigration and also a FULL TIME mommy to three kids - all of which are at Harvard Elementary. Maya is in 4th grade, Anya is in 3rd, and my youngest, Avi, will be in Kinder! We love traveling, spending time with family and friends, and cooking all sorts of tasty meals together! I look forward to the upcoming year!

fundraising@harvardelementarypta.org

Hi! My name is Lisa Riley and I am the VP of Fundraising. It’s my seventh year on the PTA board. I also volunteer in the library, in the classrooms, run the PTA Instagram, and this will be my eighth year chairing the annual Auction Fundraiser Gala. Thank you for making our galas such big successes for Harvard!

I grew up in Clear Lake, a suburb of Houston. After graduating from Texas A&M (whoop!), where I met my husband, Brad, I had a career as an engineer at NASA-JSC training astronauts on the computer and navigation systems on the Space Shuttle. I am now a SAHM to Allison (3rd grade), Cameron (7th grade at Hogg MS) and our pup, Maisy. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling, shopping, and graphic design. Our family loves being a part of the Harvard Community!

community@harvardelementarypta.org

Hello! My name is Sam Krenz and I am the VP of Community Development for the next year. This is my third year on the PTA board and I am looking forward to continuing my involvement at Harvard Elementary!

I grew up moving around the states and abroad but landed in Texas for my last 2 years of high school. I graduated from Texas A&M where I met my husband, Rob. We have two sons, Matthew (3rd grade) and Kyle (Kindergarten). After college I went to PA school at UTMB in Galveston and now work as a Physician Assistant in neurosurgery. In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, baking, traveling and working out. We are excited about the new school year and getting to know more people in the Harvard family!

education@harvardlementarypta.org

Hi! I’m Erin Koshnick, a proud Harvard Elementary parent, current Vice President of Education for the PTA, and a lifelong Houstonian with deep roots in the Heights. As a 5th-generation Houstonian, it means so much to be raising my own family in the city that helped shape who I am.

My husband, Clint, and I have a daughter in 2nd grade at Harvard and a busy toddler at home who keeps us on our toes! Supporting public education and creating opportunities for all children to thrive is something I care deeply about. As VP of Education, I’m passionate about fostering a love of learning, encouraging enrichment, and helping families feel connected to our school’s academic mission.

Outside of school, I love spending time with my family at Donovan Park, walking through the neighborhood, or grabbing coffee with friends. I believe in working together as a Harvard community and doing what we can to make our school welcoming and strong for every family.

communication@harvardelementarypta.org

@harvardelementarypta

Hi! I’m Nikou! I'm excited to be back on the board this year. Having served as the VP of Communications from 2020 to 2022, I'm thrilled to take on this role once again. My primary goal for this position is to ensure clear and effective communication. With nearly 20 years of experience in the marketing industry and a deep understanding of both traditional and digital marketing techniques, I am excited to bring these skills to the school.

More about me: I moved frequently when I was younger and attended UT Austin for undergrad, then UH for grad school, where I met my husband, Travis. In 2019, we moved to the Heights with our two children, Kian (5th grade) and Zayn (3rd grade). We love traveling, cooking, and playing with our two cats, Stevie and Twyla.

volunteer@harvardelementarypta.org

Hello! My name is Kara Skivington and I will be serving as the VP of Membership & Volunteer Coordinator. Being involved in the PTA the previous two years has been such a rewarding experience, and I am continually impressed by the dedication of the Harvard community of teachers, staff, and parents to enrich our childrens’ education.

I grew up in Alvin, TX (home of Nolan Ryan😁) and moved to Houston after graduating college at University of Houston, studying Supply Chain Management. Before I became a SAHM, I was working in Procurement for a local engineering firm. I have two children, Adam (2nd grade) and Mary (Kindergarten.) In my spare time I enjoy cooking, traveling with my family and friends, the occasional opportunity to craft, and all our families’ extracurricular activities and events. I love this community and look forward to another great year at Harvard!

treasurer@harvardelementarypta.org

treasurer@harvardelementarypta.org

I am looking forward to serving as your PTA Assistant Treasurer. I am excited to continue to support all the great work the PTA does for our school.

I grew up in the Houston area and have lived near or in the Heights since 2010. I have seen this area grow so much. This has turned into a great community for my boys, Collin and Quinn, to grow up in.

Collin is starting 3rd grade this year. Quinn will begin kinder at Harvard this year.

I am sure I will see you around the campus. Please don’t hesitate to say hi or ask any questions.

secretary@harvardelementarypta.org

Hi! My name is Kara Burns and I am the First Grade Representative for the 2024-2025 school year. This is my first year on the Harvard PTA Board and I am excited for the upcoming school year.

I grew up in Amarillo, Texas before attending college at the University of Oregon. After graduation, I briefly lived and worked in Washington D.C. and Austin, Texas before meeting my husband, Ricky, and settling in Houston. We have two daughters, Sabine (6), who is entering 1st grade after loving her Kindergarten year at Harvard, and Cecilia (2) who attends nursery school at St. Marks CDC. Before becoming a stay at home mom, I worked in the legal field as a paralegal and taught yoga in various locations around the Houston area. I am excited for the upcoming school year and am looking forward to becoming more involved with the Harvard Community.

classof2031rep@harvardelementarypta.org

@harvardes2031 (Coming Soon

classof2030rep@harvardelementarypta.org

@harvardes2030 (Coming Soon)

classof2029rep@harvardelementarypta.org

@harvardclassof2029rep

classof2028rep@harvardelementarypta.org

@harvardes2028

classof2027rep@harvardelementarypta.org

@harvardes2027

Hi, I’m Mandi Peavy.  I’m excited to join our 2025-2026 PTA as the 4th Grade Rep.  I also volunteer as our Spirit Night Coordinator (and have a passion for our local small business and dining scene - send your recommendations my way!)

I grew up in Phoenix and graduated from the University of Arizona in Civil Engineering.  I just celebrated 24 years of my amazing career with ExxonMobil, where I’ve had the opportunity to live in New Orleans and travel throughout Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia.  I met my husband, Cort, 16 years ago while out enjoying our local Heights scene - at Cedar Creek!  Our family consists of my step-sons McRae (29) and JT (26), and our son Quin (4th grade) and daughter Amelia (2nd grade).  

classof2026rep@harvardelementarypta.org

@harvardes2026

Hi! My name is Cathryn Estes and I will co-lead the parent Advocacy committee along with Claire Wrigley. I’m a passionate supporter of public education: my mother taught in Houston-area school districts for over 25 years, and my late husband was a band director for Wisdom High and Episcopal High School for a combined 7 years after we moved to the Heights from Baton Rouge in 2011.

I am the proud Mom to my son, who attended Harvard 2nd-5th (now attends Hogg), and my daughter, who is in 2nd grade at Harvard.

I grew up in Deer Park and earned my chemical engineering degree from UT Austin. I have always worked in the chemical industry but recently took a leap into the start-up world focusing on making jet fuel from renewable energy and captured carbon dioxide.  

I travel internationally for my job and see so much value for our kids to learn within an IB program. I love getting to know more of the Harvard community and look forward to working with the amazing group of parents who volunteered to support the school and staff.