Parent power!

Andrew Glazer

COSTA MESA -- During recess Wednesday, fourth-graders at Davis Education

Center swayed from a bright yellow jungle gym, clung to a small,

swiveling black wheel and fought an outmatched teacher’s request to

corral them into their classrooms.

PTA President Linda Sneen smiled as she darted across the newly lain wood

chips as quickly and enthusiastically as the 9- and 10-year-olds. She

watched the children test the new playground for the first time.

Sneen and other PTA members helped raise the $9,000 for the playground

after children complained earlier this year that they had no place to

play. She is the June recipient of the Mayor’s Award for community

service.

“I don’t think I’ve ever worked with someone with so much energy and

dedication to children,” said Davis Principal Cheryl Galloway. “It just

exudes from her.”

Sneen was recognized by Mayor Gary Monahan for her full-time volunteer

job of raising money and recruiting other volunteers for the school.

Aside from being an expert at raising funds for the PTA, Sneen has been

able to boost parental activism at the school. She increased PTA meeting

attendance from 12 -- when she first became a member three years ago --

to 120 today.

“When I see something that needs to be done, I want it done now,” said

Sneen, leaning on a table covered with half-painted tiles. “I can’t wait

five years for something to change.”

Students will mount the tiles on school walls sometime this summer. Sneen

gathered teachers and students -- including her son Elliott, a Davis

fourth-grader -- to paint and fire the tiles.

Sneen is a constant presence on the campus. Each day, more than 100

children line up after school to buy Popsicles, ice cream sandwiches and

Drumsticks from her. The sales raise roughly $100 a week and the funds go

to the PTA, of course.

“It’s easy money,” she said. “And the demand was so high, we bought our

own freezer.”

Sneen’s head dropped as she stopped talking, for just a second, to think.

Her earnest eyes flashed as she flipped her hair.

“We really need to repaint the stars on the sidewalks here!” she said. “I

can’t ever stop.”