Margaret Baker’s passion for volunteering and fostering a sense of community in schools can be traced back to her upbringing in Massachusetts, where her mother, who volunteered extensively in schools, particularly in music, served as her role model.
While defending her Ph.D. dissertation in Chinese literature at the University of Michigan in 1997, Baker was expecting her first child. She knew she wanted to stay at home and was fortunate to have the unwavering support of her husband, David. Once their daughter (now in law school) entered kindergarten at Thurston Elementary School, Baker began organizing informal picnics for parents in the nearby park.
As their family grew, welcoming four daughters and a son, Baker immersed herself fully in volunteering. She says she felt privileged to be able to stay home with their children and walk them to school, believing that those who could should help create events and foster a sense of community for everyone in their school family. Her children were always involved in her volunteering activities, which she found joyful and rewarding.
Over her 14 years at Thurston Elementary School, Baker assisted with numerous initiatives, including Room Parenting, classroom tutoring, Science Olympiad coaching, Walk-to-School days, Field Day, the Turkey Trot, the New Book Sale, and the Used Book Sale.
Two of her proudest contributions were:
- Playing piano for the annual neighborhood-written Thurston Musical Play for 10 years.
- Collaborating with the school’s diverse group of families on International Night for over a decade, creating the “Tour the Countries” passports (with thanks to Marcy Hires, Mikyoung Jang, and Nikki Bonevich), and expanding involvement.
As her children transitioned to Clague Middle School and later Huron High School, Baker continued her volunteer leadership roles, serving as the PTO President at both schools. She worked closely with Principal Ché A. Carter, who praised her as “the driving force behind our school community and my invaluable ‘cheat code’ to success.”
“Dr. Margaret Baker, my incredible PTSO President for nearly nine years, has been the driving force behind our school community and my invaluable ‘cheat code’ to success,” says Carter. “She embodies the spirit of selfless dedication and unwavering commitment to our students, families, and staff, and has made a lasting impact on all of us. Her leadership highlights the importance of collaboration between schools and the community, demonstrating how working together can create a supportive and enriching environment for everyone involved.”
Praveena Ramaswami, a fellow Ann Arbor Public Schools parent and active volunteer, called Baker “a legend” who has devoted decades to Ann Arbor’s northside community.
Now that her youngest child is graduating from Huron High School, marking the end of her time as an AAPS parent, Baker plans to continue volunteering with the Huron High School Boosters in support of athletics.
What was your original inspiration to become an AAPS volunteer?
Like many of the AAPS elementary school communities, Thurston has its distinctives. In our case, these include the fall festival and activities at our Thurston Pond/Nature Center, the winter musical, and the Orchard Hills Athletic Club (OHAC), where many local children swam and dived in the summer. These three anchors knit us together and inspire an ethos of eager, engaged volunteering, so I was just jumping on the bandwagon with my involvement.
Talk about the Clague Cougar Train and Clague Courtyard projects.
When I took over as President at Clague around 2014, the Cougar Walking Trail was already in the works, thanks to a dear friend (and previous Clague PTO President, Jennifer Barber). Jennifer and others were disturbed by the large fund balance in the PTO till, and they did a careful survey of families presenting several options for using some of the money. The idea for a walking trail around the Clague fields was born, but it took years from her first vision to completion. There was quite a bit of pushback: ‘Who would maintain it?’ ‘What about winter?’ “What about dogs?” “Bikes?” Together with Mr. Che’ Carter, I knew it would be fine, but I remember the years of talking with him after it had been promised saying, “I just want to see a shovel.” Anyway, it did happen with great cooperation from the District, and I love hearing students today say, “Oh, hasn’t this always been here?”
The Clague Courtyard was an obvious project. It is a treasure in the middle of our school, but back in the day (around 2013), it was sealed off and locked, full of “Danger! Poison Ivy!” signs (with no detectable poison ivy). With the help of parents, students, and Huron NHS volunteers, we began weeding and plotting out “paths” (thanks to landscape architect, Chris Nordstrom, who helped with the initial ideas), applying hundreds and hundreds of cubic feet of mulch from the Recycle Center, and constructing “Gabion Benches” (Thanks, Mr. Nordstrom!). These benches are placed on baskets full of garden stones that blend in with the landscape. Our goal was to make this space sustainable and usable (Courtyard Lunches were a hit!). Just last week, I was exceedingly gratified to be there for a meeting with a current parent who is carrying on with the mission with plans to put together two outdoor classrooms.
How was it working with Che´ Carter, former principal of Clague, who is now in his third year as principal of Huron High School?
I have worked closely with Mr. Carter for nine years, and we have shared a vision of “Students First” all the way. It is no secret throughout AAPS that he is an inspiring principal and leader, and I have loved riding his coattails for many school projects together. From putting in the first bottle-filling water fountain at Clague, to commissioning a mural near the Clague front entrance, through the Trail and Courtyard, we have championed projects that would benefit and celebrate the most possible students. Most recently, we have added the “Huron Heritage Hall” in our cafeteria, with 78 flags representing the heritages of Huron students. That has been a dream of ours for a long time, and we were both honored recently to host one of the AAPS Budget forums in our cafeteria with our flags in full display.
How has working alongside Mr. Carter helped unite parents, students and staff at Clague and Huron?
He has been an ideal collaborator with the PTSO’s because of his focus on unity, attentiveness to students, of course, but also to parents and community needs. He is a very present principal, knows most students’ names, attends games and shows and art exhibits, and has an almost supernatural ability to stay calm and focused on the long game for school improvement and enhancement of opportunities for all students. He is behind our new Alumni Engagement initiatives. Shout-out to the Class of 1973 for our new “Flaming H”! Our recent first-ever “Spring Boost” fundraiser for Huron athletics also had a contingent of alumni (and featured proud River Rat alum, John U. Bacon as our speaker!), and we are just beginning to build this network.
How have you handles any conflicts that must have come up while working with so many people on so many projects?
This is a great question! When conflicts have arisen, I have always tried to listen for the principle underlying the complaint or disagreement. Does someone not feel heard? Do I have a blind spot about this project that needs to be exposed? Am I moving too fast before I have properly listened to all sides of an issue? Am I too invested in this project for “me” and not thoughtful enough of its ramifications for all? Reflection on these questions helps me sort out what the true issues are, have the conversations necessary, and push through with patience and sheer doggedness as long as there is enough support, principal agreement, and a strong sense that the project will benefit as many as possible. Above all, I do try to keep bigger pictures in mind (I could SEE that trail and those flags for YEARS before they happened!), to concede when necessary, and to not stay married to ideas that do not seem to have the wide support they would need to make them happen.
With your youngest child set to graduate from Huron High School in June, what will you miss most about being so closely involved with the schools?
Of course, I already dearly miss watching our children swim and play water polo and basketball as River Rats. I will also miss regular contact with Mr. Carter and our other awesome Huron principals, teachers, office professionals, staff members, and students in the halls or at events. My focus now is on recruiting and mentoring the next generation of volunteers. While the world has changed greatly since that first child went to kindergarten at Thurston in 2003, the need for community is stronger than ever. I think we all recognize that! I’m eager to encourage others who will come after me and my various PTSO teams over the years, others who share my dreams of making things better for students and staff in AAPS. The role of parents to come alongside and provide “extras” for our students and staff is paramount.
What is one great piece of leadership advice you’ve received over the years?
Mr. Carter taught me that the qualities of a leader are best judged by what happens after that leader steps down or retires. In other words, has the leader set up good, sustainable systems that successors can follow and continue to run the organization with integrity, maintaining the organization’s mission? This kind of laying the groundwork for future success is what makes a great leader.
Finally, looking back over decades of volunteering, what advice do you have for other parents hoping to make a difference?
First, I would say to always remember to be thankful that we live in a community with other parent volunteers who want to help when they can. There are many, many others who have helped me, and I know, are helping districts across the city DAILY, sharing their above-and-beyond energy, skills, and genuine good will on behalf of our students and staff.
Second, if you end up in an organizer position, talk with as many parents as possible and invite them to participate! You will find those with hidden talents for budgeting/social media marketing/website managing/bench building/ weeding, whatever is needed. There is nothing like personal connections and invitations to build a team.
Finally, if you are in a position to help (for example, if you have some discretionary during-the-day time), please seek out ways to help. Choose just one event, if you can, and go all in! Become a parent who is known to all as one who helps make good things happen in our schools. I am currently trying to finish strong at Huron with a few events to go, and I’m cherishing every moment of gathering volunteers to make a few last good things happen. And consider this my personal invitation to you who are reading this to start with one good thing for your school. You will find community, satisfaction, and delight.
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