Parent Spotlight: Brittney Gove
Brittney Gove is in her third year as a Paideia parent. Her son, Lex ’30 and daughter, Eleanor ’29 started at Paideia in the 6th and 7th grades. Since coming to Paideia, Brittney has been a room parent in the Junior High, worked on the Advancement committee and helped out with Pi Wear and Pi Bites. Brittney lent her experience in corporate partnership development to the Advancement committee, where she helps the group “build meaningful connections with the people who support Paideia.” Additionally, she and her husband Matt have worked at big schoolwide events, like the Pi Party, Grandparents and Special Friends Day and the Fall BBQ. Matt has volunteered with the Cluckers and became the self-appointed “Sauce Boss” at this year’s Fall BBQ, keeping the sauces flowing all evening.
Q. What got you started?
A. My first shift was working the Pi Wear tent at the Fall BBQ. Since I’d worked with the school store at my kids’ previous school, Pi Wear felt like a natural step (plus, I got to do a little shopping). Most recently, I did my first Pi Bites shift in high school with good friends – it was great seeing the high schoolers in their natural habitat and getting to see my friends in the middle of the day for a quick catch-up.
Q. What do you enjoy most about volunteering on campus?
A. The campus is beautiful, and the kids seem so at ease – it’s a pleasure being here. The best part for me, though, has been putting faces to names and meeting the teachers and students my kids talk about. Volunteering gives me real context for what’s happening in their lives and helps me soak up these fleeting years.
Q. What do you think is the greatest benefit of having parents involved on campus?
A. Volunteering is the best way to start feeling like part of the community, and not a newbie anymore. In my experience, community is what helps kids feel safe and makes the parenting journey more fulfilling, so it’s worth a couple of hours here and there.
Q. What advice would you share with new parents who are unsure where to start?
A. Join in with a friend or start with something familiar, whatever makes you comfortable. I began with Pi Wear because of my school store experience, then joined the Advancement Committee using my background to shape how I approach volunteer work at Paideia.
The Advancement Committee may sound formal, but our work is really about building meaningful connections with the people who support Paideia. We focus on what inspires our donors and help the school communicate thoughtfully and strategically, creating giving opportunities that are rewarding for donors and strengthen our community. Professionally, I develop partnership strategies for nonprofits and use these skills to help Paideia engage donors, grow annual support, and share our story in creative ways.
Oh, and if you’re just looking for a lighthearted, easy way to get started and meet people, I have to plug the day-of PiParty setup. It really is a blast! I made some great friends by just jumping in during my first year; we bonded over trying to find the restroom at the venue, and our “PiPotty” group chat still makes me laugh three years later.