Meet Your 2026-2027 PTO Board Members

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

Bethany Utley - President

Hi Hawk Families, I’m Bethany, your PTO President and Art Masterpiece Coordinator. My husband’s name is Josh, we have 1 daughter, Harlow, and she is in 2nd grade at HTA.  I am originally from Washington State, but I moved to Arizona in 2012.  We currently live in Gilbert and love being an active part of our community.   I have been employed for 13 years at the Pinal County Superior Court as a Judicial Assistant.  Outside of work, we enjoy watching Harlow Dance and cheering her on at every opportunity.   We love camping, traveling, and spending time with our family and friends. I’m very excited about all the fun events that we have planned this year, it’s going to be great!

Jennifer McCarty - Vice President

Hi Hawks Families! My name is Jennifer McCarty, and I’m excited to be your PTO Vice President this year. My husband, Shawn, and I are originally from California, but have lived in Gilbert since 2015. We have three kids, Sophia, Aaron, and Abigail, all of whom attend HUSD schools, so life keeps me busy running in circles. I am a stay-at-home parent with a background in Education, Sociology, and Counseling. In our free time as a family, we enjoy hiking, kayaking, and family game nights. Personally, I am an avid knitter and a huge Disney fan. I’m excited to be a board member this year and help further shape our school’s community with a variety of fun, family-centered events. I’m also looking forward to being the Social Media coordinator and helping keep our HTA families informed about this year’s upcoming activities.

Kristen Lawson - Treasurer

My name is Kristen, and I have lived in AZ with my husband, Brad, since 2014, after moving here from the East Coast. We moved to Gilbert with our two children in 2022 and have loved becoming part of this community and especially the HTA community!

Rachel Radford - Secretary

Hi Hawk Families! Originally from Ohio (go Bucks!), my family and I moved to Gilbert in 2022. My husband and I have three children, and most of our time is spent cheering them on at sporting events, enjoying the outdoors through hiking and paddle boarding, and making memories together. Being involved and supportive in our children’s school community is important to me, and I’m excited to serve as Secretary on the PTO, where I can foster strong communication and help our Hawks thrive.



COMMITTEE LEADERS

Marissa Gonzales - Teacher Liaison

Hi! I’m Ms. Gonzales, and I’m excited to be teaching 2nd grade at HTA! I truly love helping students learn, grow, and discover their confidence each day. Building strong relationships with students and families is one of my favorite parts of teaching, which is why I’m also proud to serve as one of our school’s PTO liaisons.

When I’m not in the classroom, I’m usually spending time with my sweet baby daughter, Grace. I also love all things Disney (especially Disneyland!), enjoy taking Pilates classes, and making memories with my family. I feel incredibly grateful to be part of such a wonderful school community and look forward to partnering with our amazing families to make this school year a memorable one!

Nicole Payne - Teacher Liaison

Hey Hawks! My name is Nicole Payne, and I teach 2nd grade and LOVE my job! On any given day, if you walk into my classroom, you will see small humans doing amazing things, challenging themselves, making new friends, and having fun! I have two kiddos of my own, Hallie and Spencer. Both live in the East Valley, and I am so lucky we see each other often. HTA has the best community of families, and our PTO takes wonderful care of our staff and students. I look forward to acting as one of our teacher liaisons this year!

Trisha Arthurs - Spirit Night Coordinator

I am excited to serve as the Spirit Night Coordinator for another year. I am originally from Ohio, but have lived here in Gilbert for over 20 years now. I have two sons that attend HTA, Zachary is in 5th grade and Zander is going in to 4th grade and we love HTA! When my husband Nate, and I are not serving our clients of our Insurance Agency - The Arthurs Agency, we enjoy traveling, anything sports (lots of hockey & karate) traveling in our motorhome, spending time with our friends and family, or you can catch me focusing on my passion, teaching or partaking in yoga or fitness classes. I am so honored and excited to be part of the PTO team once again and looking forward to another amazing year.

Kendal Tesser - Teacher Hospitality Coordinator

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Jen Lawrence - Digital Content Coordinator

Hi, Hawks! I’m thrilled to serve as the Digital Content Coordinator for the 2026/2027 school year! My son Cameron is in 3rd grade, and my son Tyler is in 1st. Growing up in Lake Havasu, my husband Hank and I have lived in Arizona most of our lives and made Gilbert our home in 2018. I enjoy reading, running, and hosting our friends and family. I’m looking forward to a great year ahead!

Alicia Ogolla - Student Engagement Coordinator

Hi! I’m Alicia (Ali), and I’m honored to serve as the Student Engagement Lead for the 2026-2027 school year. Our family moved from Texas four years ago, and while I miss the Lone Star State, Arizona’s sunshine has truly won me over.

Professionally, I manage projects in the innovative world of cancer diagnostics—a role that keeps me inspired every day. I’m also a passionate patient advocate for Lipedema, rare diseases, and cancer genetic testing, driven by a firm belief that knowledge is power in the journey toward better healthcare and informed choices.

Outside of work, I’m a jack of many trades who thrives on adventure and connection—whether I’m completing a home improvement project, traveling, swimming, crafting, cooking, or planning celebrations that bring people together. I also find joy in fellowshipping with people and giving back to our HTA community through PTO initiatives and the Art Masterpiece program. Supporting students and helping HTA shine is a privilege I hold close to heart.

If you see me around campus, please don’t be shy—come say hello! I’d love to meet you.

 

Interested in Joining the PTO?

We’re always looking for parents to volunteer for events and join the team.

All volunteer opportunities are announced on our Facebook page and via email.
Sign up for the mailing list below.

If you’d like to learn about other opportunities to get involved, email us at pto.hta@gmail.com