COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

As we are a small school, parents and guardians of SMS students are encouraged to participate in the community as much as possible. Two areas in particular in which family members may hold leadership roles include the PTA and the SLT. 
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA)
The mission of the Special Music School PTA is to create a warm and welcoming community for all students and families while providing essential support for the school and its faculty. We accomplish these goals through a roster of engaging events, monthly meetings and fundraising initiatives. All parents and guardians of SMS students and all SMS teachers are automatically members of the PTA.
 

PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICERS 2025-26

Presidents: presidents@smsparents.org

Jia Lin (High School) hscopresident@smsparents.org 

Christa Somers (Lower School) lscopresident@smsparents.org

 

Vice Presidents: 

Ramel Peebles (High School) vphs@smsparents.org 

Georgia Davis (Lower School) vpls@smsparents.org

 

Recording Secretaries: secretary@smsparents.org

Michi Barrel and Leah Hollingsworth

 

Treasurers: treasury@smsparents.org

Smitha Thomas and Sharon Collings 

 

VP, Communications: communications@smsparents.org

Deepti Nayak and Rachel Bennett

 

Members-at-Large: 

Susanna Steward, Didi Sanchez, Naoko Zhezha, Annie Dunn

 

Committees:

After-School (K-8): extrac@smsparents.org

George Han and Julia Wu

 

Fundraising: fundraisingchair@smsparents.org

Jen Laing

 

Merchandise: merchandise@smsparents.org

Susana Zialcita 

 
 
PTA by-laws (updated in May, 2022) can be found HERE.
The PTA publishes its 990 tax form in accordance with IRS regulations. Click HERE to view our most recent filing.

All PTA Tax Forms can be found HERE.

  

 

PTA General Membership Meeting Schedule

Visit the homepage for the most up-to-date meeting schedule

Morning meetings are in-person and typically begin at 8:30 a.m. at KMC or MLK

Evening meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM (SLT)

Every New York City public school is required to establish a School Leadership Team (SLT). The team is comprised of an equal number of parents and faculty. The primary responsibility of the SLT is to develop an annual Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP). This is a school improvement plan which targets the policies, procedures, and educational practices that create our children’s learning environment. If you have an issue to raise with the SLT, please email your designated representative.

 

SLT 2025-26 TBD

Principal: Katherine Banucci-Smith

Teacher Representatives: Abby Rapoport (LS/UFT), John Moore (MS), Keith Simpson (HS), 

PTA President: Christa Somers

Parent Representatives:  (HS, email SLThs@smsparents.org),  (LS, email SLTls@smsparents.org)

Community Representative(s): Andrew Copper (Music)

Student Representatives: 

In attendance, but non-voting members: Kristen Palmieri, Lisa Stump

 

SLT by-laws (last updated 2023) can be found HERE (COMING SOON).

 

 

 

SLT MEETING SCHEDULE

October 22, 2025 @ 2:30 p.m.

November 19, 2025 @ 2:30 p.m.

December 17, 2025 @ 2:30 p.m.

January 14, 2026 @ 2:30 p.m.

February 11, 2026 @ 2:30 p.m.

March 11, 2026 @ 2:30 p.m.

April 15, 2026 @ 2:30 p.m.

May 20, 2026 @ 2:30 p.m.

June 17, 2026 @ 2:30 p.m.