About Us
The Cold Spring/Swift River Parent Teacher Organization is a 100% volunteer-operated certified 501(c)(3) charitable organization, started in September 2005. Our Mission Statement is "Working together to assist our children on their academic journey." We strive to achieve this goal by being an active part of our school community.
Every parent, caregiver, and educator with students in, or who works at, either Swift River or Cold Spring School is automatically a member of the PTO. To become involved, attend a meeting, join a committee, and/or let us know how you can help by sending an email.
Working together to assist our children on their academic journey
Cold Spring/Swift River PTO
Executive Board 2023-2024
Each office is held for a two-year period, with a co-president and treasurer election in odd years and a co-president and secretary election in even years. Terms shall begin on July 1 and continue until June 30 of the year the term expires. Each Executive Board Member has one equal vote, regardless of serving dual roles, if applicable. Please refer to the CSSR PTO By-Laws for more specific information.
2023-2024 Co-Social Media & Communications Manager: Nicole Dunham | email: ndunham@cssrpto.org
Hi! I'm Nicole Dunham, mother of two kiddos, one of whom is a fourth-grader at Chestnut Hill Community School, and my younger daughter is a kindergartener at Cold Spring School. Professionally I work as an Administrative & Operations Director for a research institute at UMass. I'm looking forward to continuing my work with the PTO as social media and communications co-manager (welcome, Melissa!) so that I can help keep our community informed of opportunities to support our students, teachers, and staff at CSS and SRE.
2023-2025 Co-Social Media & Communications Manager: Melissa Messing | email: mmessing@cssrpto.org
Hello! My name is Melissa Messing and I am a middle school ELA teacher in Palmer. My husband and I are both in education and we have lived in Belchertown for the past fourteen years. We have three children, Avery age 6, Owen, age 3 and Elliot who is 18 months. I am excited to work with the PTO as the co-communications manager to support our school staff and our students through community engagement!
2023-2025 Co-Secretary: Cassandra Hancock | email: chancock@cssrpto.org
Hello! My name is Cassie Hancock and I am a second grade teacher at Swift River Elementary School. I grew up in Belchertown and have lived here for my whole life. I have been teaching at Swift River since 2020 and even went to school here myself when I was young! I am looking forward to serving as the PTO co-secretary to help create memorable elementary years for our students and to organize activities and fundraisers for our community and school staff!
2023-2025 Co-Secretary: Kristie Zielenski | email: kzielenski@cssrpto.org
Hi! My name is Kristie Zielenski, and I am a second-grade teacher at Swift River Elementary School. I have been teaching here in town since 2014. I also grew up in Belchertown and attended school here K-12. I have two sons, one of whom is starting kindergarten at Cold Spring in the fall. I am very excited to use my experience as both a teacher and a parent to help support the students and staff in the upcoming school year!
2022-2024 Treasurer: Stephanie Sweet | email: ssweet@cssrpto.org
Hello, my name is Stephanie Sweet. I work as a Business Administrator for a local company. My husband and I have one daughter, who is a student at Swift River. I am very excited to see what the next year will bring, including organizing and participating in fundraising activities, finding ways to honor and hopefully spoil our teachers, and of course, getting to see the students with extra smiles!
2022-2024 Co-President: Michelle Roy | email: mroy@cssrpto.org
Hello, my name is Michelle Roy. I am a wife and mother of two boys, one of whom is attending SRE and the other is at CSS. For my day-to-day job, I am a Supply Chain Manager for a western mass manufacturer. My family and I have lived in Belchertown since 2017. I look forward to being a part of the PTO to work closely with our school community to ensure our students are provided with every opportunity possible.
2023-2025 Co-President: Casey Nadeau | email: cnadeau@cssrpto.org
Hi, my name is Casey Nadeau. I am so excited to continue on as PTO co-president. My children William and Charlotte are 9 and 6. We have called Belchertown home since Charlotte was born. I am also a Physical Education Teacher in Chicopee. I believe strongly in the home/school connection and look forward to making the next school year a success!