Meet the Board

My kids: Gus & Callum Chaiken, are in 5th & 3rd

Years on PTO: 1st at King; I served on the PTSA at our previous school

When I’m not focused on PTO, I: Work for a small software company managing new clients

Favorite school event: Curriculum Night (nerd alert!)

Coffee or tea: Coffee with lots of milk

Go-to-karaoke song: None. I'd rather be dancing

Fun fact: I always have a book or an embroidery project in my bag

Why I joined the PTO: I love building relationships with the faculty, staff, and community and helping our teachers bring their awesome ideas to life

My kids: I have a kindergartener at King and a 6th grader and Clague

Years on PTO: 1st at King

When I’m not focused on PTO, I: am a Biomedical Engineering Professor at Wayne State University

Favorite school event: Bagel Friday

Coffee or tea: Coffee

Go-to-karaoke song: Shoop by Salt-N-Pepa was my go to in my 20s but I am not sure I could sing it now 😄

Fun fact: Traveling is when my family is happiest.

Why I joined the PTO: To support the school, community and my kids.

My kid: I have a son in third grade.

Years on PTO: This is my first year.

When I’m not focused on PTO, I: work as a higher education consultant.

Favorite school event: Bagel Friday and the Silent Auction - I can't pick just one!

Coffee or tea: Tea, always. I do not like coffee.

Go-to-karaoke song: None. I don't even sing in the car alone (I'm that bad).

Fun fact: I learned to solve a 3x3 Rubik's Cube during the pandemic.

Why I joined the PTO: I've enjoyed volunteering for PTO events over our fist three years at King, so joining the PTO seemed like the logical next step.

My kids: A son and daughter both in 4th grade

Years on PTO: 2nd at King as co-Treasurer

When I’m not focused on PTO, I: work on improving health and sustainability in our communities, serve on the Ann Arbor City Planning Commission, and shuttle kids to various activities!

Favorite school event: Silent Auction - my first volunteer experience at King (chairing it in 2025!)

Coffee or tea: Tea pre-kids and now it's coffee all the way

Go-to-karaoke song: Give me a mic and I'll sing anything (but I love 80s and 90s pop)

Fun fact: I was the lead singer of a cover band in Austin in the early 2000s

Why I joined the PTO: To support teachers, staff, the kids, and get more involved in the community

My kids: Thiya & Niyam Patel, are in 4th & Kindergarten

Years on PTO: 1st

When I’m not focused on PTO, I: Work for a German Auto Supplier as a Finance Manager

Favorite school event: International Night (love the cultures, music, outfits, and foods)

Coffee or tea: Coffee with milk and sugar

Go-to-karaoke song: None, prefer to listen and dance.

Fun fact: I love family traditions and love creating special memories with my family and friends.

Why I joined the PTO: I want to be part of creating a positive experience for all the students. I look forward to getting to know more families, working alongside our wonderful teachers and staff, and creating a strong school community.

My kids: 5th grader (Ben) and 3rd grader (Clara)

Years on PTO: First year here at King

When I’m not focused on PTO, I: am a Statistician at Michigan Medicine where I collaborate in research and teach research methods.

Favorite school event: Book Fair! I love books!

Coffee or tea: So much coffee.

Go-to karaoke song: “I wanna dance with somebody” by Whitney Houston

Fun fact: I dream of being an amateur farmer-currently have 7 chickens, 6 quail, two beehives and one obnoxious Labrador.

Why I joined the PTO: I am passionate about ensuring all students in our community (King and general AAPS) have equal access to opportunities and think engaging our PTO with the PTOC umbrella will help achieve that.

My kids: I have a pre-K kid, a kindergartner, and a middle schooler.

Years on PTO: This is my first year officially on the board.

When I’m not focused on PTO, I: Work in tech activism, using software engineering to keep the internet weird and free.

Favorite school event: Bagel Friday. Because coffee.

Coffee or tea: Coffee. See above.

Go-to karaoke song: Anything by The Cranberries or Alanis Morissette.

Fun fact: I take an alarming number of work meetings from my bike.

Why I joined the PTO: Teachers and school staff are incredible humans, and I’m grateful for everything they do. This role gives me the chance to support them and make their lives a little easier, while doing what I do best: working behind the scenes, solving problems, and finding ways to use technology to make things better.