2026 - '29 Wisconsin PTA Board of Directors
President
Rita Wiesneski
Rita Wiesneski, CPA, has been an active PTA member since 2006, serving in numerous leadership roles within Wauwatosa PTA units, including its PTA Council, advancing to State PTA Treasurer in 2023. Effective July 1, 2026, Rita will serve as Wisconsin PTA’s President continuing her long-standing dedication to supporting families, schools, and communities focused on PTA’s mission to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
President-Elect
Open
This is a position that will learn support local units with leadership and problem resolution. This person would be part of the Executive Board team working very closely with the current president and then take on the president role in 2029.
Vice President
Erica Christensen
I’m Erica Christensen, and welcome to Wisconsin PTA. My journey with PTA began when my oldest son started kindergarten – and now he’s a middle schooler! At the time, I was a stay-at-home mom, and I wanted to get involved and support not only my child but all the children at my son’s school and throughout the district. I quickly realized the importance of raising our voices collectively to ensure every child can access opportunities that meet their unique needs.
Since then, I’ve served on advisory councils for the school board and worked to become a source of hope and advocacy. My efforts center on fostering a sense of community, developing policies that support all children and families, and promoting opportunities for growth and connection. I’m honored for the opportunity to participate with Wisconsin PTA and continue championing our children’s well-being.
Secretary & Legislative Chair
Kimberly Anderson
I discovered my passion for public education in 2021 when I answered the call for new board members at my local PTA. Unbeknownst to me at the time would I know the depth of involvement I was about to undertake. A native of southeastern Wisconsin, I returned here after spending time abroad in Santiago, Chile. I earned a bachelor’s in communication and global studies from UW-Milwaukee in 2010. My husband and I have three daughters enrolled in our local dual language program. We live in Racine County, where I also work as a swimming instructor in our local elementary school’s swimming program.
After nearly 13 years as a stay-at-home parent, joining the PTA was an opportunity to give back to my community, support my children and others, refresh old skills, and learn new ones. While I may be relatively new to PTA leadership, I am committed to growth as an advocate for children. I firmly believe every child deserves a free, fair, and equitable education, as it is essential for the betterment of society.
Treasurer & Bylaws Chair
Melinda Kirkland
Melinda has been an officer in PTA for over 15 years, including serving as the California State PTA Treasurer (2019-21). She is a past president of Twenty-Fourth District PTA, serving San Luis Obispo and Tulare Counties in California, and has held many positions at the unit, district/region and state levels of PTA. She has also worked for and served on the boards of other non-profit organizations, including a Boys and Girls Club. Melinda has an MA in science education and has been married to her husband, Tom, for 26 years. They have two awesome adult “kids” and moved from California to Oregon, WI in 2022. They love living someplace that is green almost year-round, and yes, she even loves the Wisconsin winters!
Immediate Past President
Andi Krizan-Burns
It has been my pleasure to serve the children of this state as part of the Wisconsin PTA since 2007 and I appreciate the opportunity to have served our children as president from July 2023 – ’26.
As a Wisconsin native I grew up in Dousman, attended Kettle Moraine High School and then took courses at Waukesha County Technical College. When I moved to West Allis in 2001 with my 3 children, I joined the Irving Elementary PTA to help my daughter, who had a learning disability. In 2004, when my first daughter started middle school, I took on my first position as secretary of the West Milwaukee PTA. I also held the positions of membership chair and president. When my children move up in grades and to new schools, I moved with them to different PTAs including Horace Mann, Lincoln, Jefferson and West Allis Central. I became active at the council level in 2005, holding various positions. At each of these PTAs I learned more and more that our voices together can help to create an environment of ideas and change that can help all children succeed. Since 2007 I have served on the Wisconsin Board of Directors.
I want to help continue to help bring all our voices together so that we can continue to do more and create opportunities for all children to continue to grow and advance.
Marketing / Public Relations Chair
Ashley Buchkoe
Ashley Buchkoe is the PTA President at Goodland Montessori School and a passionate advocate for building strong partnerships between schools, families, and the community. She previously served on the PTA Executive Board for four years as Room Parent Chair and Family Involvement Chair, focusing on increasing family engagement and creating meaningful school experiences.
Professionally, Ashley is the owner of Arden Rose Media Co., a Wisconsin-based marketing agency specializing in social media marketing, communications, and event planning for small businesses.
A proud Wisconsin mom of two, Ashley is passionate about strengthening public education, supporting volunteers, and helping PTAs thrive through creative ideas, effective communication, and strong community connections. She is honored to serve on the Wisconsin PTA Board and looks forward to advocating for students, families, and local PTAs across the state.
Convention Chair
Kirsten Wiesneski
I am a high school science teacher in the School District of Waukesha and also the proud parent of two littles (4K and 3rd grade) that are enrolled in the district’s Dual Language program. My involvement in PTA began as an event volunteer when my oldest started Kindergarten and for the past 2 years I was also the PTA Treasurer at their school. As Convention Chair for Wisconsin PTA, I am excited to help create engaging learning and sharing opportunities that empower PTA leaders across the state. By strengthening the work we do in their local communities we can help all scholars thrive!
Scholarship Chair
Stacy Marszalkowski
I have been involved in PTA since 2012 when my daughter started 4K. I’ve served as Secretary and Vice President of a local unit in the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District and joined the state board as a Region Advisor in 2019 attending the West Allis-West Milwaukee PTA Council meetings as a WI PTA State Board representative. I also served as the Wisconsin PTA Secretary from 2021-2023 and am currently serving as the Brookmire-Hastings Scholarship Chair. I enjoy spending time with my daughter, going to her volleyball games, and traveling. I’m also a student in the Purdue Veterinary Nursing program to add on to my career as a Radiologic Technologist in both human and veterinary medicine. In being involved with WI PTA and being the Brookmire- Hastings Scholarship Chair, I enjoy supporting our next generation of students in encouraging their goals of becoming educators or working with children in an education setting.
