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.

Executive Board 2024-2025

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.

2023-2025 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 fifteen years. We have three children, Avery age 7, Owen, age 4 and Elliot age 2. I am excited to work with the PTO as the Social Media and Communications manager to support our school staff and our students through community engagement! I look forward to helping to plan many events this year to support our students and our fabulous teachers and staff!

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 first grade at Swift River 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!

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 10 and 7. 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!

2024-2026 Co-President: Catherine Ruell | email: cruell@cssrpto.org
I'm Katie Ruell, mom of Scarlett (2nd grade) and Kenny (Kindergartener) and Olive (preschool). I have been a Belchertown resident since 2012, however, my husband, Allan, grew up in town and attended the same schools as our children. (He even had some of the same teachers!) Our family is very active outside, playing soccer in the yard, riding bikes in the driveway or catching a frog in our garden. We have a dog, Champ, two cats, Bambam and Lily, and fourteen chickens. In my professional career, I work part time as a Certified Nurse-Midwife at Baystate Health. I am excited to work with the PTO to support the needs of our future, our children.