Mexico CTA and the Famous Turkey Turnover

Mexico CTA and the Famous Turkey Turnover
Posted on 02/03/2021
Sarah Keithley

Can you believe it has been 54 years since the start of the Mexico CTA’s scholarship fundraiser; known to all as The Turkey Turnover Dinner?  The dinner began in 1967. Just a little perspective for you. . . that is sixteen years before I was born! 

The Mexico Community Teachers Association’s Turkey Turnover Dinner is one of the most well recognized fundraisers for Mexico Public Schools. It will be held this year on Friday, February 19th at Mexico High School. It will look a little different this year (much like everything else) due to COVID rules but it will still be the same great people and the same great food!  

On the night of the dinner, CTA members volunteer their time one evening and serve a very famous meal to the Mexico community. That meal turns into scholarships for our Mexico Graduates! The proceeds are used to fund four to six $500 scholarships for students who are planning on entering the educational field(s) of study and professions after college. 

I have organized the dinner for the past 11 years with help from my amazing CTA Building Representatives.  This year those individuals are Jami Williams at the High School, Jennifer Barnett at Mexico Middle School, Theresa McManus at Eugene Field, Janet Tate at McMillan and new to our team is Robin Friedrich at Hawthorne.  We ask that each CTA member sell dinner tickets for the event as well as help advertise the event to the community and work the event the night of the dinner.   

This year our event will be a carry out and pick up only option. We will have groups of volunteers working with the Food Service staff to get meals boxed and out to everyone who has purchased a ticket prior to the event.  Everyone must buy their tickets early this year. We will not be able to sell any tickets at the door but look forward to doing so again for 2022! 

Mexico CTA is a group of teachers and staff members who work for the school district. Any employee can be a member of the local CTA. The annual dues are $15, which help fund small incentives and gifts for building leaders and other staff awards. Each year the CTA helps welcome new teachers as part of the New Teacher Training and this year we are working in several teams on district issues like Salary, Calendar and Health Insurance with our new Central Office administrators; Dr. Lupardus and Mrs. Chastain.

Lastly, because I don’t think they hear it enough. . .THANK YOU to all of our Mexico Staff Members! The past year has seen education turn upside down and inside out but I can tell you that our staff and CTA members are and will continue to be some of the best educators and people I have worked with.  They are truly amazing! I hope they know how much their hard work and daily extra effort is noticed and appreciated by myself, our student populations and our Mexico community.