PRESIDENT

Rebekah Lassiter was born and raised in Raleigh, NC, but loves Durham, NC as her home. She's the mom of two Bethesda Bulldogs, a 4th grader and 1st grader. During work hours, she is a volunteer coordinator and field staff for International Students Inc, a national nonprofit organization that supports international students while they are studying at United States universities. As a strong supporter of public schools, Rebekah serves as a Durham Public Schools parent ambassador and is a member of Public Schools Strong. In her free time, Rebekah loves spending time outdoors, crafts, playing board games, and finding new ways to wear her children's energy out. 

VICE-PRESIDENT

Affectionately known as Ms. Jo, Jovanna Foreman has served as a public librarian for more than 7 years, with 5 years as a public school Librarian at Bethesda. She happily joins and supports our PTA board to promote the importance and enjoyment of reading among our school community, homes, and the neighborhood surrounding Bethesda.  Jovanna’s favorite children's authors are Jason Reynolds, Nikki Grimes, Nic Stone, and Mo Willems, and her favorite genres are realistic and historical fiction.

VICE PRESIDENT

As a 3rd-grade dual language immersion teacher in Durham Public Schools and a parent at Bethesda Elementary, Heidy Peña is committed to supporting the academic and personal growth of all students. With pride in her Hispanic heritage from Honduras, she brings a diverse perspective to her work. Heidy is looking forward to serving on the PTA and collaborating with parents, teachers, and administrators to foster a positive and inclusive school community.

VICE-PRESIDENT

Lindsay Thomas was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, but adores living in Durham with her family, which includes a 4th grader at Bethesda. She is a journalist, content strategist, podcaster, and lover of the Braves, the Bulls, and the Bulldogs alike. When she’s not adulting, you can catch her singing karaoke, watching cartoons, or walking the trails of the Triangle.

SECRETARY

Myriah Abell is a proud mom of three — two at Bethesda, and one future Bulldog. With a degree in elementary education, she cares deeply about creating meaningful opportunities for all students to grow and succeed. She joined the PTA to help support the people who make our school such a special place. In her free time, you can find Myriah at CrossFit or curled up with a good book.

TREASURER

Kristy Sykes is returning to the 2025-2026 PTA Board as its Treasurer. She’s a parent to a 4th grader at Bethesda.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Gwen Tahmaseb is a mom to three kids in Durham Public Schools, including a Bethesda Bulldog 4th grader. She was educated K-12 in the public school system and is a strong believer in the value of public education. Gwen works as a senior director of business information and strategic proposal writing in the clinical research industry. She lives in the Bethesda neighborhood with her husband, blended family, dog, parrot, chickens, and garden.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Anne Canastar and her family have lived in Durham for 12 years. Her youngest is a 3rd Grader at Bethesda, and her oldest is a 9th Grader at Durham School of the Arts. Before transitioning to Bethesda last year, Anne’s boys attended a year-round elementary where she joined the PTA’s Beautification Committee to start a writing utensil recycling program. She loved the committee’s mission so much, she signed on to co-chair it for 3 years! Anne says she loves being a part of the Bethesda Community and looks forward to connecting with more members in the months and years to come.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Jason Rhyne is an IT professional, proud dad to a 4th grade Bulldog, and the past president of Bethesda’s PTA Board (2024-2025). He is happy to serve Bethesda and its community in a new role on the board this school year.