'Stay-at-home' mom always on the go
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Karla McCormack with Troop 0375 members Brett Waggoner, Jeffy McCormack, CJ Martin, Jonathan Ralson, (back) Will Hunter and Connor Shofner.

Whoever came up with the term "stay-at-home" mom didn't use Karla McCormack as their example. She may not bring home a paycheck at the end of the week, but this mom priceless when it comes to caring ...

In the halls and classrooms of Troup Elementary she is a familiar site. Serving as PTO historian, room mother and volunteer extraordinaire is a vital resource to her campus.

"She does so much for me as room mother," Ivy Hewitt, first grade teacher, said. "Anything at all I ask her to do, she does it. She decorates my room, she goes a great job on the parties for the kids, she's a real blessing."

Karla says that the Troup schools are really blessed to have such great participation from their parents and grandparents. She said at Christmas the room was full with families sharing the party day with their children and grandchildren.

Karla enjoys being able to help out at school and especially in her son Jeffy's class. This busy first grade A honor roll student is the light of her life.

Troop leader Karla McCormack guides Cub Scout Pack 0375 in an Easter crafts project (top photo), and then the boys enjoy an egg hunt.

"I'm so proud of Jeffy," Karla said. "I love being able to be at school to see all that he's involved in."

Family is high on Karla's list. While she was raised in Dallas, her father was from Troup. She loves being "out in the woods" in Troup.

"Mom lives at the front of the property and our house is at the back," she said. "I love that Jeffy has such a great place to grow up and run around. I don't worry about him getting in the road. If he gets too close, Mom is there to intercept him."

Karla doesn't take the weekend off when it comes to helping out. She is on hand every Sunday morning to work with the Kindergarten class at First Baptist Church in Troup. She loves helping out with their crafts and reading stories.

Her afternoons are full as well. Karla is den leader for Cub Scout Pack 0375. They meet at the First United Methodist Church on Tuesdays. There are six Tigers in her group. They are Will Hunter, Jonathan Ralson, CJ Martin, Jef fy McCormack, Brett Waggoner and Connor Shofner.

Photos/Suzanne Loudamy

Karla took over the pack in September 2006. She started with a couple of months worth of cleaning, painting and organizing their area of the UMC basement.

"I wanted the boys to have a place they felt comfortable," Karla said. "A place they could think of as their own."

They certainly have that kind of place now. The area is roomy enough for tables and chairs, and has ample room for the boys to exercise their minds with crafts, projects and Pinewood Derby cars.

"The boys have just recently earned their Bobcat badges and are working on their Tiger badges," she said. "We are all learning this together and having a great time."

While everything points to Karla as the one who is doing great things for the kids of Troup, the arrow also points to a mom who is also being enriched by the experience.