THE VOLUNTEER: Stacey Stroth

To 18-month-old Cason Stroth, a knock at the door can only mean one thing: his babysitter. Tears sliding down his cheeks, he tries to make a run for it.

Stacey Stroth apologizes for her crying baby, introduces daughters Riley and Ava, confines two barking dogs on one side of the house and leads everyone into the family room.

“When we enrolled at Ashton three years ago, I didn’t take it easy, I just went in full force,” Stroth said. “It’s a wonderful school, and I felt like everybody welcomed me with open arms.”

From 2006 to 2007, Stroth chaired the school’s jog-a-thon. From 2007 to 2008, she volunteered as publicity coordinator. During the upcoming school year, she’ll coordinate Ashton’s social events with her younger sister, Amanda Juracka, whose son, Devin, also attends Ashton.

“I love being at school and knowing what’s going on,” Stroth said. “We’ll be coordinating the ‘Boo-Hoo Yahoo,’ the first-day-of-school mixer, Family Skate Night, Kindergarten Round-up and Lunching with Loved Ones.”

Last year, Ashton named Stroth its 2008-2009 volunteer of the year.

“I thought that was so nice,” Stroth says. “It validates everything you do.”

As Stroth apologizes for her home phone ringing for the fourth time, her cell phone begins to ring. When the baby monitor clicks on to the sound of Cason baby-talking himself to sleep, all she can do is laugh.

“Everybody makes fun of me,” Stroth said. “They call my house ‘the revolving door.’ But I don’t feel like just a mom or just a wife — I’m doing something special and using my brain. Thankfully, it keeps me out of malls, which my husband is happy about.”