Pizza has been the key ingredient in making some dough for improvements at Madison Elementary School.

Papa John’s Pizza sponsors “Making Dough for Education,” an incentive program that works as a school fundraiser.

“Each semester, we ask our students’ families to collect Papa John’s sticker receipts from their pizza orders,” PTA president Melanie Davis said. Andrea Mattox, sales and marketing manager for Papa John’s, collects these receipts monthly.

“Smaller schools like ours can compete with the larger schools like Mill Creek elementary,” Davis said. “The school with the highest percentage wins $1,500 from Papa John’s, along with 10 percent of all receipts.” Each participating school receives 10 percent of their receipts.

“‘Making Dough for Education’ seemed like a ‘no-brainer,’ since it doesn’t cost the school or the PTA anything,” Davis said. “So far, it has worked out extremely well for us. Madison elementary has been the winning school for the last two semesters.”

Also this year, Madison PTA was pleased to install a new school sign. The PTA board will meet with principal Dr. Timothy Scott about options for spending the ‘making dough’ funds.

Other Madison elementary PTA officers are vice president of memberships Ashley Long, vice president of volunteers Paula Nichols, treasurer Kate Bodden, secretary Angie Jones and awards chairperson Angela Bong.

Having also served in 2008-2009, Davis is in her second term as PTA president. “I love serving the school, teachers and students,” Davis said. “It’s a wonderful way to be involved and one of the best ways to get to know” the school population.

With her PTA work, Davis “sees the kids on a daily basis and gets to know many of them by name.” Davis’ children attend Madison elementary: son Will in Renae Yancey’s fifth-grade class, daughter Alex in Joy Wilson’s fourth-grade class and daughter Sophie in Nikki Griffin’s kindergarten class.

“We’re the only school with 100 percent PTA membership — a huge accomplishment,” Davis said. “We’re grateful to all the parents, students, faculty and staff for their hard work.”