National PTA Statement on Townville Elementary School Shooting

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Sept. 28, 2016)—The following statement can be attributed to National PTA President Laura Bay:

“National PTA is deeply saddened to hear of the shooting this afternoon at Townville Elementary School in Townville, S.C. Our hearts, prayers and sympathies go out to the students, families, educators and administrators.

“While the facts are still being gathered, any act of violence at a school or involving children and youth is intolerable. Every student deserves to learn and grow in an environment that is safe. And the protection of students is of utmost importance. It is urgent that families, educators, community leaders and elected officials work together to make meaningful changes to ensure that all students have a safe environment in which to thrive and learn.

“It has been, and remains, a top priority of National PTA to prevent and eliminate violence in schools, promote safety for children and youth and improve education. National PTA has a strong history of supporting and advocating for laws and regulations in the areas of gun safety, violence prevention and juvenile justice.

“National PTA is committed to supporting students, families, schools and communities in coping with and preventing violence. The association offers a variety of resources that can be downloaded atPTA.org/SchoolViolence.”

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health and welfare of children and youth.

Media Contact

Heidi May Wilson, National PTA

[email protected], (703) 518-1242

PTA Leader Named Family Ambassador for U.S. Department of Education

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Sept. 28, 2016)—National PTA is pleased to announce that PTA leader Frances Frost has been named the U.S. Department of Education’s first Family Ambassador. This position is made possible by a grant from the Kellogg Foundation and an agreement with The Campagna Center of Alexandria, Va., to support family engagement in education and increase family engagement in education policy.

“Frances is a leader in family engagement and a strong advocate for quality education and equitable opportunities for all students and families,” said Laura Bay, president of National PTA. “We are proud that Frances has been named the U.S. Department of Education’s first Family Ambassador. Her leadership, dedication, passion and experience will be tremendous assets to the Department and to students and families nationwide.”

As the Family Ambassador, Frost will bring the voice of families to national conversations impacting children and education. She will also facilitate discussions with the Department of Education, families and family engagement stakeholders to create effective solutions to the issues affecting education and children’s well-being.

In this role, Frost will share her extensive knowledge of meaningful family engagement and strong family, school and community partnerships to inform and impact Department of Education policies. Additionally, Frost will communicate with families on behalf of the Department of Education to increase their understanding of and encourage their engagement in the development and implementation of policies.

“Parents and families should have meaningful opportunities to both contribute to and understand the policies and programs that impact them and their children, schools and communities,” said Ann Whalen, senior advisor delegated the duties of assistant secretary of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. “The Family Ambassador will help bolster our efforts to ensure that parents and families are meaningfully engaged and represented in every step of their child’s education.”

Frost has been active in PTA for many years and most recently served as president of Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA) in Maryland. Through her leadership of MCCPTA, which encompasses 192 PTAs, Frost worked to ensure more parents of color and low-income families were included and engaged in their school community. In addition to her work with PTA, Frost volunteers with several other youth- and education-related organizations, including Girls on the Run and the Girl Scouts of America.

U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. announced Frost as the first Family Ambassador during a stakeholder forum on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). National PTA Executive Director Nathan R. Monell, CAE, was a featured panelist for the forum.

“Family engagement is essential to the successful implementation of ESSA. It is critical that families are at the table to make certain that the law—and all policies—make a difference for education and our nation’s children,” said Monell. “National PTA applauds the Department of Education for establishing the Family Ambassador position and for its commitment to the importance of family engagement.”

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.

Media Contact

Heidi May Wilson, National PTA

[email protected], (703) 518-1242

National PTA Nominating & Leadership Development Committee Applications due October 1st.

Completed Letter of Interest Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. PDT (3 a.m. EDT), Sat., Oct. 1, 2016. Emailed and faxed documents will not be accepted. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.   Need Help? We strongly recommend you submit your application early. Watch the recording of our webinar on the new online application process! Or, contact the NLDC via email at [email protected] or by phone (703) 518-1251.   Where You Can Serve National PTA’s Nominating and Leadership Development Committee (NLDC) is seeking candidates to stand for election in June 2017 for the following national leadership positions: President-Elect (2017-2019 term) Vice President for Advocacy (2017-2019 term) Vice President for Membership (2017-2019 term) Secretary-Treasurer (2017-2019 term) Eight member representatives for the National PTA Board of Directors (2017-2019 term) Two members for the Nominating and Leadership Recruitment Committee* (2017-2020 term) National PTA elections are held at our annual convention. The next elections will be in Las Vegas, June 22-25, 2017. NLDC is accepting Letter of Interest Applications through Oct. 1. You MUST be a PTA member at the time of submission. PLEASE NOTE: You can also use this application to be considered for appointment to a National PTA committee.   Need More Information? For a description of leadership responsibilities, visit PTA.org/LeaderRoles. For more info about the National PTA leadership, visit PTA.org/Governance.   Please forward this information to your constituents, local units, councils, PTA friends and other qualified individuals.    *Per the current National PTA Bylaws adopted June 30, 2016, the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee (NLDC) name will change to the Nominating and Leadership Recruitment Committee (NLRC), effective July 1, 2017. National PTA Headquarters 1250 N. Pitt Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314 PTA.org Phone: (703) 518-1200 Toll Free: (800) 307-4PTA Fax: (703) 836-0942 E-mail: [email protected]

1250 N. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Schools and PTAs Across the Country Awarded Grants to Support School Meal Improvements

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Sept. 26, 2016)—National PTA is pleased to award over $60,000 in grants to schools and PTAs across the country to help improve the quality of, access to and participation in school meals. The grants are part of the association’s ongoing efforts to ensure all children have a safe and healthy environment in which to thrive and learn.

“Healthy students make better learners, and school meals are an opportunity for children to receive more than half of their daily nutrient needs. Ensuring children have access to nutritious foods in schools is critical to their success,” said Laura Bay, president of National PTA. “We are pleased to equip PTAs and schools nationwide with the necessary resources to support and advocate for stronger school meal programs.”

Twenty-five local PTAs have been selected to receive grants of $2,000 each to partner with their school leaders, food service team and families to help schools build on the progress they have made in serving students healthier meals. The following state PTAs also have been chosen to receive grants of $5,000 each.

• Minnesota PTA will collaborate with state leaders to develop a communications campaign to educate families about the importance of healthy school meals.
• Nevada PTA will use the grant to increase the number of schools in the state that provide free breakfast and lunch to all students.
• South Carolina PTA will partner with state leaders to design a statewide campaign to increase awareness among students and families of school meals.

“PTA leaders, members and families play an important role in helping schools implement improved meal and snack offerings,” added Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. “At the national, state and local levels, PTA is committed to ensuring families are engaged and families and schools collaborate to strengthen programs that make a difference for the health, well-being and long-term success of our nation’s children.”

The Healthy School Meals grants are funded in part by the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project, a collaboration between The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“PTAs helped launch the National School Lunch Program 70 years ago, and their support remains key to success in student nutrition,” said Jessica Donze Black, director of the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project. “The partnerships these grantees are forming with food service leaders—and the results they’ll achieve together—will inspire and inform greater engagement between the schools and the families they serve in communities nationwide.”

In addition to awarding the grants, National PTA has released a School Meals Leader’s Guide to help PTAs, school leaders, food service professionals and families partner on school meal improvements efforts. National PTA will also be conducting a webinar at 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 12 to guide PTAs and schools through steps to address the needs and challenges their school may be facing around school meals.

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.

Media Contact

Heidi May Wilson, National PTA

[email protected], (703) 518-1242

Webinar: How to Welcome LGBTQ Families to PTA

Embracing Family Diversity: LGBTQ Families When: Tuesday, Sept. 27 Time: 7 p.m. EDT Register Now Join the Human Rights Campaign and National PTA on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. EDT for a webinar about welcoming and supporting LGBTQ families. Attendees will learn how to help embrace and engage LGBTQ families into their school communities. Through its Every Child in Focus initiative, National PTA will host a series of virtual events for PTA leaders, educators and family and community engagement professionals to create greater awareness around LGBTQ students and their families, as well as offer effective family engagement and community outreach strategies. National PTA Headquarters 1250 N. Pitt Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314 PTA.org Phone: (703) 518-1200 Toll Free: (800) 307-4PTA Fax: (703) 836-0942 E-mail: [email protected] Disclosure: This e-newsletter contains sponsored content from third parties. National PTA does not endorse any commercial entity, product or service.

1250 N. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314