National PTA Welcomes the Puerto Rico PTA!

On May 15, 2010, a diverse group of individuals who believe in the purpose of PTA voted unanimously in favor of establishing the Puerto Rico Congress of Parents and Teachers—the Puerto Rico PTA.

For several years, National PTA leaders and representatives had been asked why there was not a PTA in Puerto Rico. Federal policies that National PTA advocated for were affecting the children of Puerto Rico, as well as children in the United States. The question then arose: How come the voices of families in Puerto Rico were not part of the PTA voice?

The discussion was revived by Immediate Past National PTA President Jan Harp Domene and carried into action by current National PTA President Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors, who made it a goal of his administration to establish a Puerto Rico PTA and committed the necessary resources to make this promise a reality.  Puerto Ricans at the forefront of the effort were Irlanda Ruiz Aguirre, an involved and committed mother and lawyer in the Puerto Rican community; Wanda Santos, director of the Puerto Rican PIRC; and Darold Footé Sykes, a professor and a religious leader in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, who credits PTA for the many opportunities he had as a child of a low socio-economic minority family in Pennsylvania where he grew up.

Saylors and National PTA President-Elect Betsy Landers went to Puerto Rico in February of this year to learn more about its educational challenges and to meet with important stakeholders. In addition to visiting 10 PIRC pilot schools, they also met with the First Lady of Puerto Rico, Lucé Vela, who was a PTA local unit leader in Virginia.

The May gathering of the Puerto Rico PTA was remarkable. There were parents, teachers, students, administrators, and professionals from different parts of the island. One of Puerto Rico PTA’s new members, Gamaliel Vega, wrote on Facebook:

“Today was a day I cannot explain nor understand but I know it was a historical day. Today was a day when inexplicable energies were transmitted but I know they were positive energies. Today, a group of people with hope rise, committed and determined to advocate and to bring change to Puerto Rico. Today, the Puerto Rico PTA has been formed to give voice to a rising generation….My respect to those who fight every day to transform education in this country.”

Representatives of Puerto Rico PTA will receive the charter document of the Puerto Rico Congress of Parents and Teachers during General Session 4 of this year’s National PTA Convention in Memphis.