Heidi May Wilson, Senior Manager, Media Relations
ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Sept. 5, 2024)—National PTA announced today that Executive Director Nathan R. Monell, CAE has informed volunteer leadership of the association of his decision to retire from his position at the end of April 2025. Monell has led National PTA since May 2015.
“Nathan is an exceptional and strategic executive, and his leadership, passion and expertise have been tremendous assets to National PTA and our members, partners, sponsors and children and families across the country,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA. “The National PTA Board of Directors and PTA leaders and volunteers nationwide thank Nathan for his contributions over the past 10 years. He has been an extraordinary leader and such a great fit for PTA as he always understood and practiced the values of putting families first. Nathan has strengthened our association and advanced our mission to make every child’s potential a reality. We wish him the very best.”
Under Monell’s leadership throughout the last decade, National PTA:
- Affirmed the association’s bold, influential voice in every area affecting the education, health, safety and well-being of the nation’s students.
- Created new services and resources for the association’s members, families and the education community through its Center for Family Engagement, Healthy Minds initiative supporting mental health, PTA Connected initiative which supports parents and caregivers in navigating the digital space with their children, and much more.
- Navigated the COVID-19 pandemic bringing needed resources to communities that were hungry, without internet access and suffering loss of family members.
- Launched a grants program through which by the end of this fiscal year will have awarded nearly 5,000 grants to local, district/council/region and state PTAs totaling more than $6,700,000 to provide engaging and accessible National PTA programs to school communities.
- Created an environment where mission-dedicated staff have been empowered to do their best work.
“I am proud of the progress made as the premier living entity representing and serving parents in the United States. I am grateful for the highly competent and mission-driven staff we recruited and retained over the years, the volunteer leaders who make enormous sacrifices to ensure our success, the partner organizations and sponsors who expand our impact, and each individual PTA that makes our mission come alive in 20,000 schools,” said Monell. “It has been my daily privilege to serve the membership, leadership and staff of this great association. I cannot imagine a more fulfilling opportunity than the one you all have created for and with me.”
Monell will work closely with National PTA volunteer leadership and staff over the next eight months to ensure a seamless transition as the association searches for and installs a new executive director.
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. For more information, visit PTA.org.