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Congratulations Bronze Acorn Recipients
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The North Carolina PTA recognizes PTAs across the state throughout the year for building strong teams of parent, teacher and community volunteers (learn more about Membership Record Awards).
The Bronze Acorn Award acknowledges PTAs whose membership as of March 15 has increased by at least 10 percent compared to the previous year.
Click here to view the list of recipients.
NCPTA 2021-2023 Officer Slate
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2021-2023 Officer Slate
The NCPTA Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the Slate for State Officers for the 2021-2023 term. The Nominating Committee will present the Slate to delegates at the NCPTA Virtual Convention.
President-Elect: Dr. Shaneeka Moore-Lawrence
My name is Shaneeka Moore-Lawrence and I am honored to be slated as NCPTA President-Elect. NCPTA promotes four things that I hold dearly—students, families, educators, and community. Born in Wilson and raised in Durham, I have been involved with PTA since I was a kindergartener–attending PTA meetings with my mom who was also a teacher at the e
lementary school where I attended. Fast forward many decades and I am proud to say that I have enhanced my work, dedication, and commitment to PTA in many ways. I have been a parent member of my son’s schools’ local PTAs since he was in kindergarten and he is now a senior in high school; I even served on the PTA Board at my son’s elementary school. In addition, for the last 21 years, I have been a teacher or administrator member of every school PTA in which I have worked. I am passionate about collaborating with and empowering students, families, educators, community members, and community organizations to further the mission of NCPTA to make every child’s potential a reality.
I have wholeheartedly served on the NCPTA Board of Directors for four years and during this time I have been honored to work in several capacities including Convention Committee Chair, Events Committee Chair, Strategic Planning and Human Resource Committee Chair, member of the Executive Committee, member of the Nominating Committee, and member of the NCPTA Internet Access and Device Grant Review Team, and member of the NCPTA COVID Relief Grant Review Team. During the pandemic, I have been blessed to be able to aid NCPTA in reaching its members by spearheading the planning and hosting of the virtual events that we have offered since March 2020 including NCPTA Convention 2020, NCPTA Virtual Learning Summer Symposium, NCPTA & North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services School Reopening Town Hall, NCPTA Gates Town Hall meetings, NCPTA Winter Symposium, NCPTA Youth Symposiums, NCPTA Special Education Inclusion Town Hall.
When not “PTAing”, I am a twenty-one year educator with many years as a teacher and now a principal; I am also active in my home, church, and community. My son’s schedule keeps me busy with daily athletic practice and weekly games; those coupled with my duties as Team Mom and Booster Club President. At my church, I am a faithful member serving as President of the Music Department, Chair of Life Line Academy Youth Programming, Member of the Education Committee, usher, choir director, and choir member. My community activism includes volunteering, mentoring youth and other educators, and more.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Danny Thomas, “Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.” My life is sweeter because of the joy I get from helping others. I look forward to helping increase NCPTA’s role in enhancing outcomes for all children.
Secretary: Vacant
NCPTA Special Education for “Inclusion for ALL” Virtual Town Hall
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Join the North Carolina Parent Teacher Association’s (NCPTA) Special Education for “Inclusion for ALL“, a Virtual Town Hall
Saturday, March 6, 2021
10:00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Click here to download and share the flyer.
Registration closes Thursday, March 4, 2021
You must register to receive the event’s Zoom link and other updates about the event including pre-registration for breakout sessions.
MC: Ryan Jor El- Author, Speaker, Host, Co-Host “Trending” on WCCB Charlotte Author
Keynote Speaker: Doreen Byrd, Senior Parent Educator at Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC)
Workshop & Presenters:
Title: Making the Connection: Communication is Key
Presenter: Beverly Roberts, Family Engagement Manager, NCSIP Coordinator at Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC )
Title: Tips for Helping Students on the Autism Spectrum in a Remote Learning Environment
Presenter: Dr. Jill Howard, Child and Adolescent Psychologist; Director of Early Intervention Services for the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development
Title: Least Restrictive Environment: What It Means for All
Presenters: Dr. Kristin Bell, Executive Director for Exceptional Children’s Programs with Durham Public Schools,
Wendy Vavrousek, Exceptional Children’s Director for Elementary Schools with Durham Public Schools
Know Your Worth Teen Empowerment Event
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Join The Family Mankind, North Carolina Parent Teacher Association (NCPTA), Charlotte Mecklenburg Police 
Department (CMPD), Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), One Love, Steve Smith, Mecklenburg County, Mecklenburg Council of Elders, and Share Charlotte for this Double Header Event
Saturday, February 27, 2021
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Click here to download and share the flyer.
Schedule of Events:
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Family Mankind- Know More…No More Silence To Teen Dating Violence Symposium
12:00 p.m. – 12:25 p.m. DJ Lunch Party (Planned by NCPTA)
12:25 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Teens Speak on Careers, Bullying, Self-Esteem, and More (Planned by NCPTA)
Register here.
Registration closes Thursday, February 25, 2021. You must register to receive the event’s Zoom link and other updates about the event.
National PTA to Host Virtual Digital Safety Events to Help Families Take Charge of Their Digital Lives
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In celebration of Safer Internet Day , National PTA is hosting an entire week of live, virtual events Feb. 8-12. The virtual events and National PTA’s celebration of Safer Internet Day are part of the association’s PTA Connected initiative and are designed to help families, PTAs and school communities take charge of their digital lives and create a safer, kinder, more inclusive online community together.
“Safer Internet Day is an international education and awareness-raising effort to promote safer and more responsible use of digital devices and online technology, especially for children and youth,” said Leslie Boggs, president of National PTA. “With so many aspects of our daily lives now conducted digitally, it’s more important than ever that we do so in a way that’s safe, kind and inclusive. Safer Internet Day is the perfect time for families to evaluate their online habits and do a refresh of online safety tips and best practices. It is also a time for communities to join together to make the internet a safer and better place for all.”
Here are the virtual events National PTA will be hosting with the association’s PTA Connected sponsors and nonprofit partners during its week-long celebration of Safer Internet Day. The interactive series includes something for everyone—kids, families, PTA leaders and teachers.
Monday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. EST
The Internet Starts with “I” and Ends with “T”
Facebook live hosted by National PTA and ConnectSafely, the official North American host of Safer Internet Day
Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. EST
Real Conversations with Families About Digital Kindness
Zoom event hosted by National PTA
Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. EST
Helping Families Navigate Technology
Google Meet hosted by Google
Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. EST
The Ultimate School Assembly
TikTok livestream hosted by TikTok
Friday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. EST
Have the Smart Talk
Zoom event hosted by National PTA and NortonLifeLock
In addition to hosting the virtual events, National PTA will also share digital safety resources and toolkits throughout the week on social media using #SaferInternetDay and at PTA.org/SaferInternet.
For more information about National PTA’s celebration of Safer Internet Day and to register for the events, visit PTA.org/SaferInternet.
A Letter to the Editor: North Carolina PTA President’s Statement on Riots at the U.S. Capitol
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A Letter to the Editor
We, the people…
Raleigh, NC, (January 15, 2021) — As president of NCPTA, I reach out to our members and our state with sadness for our country, yet with much hope for this experiment of a democracy to grow into its greatness.
It has been 10 months since our nation was first diagnosed with Covid-19, 5 months since the suffocation of George Floyd, 2 months since the election of a new president, and 1 week since the darkest day in American history. Together, we watched as our capital was overrun by other American citizens. America is hurting.
Economic insecurities, racial and social injustices have left us questioning the truth. Every day we trust less and less, wrestling with this experiment of a democracy. We, the people have been struggling since the conception of our democracy. We entered 2021 with great expectations for a new beginning. But beginnings only start with the end of something else. Are we doing this for our children and are we remembering that our children are watching?
We, as a nation and as a community of people, are deciding the next step for us. What are our values? But also, how will we fight for those ideals? Through words or with civil unrest? If we lead with civil unrest what is next for our children if this is the new normal?
Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th president of the United States and WWII military hero states, “We seek peace, knowing that peace is the climate of freedom.”
Martin Luther King states, “Violence is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all…Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love.
Every great leader, theologian, and brilliant mind are clear that violence creates only destruction. We must remember that our democracy was created so that each citizen has one vote in participating in deciding our laws and our leaders. We have a process for dispute and a place to make change – our judicial and legislative branch. If civil unrest becomes the means for decision making, how large will the bully become each and every time there is a dispute?
“Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment, it is the determined choice of trust over cynicism, of community over chaos”, a quote from George W. Bush at his inauguration. What is left for our children if we choose differently? What is the alternative to our democracy? And what is left for our children?
We have heard many times, it darkest before the dawn. Let this darkness take us to a new beginning of living in a just society where each woman and man is judged on their character, where every woman and man can reach their dream and potential, and our children are loved, are fed and safe.
Harold Dixon,
President, North Carolina Parent Teacher Association
Mari Urness Pokornowski
Executive Director, NCPTA
About NCPTA
North Carolina PTA is the state’s oldest and largest volunteer organization advocating for every child to reach their full potential. Founded in 1919 and affiliated with National PTA, there are more than 920 Parent Teacher Associations in schools across the state with more than 106,000 members. PTAs provide advocacy, vital volunteers, and material resources to their schools. NCPTA supports PTA units and provides programs, training, and advocacy on behalf of North Carolina’s children. To learn more about NCPTA, please visit our website at www.ncpta.org.
National PTA Statement on Riots at the U.S. Capitol
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National PTA Statement on Riots at the U.S. Capitol
ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Jan. 8, 2020)—The following statement can be attributed to National PTA President Leslie Boggs:
“National PTA condemns the storming of our nation’s capital. Like so many Americans, we were outraged by the violence, destruction and attack on our democracy. Wednesday was another hard day for our nation, and one that we should never have experienced.
“Every parent, grandparent, family member, community leader, business leader and educational leader knows it is how we choose to react to situations that makes the difference. Out of every challenge is an opportunity to do things better, think differently and embrace resources we never utilized before.
“National PTA is choosing to react with hope. We are choosing to honor our association’s values of collaboration, commitment, diversity, respect and accountability. We are choosing to continue to believe in the supreme importance of our children and in our mission to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
“This is an important time for all of us to sit down together with our children and talk with them about how democracy and government works in our country, the importance of practicing civility, and the importance of using our powerful voices for good.
“National PTA offers tips to help families and educators have conversations with their children about incidents such as the riots at the U.S. Capitol and ways to use such situations to reinforce family and community values and beliefs. The tips can be accessed at PTA.org.
“PTA has a rich legacy in coming together to help solve the toughest problems facing our children, families and communities. It is imperative that we choose to be united and supportive during this difficult time in our country. As PTA members, we must continue to help lead the way with our powerful, collective voice to protect the voice of our future—our children. Together, we can move above and beyond the division of our country and build a shared experience—the experience of working together as human beings, intent on building a better nation and world.”
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.
Congratulations NCPTA Healthy School Grant Winners
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The School Meal Challenge mini grants have been awarded to the following PTAs to be used for school nutrition engagement and building awareness/support for school nutrition programs at their local school. We look forward to 
sharing the results from these projects with all of you over the next few months. Congratulations!
- Club Blvd Magnet Elementary PTA, Durham
- Holly Ridge Elementary School PTA, Holly Springs
- Lincoln Heights Magnet Elementary PTA, Fuquay-Varina
- Mabel Elementary School PTA, Zionville
- Old Richmond Elementary PTA, Tobaccoville
- Rashkis Elementary School PTA, Chapel Hill
- The School for Creative Studies PTSA, Durham
In Case You Missed It! The NCPTA Gates team November Virtual Town Hall Now Available!
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Here’s a look back at the NCPTA Gates team Virtual Town Hall that was facilitated on November 10th in collaboration with BEST NC and the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University. We discussed ways that families and community leaders can leverage school-level per pupil expenditure (PPE) and other school report data on to advocate for school improvement and student success. We hope you enjoy the recording! Click here to watch.
The NCPTA Reflections Submission Site is Open!
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Now is the time to start submitting Reflections entries! Click here to access the Reflections program page and get all the info necessary to successfully submit entries.
The deadline is Wednesday, January 6, 2021!
