About LAPTA

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Our Mission

PTA is the oldest and largest child advocacy association in America. Today’s PTA is comprised of more than 2.5 million parents, teachers, grandparents, caregivers, foster parents and other caring adults who share a commitment to improving the education, health, and safety of all children. We speak with one voice for every child. Today, the issues that affect our children extend beyond their individual schools. The PTA’s nationwide network provides parents with the forum and tools to collectively influence the decisions that affect children not only at their schools, but also throughout their districts, within their states, and across the nation. This mission is unique to PTA. Many of the benefits our children receive today, such as universal kindergarten, the National School Lunch Program, and a juvenile justice system, were accomplished as a result of the PTA mission. We focus on making the maximum positive effort for our community. Our members and volunteers provide the momentum that helps us affect change. Using data driven models, we provide solutions that make a long-lasting difference.

Our History

In 1897, Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst founded the National Congress of Parents and Teachers with a mission to better the lives of children in education, health and safety. In 1926, Selena Sloan Butler formed the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers to advocate for children, especially African American children in segregated communities. As the United States progressed through the Jim Crow era, the Civil Rights Movement and the eventual desegregation of schools and communities, the two associations fought side by side for every child. Following the Supreme Court decision that ended segregation, the associations held their conventions in conjunction with one another and worked toward merging in all 50 states. On June 22, 1970, the two congresses signed a Declaration of Unification and officially became one association. The unification of the two congresses is an important part of National PTA’s history and the association’s continued efforts to serve and make a difference for every child.

Our Team

Louisiana PTA received their charter from National PTA in 1923, and for the last 100 years has proudly served children and their families throughout our state. Local PTA members have an exciting opportunity to make a difference in our schools and communities by implementing PTA's mission: to make every child's potential a reality. Become a member of Louisiana PTA by joining your local PTA or our statewide unit, Lagniappe PTSA (see link under Membership tab) and help promote PTA's mission. The LAPTA Board of Directors are all volunteers. If you are interested in learning more about serving at the state level, please email Kayla Pagel at President@LouisianaPTA.org.