Contact Us
Board of Managers
Sarah Theberge, President
president@rhodeislandpta.org
401 288-7109
Mary McGrath, Treasurer
Mary McGrath, Bylaws Chair
Membership
Lisa Valentine, Federal Leg Chair
Committee Chairs
Rachelle Friesen, Reflections Chair
reflections@rhodeislandpta.org
Spring Convention Committee
riptaspringconvention@gmail.com
ABOUT US
The mission of the PTA is threefold:
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To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community, and before government bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children;
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To assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children;
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To encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation.
Rhode Island PTA was chartered by the National PTA in 1909 and together with its Councils and local units, works to support the PTA mission in Rhode Island.
PTA Mission
To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
Values
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Collaboration: We will work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organizations to broaden and enhance our ability to serve and advocate for all children and families.
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Commitment: We are dedicated to children’s educational success, health, and well-being through strong family and community engagement, while remaining accountable to the principles upon which our association was founded.
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Diversity: We acknowledge the potential of everyone
without regard, including but not limited to: age, culture, economic status, educational background, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, legal status, marital status, mental ability, national origin, organizational position, parental status, physical ability, political philosophy, race, religion, sexual orientation, and work experience. -
Respect: We value the individual contributions of members, employees, volunteers, and partners as we work collaboratively to achieve our association’s goals.
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Accountability: All members, employees, volunteers, and partners have a shared responsibility to align their efforts toward the achievement of our association’s strategic initiatives.
Purposes
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The purposes of Rhode Island PTA, in common with those of National PTA, are
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To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, place of worship, and throughout the community;
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To raise the standards of home life,
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To advocate for laws that further the education, physical and mental health, welfare, and safety of children and youth;
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To promote the collaboration and engagement of families and educators in the education of children and youth;
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To engage the public in united efforts to secure the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being of all children and youth; and
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To advocate for fiscal responsibility regarding public tax dollars in public education funding.
Principles
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Rhode Island PTA shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.
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Rhode Island PTA shall work to engage and empower children, families, and educators within schools and communities to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process by influencing school policy and advocating for children’s issues, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities.
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Rhode Island PTA shall work to promote the health and welfare of children and youth, and shall seek to promote collaboration among families, schools, and the community at large.
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Commitment to inclusiveness and equity, knowledge of PTA, and professional expertise shall be guiding principles for service in Rhode Island PTA.