About Michigan PTA
Advocating for Michigan children since 1918.
Michigan PTA is a statewide network of families, educators, and community leaders working to make every child's potential a reality.
Our mission
PTA's mission is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.
PTA values
Michigan PTA's values are set by National PTA — the titles and descriptions remain consistent across every chapter.
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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.
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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 of Michigan PTA
- To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, places of worship, and throughout the community
- To raise the standards of home life
- To advocate for laws that further the education, physical and mental health, welfare, and safety of children and youth
- To promote the collaboration and engagement of families and educators in the education of children and youth
- To engage the public in united efforts to secure the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being of all children and youth
- To advocate for fiscal responsibility regarding public tax dollars in public education funding
Did you know?
As the nation's largest volunteer association dedicated solely to children's well-being, PTA helps ensure the voices of children and families are represented in Lansing and beyond. Michigan PTA provides annual scholarships, supports arts education through the Reflections Program, and offers free local training for members. We build strong partnerships with organizations and community leaders throughout the state to better serve children and families.
Our history
Highlights from over a century of advocating for Michigan children.
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1897
National Congress of Mothers
National Congress of Mothers organized on February 17 in Washington DC, urging action on day care, kindergarten, nutrition, and literacy.
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1918
Michigan PTA founded
Michigan PTA established in Battle Creek, Michigan on May 19.
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1926
National Congress of Colored Parents
With the encouragement and help of National PTA, the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers was founded.
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1954
Polio vaccination drive
Thousands of PTA volunteers across the country assisted in vaccinating 1.8 million children against polio.
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1955
Brown v. Board of Education
National PTA supported and endorsed the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Brown v. Board of Education.
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1970
A united PTA
National PTA and the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers joined forces, uniting their identical mission to improve the lives of all children.
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1974
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
National PTA supported FERPA, giving parents the right to inspect and challenge their children's school records.
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1985
Music parental advisory labels
The Recording Industry Association acted on National PTA's push for 'explicit lyrics — parent alert' labels on music recordings.
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Today
300+ local units
A statewide network of local PTA and PTSA units advocating for Michigan children.
Board of Directors
Michigan PTA is led by an elected board of officers and committee chairs from across the state.
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Dr. Tonya Whitehead
President
Detroit
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Jenna McMechan
President-Elect
Garden City
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Tracy Troy
Immediate Past President
DeWitt
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Aundra Simpkins
Secretary
Detroit
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Sandy Winkler
Treasurer
Allen Park
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Jenn Garland
VP for Child Advocacy
Farmington Hills
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Beth Hulett
VP for Communications
Farmington Hills
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Sharene Nathan
VP for Engagement
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Tiffany Vosburg
VP for Events
Royal Oak
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Maryanne VanHaitsma
VP for Membership
Royal Oak
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Luz Lawton
VP for Programs and Services
Birmingham
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Candi Drouillard
VP for Unit Development
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Lisa Roscoe
VP for Unit Support
Rochester
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Jaime Beccaccio
Office Manager
Garden City
Past Presidents
- Sue Bellows
- Shaton Berry
- Barb Blanchard
- Kathy Carter
- Mary DeYoung-Smith
- Grace Preston
State Volunteers
- April Brooks
- Charli Canaday
- Jenee Clear
- Maria Dismondy
- Becky Lasecki
- Layla Franklin
- Paula Hartson
- Nancy Jennings
- Neli Kelley
- Pauline Kim
- Lane Meyer
- Debbie Pline
- Jo Poe
- Nicole Sobieski
- Molly Sweeney
- Christine Troy
Council Representatives
- Nabeel Althalaya Dearborn
- Krissee Bellemore Garden City
- Mandy Gerstenbrand Livonia
- Kinshasa Moon-Smith Southfield
- Tramena O'Neil Detroit Area 4
- Jamie Sak Rochester
- Lachelle Thomas Detroit Area 2
- Susan Wagner Allen Park
Strategic plan 2023–2026
Strategic plan
Michigan PTA's three-year roadmap for growing membership, investing in leader development, and improving organizational effectiveness.
Download strategic plan (PDF) (5 MB) (opens PDF in a new tab)
National PTA connection
Michigan PTA is a proud chapter of National PTA — the nation's oldest and largest child advocacy association, with more than 125 years of working toward bettering the lives of every child in education, health, and safety. Michigan PTA serves as a connecting link between the national organization and its membership within our state.