Our PTAs work year round to positively impact all children and families across California, so we want to shine our spotlight on you! During this school year, we will highlight different PTAs each month to showcase the work you do in our schools, classrooms, and communities. Stay tuned to hear how our PTAs are making a difference each day!
Beacon Park PTA – Phoebe Apperson Hearst Outstanding Family-School Partnership Award Recipient, National PTA School of Excellence
Congratulations to 24 California schools and PTAs that received the 2023-2025 National PTA School of Excellence Award! The School of Excellence program recognizes the invaluable partnerships between local PTAs and schools, and their commitment to building positive educational experiences for students and families. We are pleased to also celebrate Fourth District’s very own Beacon Park PTA for receiving the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Outstanding Family-School Partnership Award! This award is the highest honor presented by National PTA that celebrates effective family-school partnerships. We couldn’t be prouder of the PTA volunteers and school community at Beacon Park for the work they do.
Former Beacon Park PTA President Erin Pauls (2023-2024), shared how their PTA worked together to help bridge the connections between the school and its families through the School of Excellence program framework.
Erin explained, “We deployed an electronic survey at the beginning of the school year […and] we found that the largest area of potential improvement fell in the category of engagement and communication with students and families.” As a result, Beacon Park PTA began building new communication strategies that targeted non-English speaking families to create a pathway of engagement between those families and their greater school community. Erin credits their PTA’s strong foundation with Beacon Park School that allowed them to successfully launch various programs geared towards academic enrichment, community building, athletics, and more.
“We were fortunate enough to work with many administrators, teachers, and even parent volunteers who were all willing to band together to help PTA achieve its goals of creating a more cohesive and engaged community,” Erin said. From a Science Olympiad to Walk to School Day, Beacon Park PTA expanded its reach through innovative events that encouraged and multiplied student, school, and family participation.
We are incredibly proud of the entire Beacon Park community for going above and beyond to reach their community and strengthen their family-school partnership. The School of Excellence program not only provides enhanced strategies for our PTAs to implement, but it provides unique recognition.
“As a leader in various roles over the years, I have come to value the idea that recognition is a powerful tool in motivating and inspiring people. Let’s be honest – who doesn’t love being publicly recognized with an award or designation? I think that the potential of being celebrated on a national level as a School of Excellence designee is a huge draw for PTA members and school staff alike to go above and beyond in investing their time and talents to better their community,” Erin said.
Learn more about the School of Excellence program at pta.org/excellence, and stay tuned for enrollment to reopen in Spring 2025. To view the full list of 2023-25 School of Excellence recipients, click here.
Irvine Unified Council PTA & The Sweet Success of PTA Membership
In September 2024, Irvine Unified Council of PTAs, which represents 43 unit PTAs, launched its theme “Membership is So Sweet!” This news reached residents across the city of Irvine causing excitement among many, including the City of Irvine’s very own Mayor. On September 10, 2024, Mayor Farrah N. Khan proclaimed September as Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Membership Month. Mayor Khan encouraged students, parents, caregivers, families, educators, and citizens to show their commitment to children and youth by joining their local PTA or PTSA.
Thanks to our amazing volunteers at Irvine Unified Council for promoting the sweetness of membership to their Irvine community! Visit iucpta.org to learn more about the Irvine Council and how to get involved if you are located in the Irvine area.
Huntington Union Council PTA & the School Board Candidate Forum
Big thanks to Huntington Union Council PTA for hosting an impartial and nonpartisan School Board Candidate Forum earlier this month. This forum hosted over 10 candidates from Fountain Valley School District, Huntington Beach City School District, Huntington Beach Union HighSchool District, and Ocean View School District. PTA leaders across California have been working hard to provide our families and communities with safe spaces to be educated, informed, and empowered so they can use their voice at the polls.
Want to be included in our next PTA Highlights of the Month?
Submit a PTA Success Story Submission Form to share your PTA’s highlight with us or send us a message on Instagram or Facebook and let us know your PTA would like to be highlighted.