A former leader in the Georgia Parent Teacher Association on Sunday became the first African-American to take the helm of the National PTA.
Otha Thornton, a Savannah resident and former member of the Georgia PTA board of directors, was installed as National PTA president during the group’s annual convention in Cincinnati on Sunday.
“This is an exciting opportunity, and I am proud to have been elected to lead the charge for parents and teachers across the nation, and to ensure that our children have the tools and support they need to succeed,” Thornton told about 1,000 PTA members.
Thornton is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and received the Bronze Star for his combat service in Iraq in 2009 and 2010. During his time with Georgia PTA, Otha served on the Board of Directors as legislative chair and as an advisory group member for Georgia’s Partnership for Excellence in Education.
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