Georgia PTA under fire from National PTA for ouster of president

The Georgia PTA leadership continues to draw fire for a January coup that dismayed rank and file members and has led to local units considering leaving the group.

The National PTA this week cited the state chapter for noncompliance and placed it on probation.

In a letter dated March 29 letter, National PTA President Laura Bay wrote:

National PTA is deeply concerned about fractured relationships that are driving units and individuals away from Georgia PTA when engagement is often the best way to address internal state PTA problems. We worry about the long-term consequences of such fractures on the lives of Georgia’s children and the well-being of Georgia’s families.

As the AJC reported, a controlling faction of the Georgia PTA board ousted several former members including popular president Lisa-Marie Haygood. Haygood led the successful battle against the state takeover district and sought to clamp down on questionable spending and management practices within PTA, even bringing in a fraud specialist.

While her leadership won accolades and a national award, Haygood was targeted by disgruntled board members who eventually gathered enough votes to remove her and others who supported her. However, questions arose about the process, and the National PTA is not satisfied with the board’s defenses thus far. It has put Georgia PTA on probation pending resolution of its concerns.