PTA advocate recognized by White House

A grandmother and former president of the DeKalb County Council of PTAs has been recognized by the White House for her school advocacy.

Each year, the U.S. president selects a dozen "Champions of Change" from across the country. Deirdre Pierce was selected this year for her advocacy of the renovation of her neighborhood high school with a career and technology wing and auditorium. The school board wound up allocating money for all schools to have the same thing, according to the announcement.

Pierce, who is now a Georgia PTA district director over DeKalb, Newton and Rockdale counties, is a retired flight attendant. She worked 15 years as a substitute teacher in DeKalb, where her children and grandchildren attended. Information: www.whitehouse.gov.