{"id":75,"date":"2011-02-10T18:57:37","date_gmt":"2011-02-10T18:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mosaron.com\/ptachc\/?page_id=75"},"modified":"2026-07-16T13:37:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T13:37:41","slug":"test","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/?page_id=75","title":{"rendered":"PTA Council History"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
PTA COUNCIL HISTORY<\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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HOWARD COUNTY<\/p>\r\n

A fact often overlooked is that the Howard District was set off from Anne Arundel in 1838 to become Howard County in 1871. Our histories prior to that date are, therefore, the same.\u00a0 One of our earliest schools, Ellicott City Elementary, was built in 1888. Lisbon school opened in October 1890 and later became the first two-year high school in 1899.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The first account of anything resembling our present Parent-Teacher Associations was found in some old records assembled at the request of Mr. J. Milton Rossing, Principal of Ellicott City High School in 1926. Reference is made to a constitution drawn up prior to 1912, for an association called \u201cThe Patrons and Friends Club of The School,\u201d and in time this appears to have become \u201cPatrons and Teachers Association of Ellicott City High.<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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By 1927 most of the schools had formed local PTAs and it became apparent that a county association was needed to coordinate the efforts and goals of the individual groups. On March 10, 1927, a joint meeting of PTAs was held for the purpose of organizing a Howard County PTA. The President of Elkridge PTA, who had long championed this cause, chaired the meeting. She has since often been referred to as the \u201cMother\u201d of this Council in recognition of her untiring efforts on its behalf.<\/p>\r\n

The officers elected to head this first Howard County Parent Teacher\u2019s association were: President – Mrs. Robert Peddicord; Vice President – Mr. Edward Clark; Treasurer – Mr. Albert Nichols; Secretary – Mr. Joseph Fisher. A resolutions committee was appointed and the chairman was the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. John E. Yingling. Other members were Mr. Melvin Scott, Mrs. J. Raymond Curtis, and Mr. Steward E. Oberlin. The report of this committee was adopted later that same evening, thereby establishing the time and place of the next meeting to be held for the purpose of adopting the bylaws and constitution. This meeting was held on April 8, 1927 at Ellicott City High School and the Howard County Parent Teachers Association became official<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Interest in the Maryland and National Congresses is evidenced from this point on and on December 5, 1935, Mrs. H. Ross Coppage, MCPT President; spoke to the group on PTAs organization, aims, and efforts. She also spoke about the \u201cthree R\u2019s\u201d as she called them. Radios, Reels, and Rumble seats and the responsibility of the parent in counteracting them. On April 22, 1936, a new constitution was adopted, using for the first time the name Howard County Council of PTAs. This seems to have caused some confusion as to whether the required number of locals were in affiliation with the National Congress, but this was complied with by January of 1937.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While many of the old schools such as Dayton, Elioak, Daisy, Pfeiffers\u2019 Corner, Bethany, Alberton, Hanover, and others have disappeared, many still carry on the good work started so long ago. The PTA Council of Howard County now has 75 locals in membership out of 78 existing schools. The newest school, Guilford Park High School, began construction in April 2020 and opened in August 2024.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The PTA Council maintains liaisons with the Board of Education, provides training for new PTA leaders, directs the Reflections and Scholarship programs, and attacks problems beyond the scope of the individual PTA. Over the years it has undertaken studies through various committees in areas of vital concern such as libraries, rapid learner; physical fitness; safety; teacher retention, PTA funding assistance to schools; curriculum; health; the dropout; and kindergartens, to name a few, and has seen great advancement in most of these areas. Through the efforts of the 1964-65 Chair, a Health Advisory committee appointed by the School Board, was established. Academic Advisory Committees have also been appointed by the School Board and is comprised of parents, community members, students, and staff with a desire to work collaboratively to improve education in Howard County.\u00a0 \u00a0The Applications and Research Laboratory (ARL) has had several different identities since it opened its doors in 1968: a vocational-technical center, a tech magnet school and, since 1997, the ARL. Now, the school is a career and technology center, offering 12 different academies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Although the kindergarten program had an uphill fight in Howard County, county educators were convinced of it’s potential. Beginning in 1991, there was a mandatory half day kindergarten program and used to be an intervention for low-income families.\u00a0 It was phased into\u00a0 a full day program from 2004 to 2008. A pre-kindergarten program was invented after the full-day program and accepts children aged 1 to 5 years.<\/p>\r\n

Through the combined efforts of the Board of Education, two council Pre-school Chairman and many volunteers, the Headstart Project was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Howard County Council and the Board of Education of Howard County have developed a mutual respect and understanding over the years, thereby creating an atmosphere in which it has become possible to have the Board of Education meetings open to the public; school budget information made available; and public hearings, The Board of Education sponsored an annual conference on Education for the public, and invited the Council to participate in the planning of the program.<\/p>\r\n

It hasn\u2019t been all clear sailing, but the resolutions committee \u201cbuild better than they knew\u201d on March 10, 1927 when they said:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cResolved-that an organization be and is hereby formed to be known as \u201cThe Howard County Parent Teachers Association<\/em>\u201d (in 1972 the name was changed to PTA Council of Howard County<\/em>) whose purpose shall be to bring about a closer cooperation between the County Board of Education and the parents and teachers of Howard County Schools and to assist the Howard County Board of Education in improving the public school system of the county and to advance educational interests throughout the county.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In embracing the objects of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers, a Council assumes responsibilities that transcend boundaries, for there can be no boundaries to the concern for the problems of children and youth. Though county problems have \u201cfirst call\u201d Howard County Council (aka PTACHC)<\/em> feels justifiably proud that it has been able to provide service and leadership in the past, not only to Howard County, but also to the Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some historical facts provided by Edna Puncke, Howard County Council PTA President from 1966-67 and 1972.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Council was duly authorized as a branch of the Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers (formerly known as MD PTA) and empowered by National PTA as of March 10, 1927. During 1972, the Council became known as PTA Council of Howard County. The Council was officially incorporated as of May 19, 1976. In 2022, MD PTA lost its charter, and a new state PTA was formed and is called Free State PTA. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

History – Council Presidents of the Past<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1966 – Mrs. Martin M. Puncke (Edna)
\u201967 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Mrs. Puncke
\u201968 – \u00a0\u00a0 Abraham Bates
\u201969 – \u00a0\u00a0 William H. Shehan
\u201970 –\u00a0 \u00a0 William H. Shehan
\u201871 –\u00a0 \u00a0 William H. Shehan
\u201972 – \u00a0\u00a0 Mrs. Martin M. Puncke (Edna)
\u201973 – \u00a0\u00a0 Nathaniel H. Hoff
\u201974 – \u00a0\u00a0 Paul R. Shockey
\u201975 – \u00a0\u00a0 Richard Cook, Sr.
\u201976 – \u00a0\u00a0 Betty Flohr
\u201977 – \u00a0\u00a0 Edna Puncke
\u201978 – \u00a0\u00a0 Pat Whittier
\u201979 – \u00a0\u00a0 Mrs. Karen Federline
’80 – \u00a0\u00a0 (Feb. Pat Whittier)
\u201980 – \u00a0\u00a0 Karen Federline
\u201981 – \u00a0\u00a0 Deborah Kendig
\u201982 – \u00a0\u00a0 Irma McNeal
\u201983 – \u00a0\u00a0 Irma McNeal
\u201984 – \u00a0\u00a0 Irma McNeal\u00a0
’84-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oct. Karen Campbell
\u201985 – \u00a0\u00a0 Karen Campbell
\u201986 – \u00a0\u00a0 Sandra French\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0
\u201987 – \u00a0\u00a0 Sandra French
\u201988 – \u00a0\u00a0 Sandra French
\u201989 – \u00a0\u00a0 Jan Chastant
\u201990 – \u00a0\u00a0 Rosemary Mortimer
’91 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Rosemary Mortimer
\u201992 – \u00a0\u00a0 Ellen Rennels
\u201993 – \u00a0\u00a0 Lynn Benton
\u201994 – \u00a0\u00a0 Lynn Benton
\u201995 – \u00a0\u00a0 Judy Butler
\u201996 – \u00a0\u00a0 Virginia Charles – \u00bd term
’96 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Susan Poole 2nd<\/sup> half
\u201997 – \u00a0\u00a0 Susan Poole
\u201998 – \u00a0\u00a0 Susan Poole
\u201999 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Wanda Hurt \u2013 \u00bd term
’99 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Mary Jo Neil 2nd<\/sup> half<\/p>\r\n

2000<\/strong> – Mary Jo Neil
\u201901 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Mary Jo Neil
\u201902 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Deborah Wessner
\u201903 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Deborah Wessner
\u201904 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Deborah Wessner
\u201905 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso
\u201906 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso
\u201907 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso
\u201908 –\u00a0 \u00a0 John Hannay
\u201909 –\u00a0 \u00a0 John Hannay
\u201910 –\u00a0 \u00a0 John Hannay
’11 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Chaunfayta Hightower
’12 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Christina Delmont-Small
’13 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Christina Delmont-Small
’14 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Christina Delmont-Small
’15 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Reg Avery
\u201916 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Reg Avery
\u201917 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Vicky Cutroneo
\u201918 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Brent Loveless
\u201919 –\u00a0 \u00a0 Brent Loveless
\u00a0\u201820 –\u00a0 \u00a0Brent Loveless
\u00a0\u201921 –\u00a0 \u00a0Srinivasu Gorantla
\u00a0\u201922 –\u00a0 \u00a0Srinivasu Gorantla
\u00a0\u201923 –\u00a0 \u00a0Terri Marcus
\u00a0\u201924 –\u00a0 \u00a0Terri Marcus
\u00a0\u201925 –\u00a0 \u00a0Cat Carter
\u00a0\u201926 –\u00a0 \u00a0Karina Fisher<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PTA COUNCIL HISTORY HOWARD COUNTY A fact often overlooked is that the Howard District was set off from Anne Arundel in 1838 to become Howard County in 1871. Our histories prior to that date are, therefore, the same.\u00a0 One of … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":5,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-75","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/75","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=75"}],"version-history":[{"count":57,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/75\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10589,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/75\/revisions\/10589"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ptachc.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=75"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}