Welcome to the Cult of the PTA
Inside the National PTA's radical transformation from parent advocacy to leftist indoctrination.
The National Parent Teachers Association (PTA) once existed to unite parents and teachers but now it has a new mission—pushing social justice ideology. It has become more a cult gathering preaching DEI and LGBTQ propaganda than education advocacy. Its June conference welcomes the socially enlightened to wash their feet at the altar of the ever-expanding alphabet of approved identities.
In 1897, the precursor to the PTA, the National Congress of Mothers formed. It had the purpose to promote parents and teachers working together for the benefit of children by strengthening communication and cooperation between home and school. That vision has morphed into a $24 million non-profit business focused on creating social justice warriors.
The former Executive Director of the PTA, Nathan Monell, made nearly a half-million dollars a year—he retired in 2024. Howie Berman replaced Monell in 2025. His salary is not yet publicly available. The highly paid PTA staff includes three directors, each with compensation of $300,000 and six more paid over $150,000 annually.
Berman donated thousands of dollars to Democrat politicians including Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Mark Kelly, and Jon Ossoff—not one Republican donation among them. He proudly touts his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and promotes his advocacy for social justice. Berman's Linkedin account is filled with leftist propaganda, and he's especially concerned that Florida is now prohibiting driver's license exams in languages other than English. Berman said he was "Floored by this news. How does this make us better as a society when we intentionally exclude?" Clearly, he doesn't understand the safety aspects surrounding the requirement for drivers to be able to read English. Nor does he understand the purpose of borders, apparently—they intentionally exclude based on national priorities like security and economic concerns.
National PTA Conference Discusses Sexuality
The National PTA will hold its annual convention this June in Pittsburgh and the agenda reads like a leftist extremist's bible.
One of the key events: "Understanding and Supporting Expansive LGBTQ+ identities." Participants will receive instruction on "intersex experiences and nonbinary gender identities to bisexual+ identities, asexuality and aromanticism."
Another session, "Organizing our Communities to Defend Students and Strengthen Public Education," will indoctrinate activists in how to "defend public schools against book bans, funding cuts, voucher and privatization schemes, and threats to immigrant students and families."
The PTA social justice conference wouldn't be complete without its DEI devotionals. On the altar this year: a "Diversity and Inclusion Breakfast" featuring DEI award ceremonies for the faithful, and a special session on "Aligning PTA Advocacy with School Equity Goals." To top it off, the "Inclusive Advocacy for All PTAs" workshop will examine inclusion through the lens of LGBTQIA+ communities and "culturally responsive practices."
Welcome to the Cult of the PTA.
Other DEI programs pushed by the PTA include: Let's Talk about Bias, Let's Talk about Microaggressions, and Language Inclusivity—which promotes the idea that PTA leaders shouldn't be required to speak English.
Do Local PTAs Support the National Agenda?
Local PTAs are often run by volunteers who simply want to improve their local schools and parent-teacher relations. Yet PTA participants most likely don't realize that a substantial portion of their dues finances the National PTA's extremist agenda. Local PTAs set their own dues, typically ranging from $10-$50 annually. They are required to send $5.25 of every membership to the state and national PTA organizations.
Do these local PTAs support the national group's agenda—or even know it exists?
In addition to the pro DEI and LGBT advocacy, the PTA also fights to limit Second Amendment rights. They want to ban commonly used guns and require universal background checks. The PTA uses the term "gun violence" to advocate for attacking constitutional rights, which seems to have little to do with educational outcomes. And after all, an inanimate object doesn't cause violence, the user does. Yet they don't focus on stricter punishments for criminals. The PTA wants to punish law abiding citizens.
The PTA has strayed so far left that in 2023 they sent a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona demanding boys be allowed to compete in girls' sports. They called opponents of their view on the topic "transphobic."
Parents deserve an organization that fights for academic excellence, safe schools, and strong families, not one that lectures on DEI and lobbies to put boys in girls' sports. Instead of paying dues to the PTA, parents should donate school supplies or give a teacher a gift card to his or her favorite restaurant. Volunteer at your school. Foster better relationships with your school's teachers and administrators by communicating directly with them on a regular basis.
Parents need to opt out of the Cult of the PTA.
MORE COVERAGE OF THE FIGHT TO SAVE EDUCATION
Should Good Schools Be Dismantled? The Campaign to Destroy an Excellent School in the Name of Equity
Pushing Back Against Communist Propaganda: Teachers, Leave Them Kids Alone
Fighting Back and Winning: Virginia Judge Rules Against Leftist School Board for Destroying Records
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