CECPTA: History
Every Child. One Voice.
History of CECPTA: How we started...
The Carrollton Early Childhood PTA just celebrated its 50th Anniversary! It
was started April 15, 1958 when a group of about 20-30 Valwood patrons
formed the Valwood Park Elementary Preschool PTA. The six founders
were: Kathy Kearns, elected the first president; Sue Goodwin, Evelyn
Derrick, Margaret Chronister, Mary Schecter and Betty Elliot. The official
charter was received on August 4, 1958, making the 7th charter in this
area. During the next school year, 1959-60, the Carrollton Council of
Parents and Teachers was organized, as well as three other preschool
Parent-Teacher Associations at Good Elementary, Farmers Branch
Elementary, and Carrollton Elementary, making a total of 10 chartered
PTA's in the Carrollton Council.
The Valwood Park Preschool PTA soon became a "community"
organization, instead of being affiliated with a school, and was renamed
Farmers Branch Preschool PTA. In 1968-69, it became the
Carrolton-Farmers Branch Preschool PTA. It remained as such until
1986-87, when Farmers Branch and Carrollton amicably split and Kathy
Cole and Debbie Thompson helped form a separate Farmers Branch
Preschool PTA. The Carrollton Preschool PTA numbered 80 that year and
has grown to a membership of over 140. In 1993, the name was changed
to the Carrollton Early Childhood PTA to comply with the National PTA's
mandate.
Carrollton Early Childhood PTA has received numerous state and district
awards. In recent years, we have received ten state awards for
Membership, including to Golden Apple Awards. We have also received
Highest Honors from district for Membership, Youth Protection, Parent
Education, Historian Book, Yearbook, Preschool Evaluation/Achievement,
Drug and Alcohol Awareness, Council Attendance and State Membership.
We are also a Dan Forth Award Finalist for the 1990-91 parent education.
We proudly participate in the District, State and National Congress of
Parents and Teachers. Texas PTA has been in existence for over 80
years, and the national organization boasts its roots in 1897 when Phoebe
Hearst and Alice Birney pioneered the start of the PTA.

Information submitted by Jhana Dudly, Past Historian