Twenty-six parents representing the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) at each of the seven public schools on Anguilla met on Monday 8 December 2025 at the Teachers’ Resource Centre (TRC) in The Valley for the first ever islandwide ‘Strategise and Socialise Session’ for PTAs. The initiative was a collaborative effort of the Department of Education and the two parent- delegates, Ms. Keischa Brooks and Mr. Kenroy Herbert, who attended the 2025 Regional Symposium and Policy Dialogue on Transforming Education and the launch of the Caribbean Council of National Parent-Teacher Associations (CCNPTA) .
According to Ms. Brooks, Chairperson of the Strategise and Socialise Session for PTAs and President of the PTA at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School (ALHCS), “[t]he goal of the session was to position Anguilla’s PTAs for a cutting-edge future, where, collectively, we can serve as genuine partners to schools, the government, corporate stakeholders, and community leaders in support of our children’s success. It will also allow us to have a say at the regional level as part of the CCNPTA.”
The Strategise and Socialise Session for PTAs familiarised PTA reps with some of the key issues that had been covered at the Regional Symposium and Policy Dialogue on Transforming Education. Topics included PTA Leadership, Parenting in a Digital Age and Advocating for Learners with Diverse Needs.
Also on the agenda was the development of a National PTA (NPTA) in Anguilla that would improve local collaboration among schools and interaction with other PTAs on a regional level. This suggestion was met with strong and enthusiastic support from participants. Consequently, a rep from each PTA volunteered to work on the NPTA Steering Committee that would guide the eventual development of a National PTA.
It was agreed that the Steering Committee would comprise founding advocates Ms. Keischa Brooks and Mr. Kenroy Herbert along with the following volunteers – Ms. Julianne Leveret (AARPS), Ms. Andrea Brown (ATHPS), Ms. Amba Louis (VPS), Ms. Sheila Bryan (OKPS), Dr Timmarah Hodge (VVPS), Ms. Casleen Proctor (MVPS) and Ms. Twyla Richardson-Thomas (ALHCS). It was agreed that the first order of business for the Steering Committee would be to develop policies and by-laws for the functioning of a National PTA.
The Department of Education officials in attendance including Mrs. Susan Smith, Education Officer Primary and Pre-Primary and Chief Education Officer Mr. Bren Romney were pleased with the outcome of the Strategise and Socialise Session. In particular, Mr. Romney confirmed that the Education Act not only referenced but actually encouraged the formation of a National PTA as it can improve inclusivity, advance efficiency as one PTA learns from the next, and help nurture a collaborative teaching learning environment.
Similarly, Ms. Jocelyn Johnson, Principal Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development, congratulated the PTAs, remarking, “[t]he strategy meeting was truly heartening. It was inspiring to see every school represented and fully committed… I am confident that the collaboration and momentum witnessed will lay a solid foundation for this national initiative and positively shape the future of our schools and families. I commend Ms. Brooks and Mr. Herbert for their leadership on this project and, on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development, extend my very best wishes to the entire team as they continue this vital work.”