National PTA Revokes Charter of Maryland PTA – NBC4 Washington

The National Parent Teacher Association revoked the charter of its Maryland chapter three days after a News4 I-Team investigation revealed a series of allegations of mismanagement and a series of recent criminal charges against the Maryland PTA president in unrelated cases.

“It is with deep regret that I must inform you that the Board of Directors of National PTA has voted to revoke the charter of the Maryland PTA effective immediately,” said a letter from National PTA president Leslie  Boggs to local PTA councils in Maryland. Boggs’ announcement said there were failures by the Maryland PTA to provide financial information, failure to provide information about its operations and set elections for leadership.    

The National PTA had placed its Maryland chapter on probation in May, alleging failures by the Maryland PTA officials to properly follow bylaws, rude and disrespectful behavior, and a series of resignations. In her letter to local PTA leaders,  Boggs said, “As you know, National PTA has attempted to work closely with the Maryland PTA for more than a year to bring it into compliance with the National PTA Standards of Affiliation Policy. We were not able to achieve this objective.”

The National PTA will now oversee and help serve the hundreds of local PTAs in Maryland, including the 196 PTAs in Montgomery County.

“It’s a relief. We’ve been battling for over a year,” Montgomery County PTA Council President Cynthia  Simonson said. “But it’s also sad.”   

The News4 I-Team investigation found the Maryland state PTA had suffered years of complaints of mismanagement, disputes and financial problems. Signs of trouble and dissension inside the organization surfaced in late 2019, when the then newly elected president reported finding problems at the Glen Burnie offices. In an annual report to local members, leaders of the PTA reported finding doors broken, papers shredded, vandalism and a $95,000 certificate of deposit — which had been earmarked for building emergencies and upgrades — cashed without the requisite approval of the state board.

The annual report for 2019 said the Maryland PTA’s bank balance had plummeted below zero, to a deficit of $68.16. 

After a quick series of resignations, a new president, LaTonja  Carrera, took over the organization in November. As she attempted to save the organization, Carrera was also facing newly filed criminal charges unrelated to the PTA. The I-Team found Carrera was charged in two separate theft cases during the same month she took over as Maryland PTA president. Her attorney said she has been falsely accused. During an interview with the I-Team, Carrera would not comment on the charges, but did say, “My personal business has nothing to do with my ability to run Maryland state PTA.”

In a statement to the I-Team about the National PTA announcement about decertifying the Maryland chapter, Carrera said, “I personally believe the revocation of the affiliation agreement is retaliation against my revelation of a plot of individuals affiliated with National PTA attempting to mismanage and bankrupt our organization. Leslie Boggs has not once reached out, said hi, or offered any support to me as Maryland PTA president. I find all of her public statements to be disingenuous and look forward to revealing the behind-the-scenes truth in the near future.”

“One of the things for restructure was that all communications were to be run through the support team,” Boggs told the I-Team Friday. “They were not. So, it came to the point of impasse that we knew leadership was not willing to do what we asked them to do.”

Carrera said the leaders of the former Maryland PTA will continue operating a nonprofit and will attempt to serve some school groups, including athletic groups and bands.

Statement from Carrera:  

“The nonprofit corporation is still open for business. The PTA brand is limited, and local…