Dwight Hunter becomes the second male president of Tennessee PTA beginning his term as president of the Tennessee Congress of Parents and Teachers Inc., also known as Tennessee PTA, on July 1. The first male president of Tennessee PTA was Billy Davis who served as state PTA president from 1987-1989.
Mr. Hunter lives in Chattanooga with his family. He started his PTA journey at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences serving as president of the CSAS PTSA in 2004. One of his first acts of PTA advocacy as CSAS president was approaching the Hamilton County Commission to ask for and to secure funding to repair the school building’s roof.
He served as president of the Hamilton County Council of PTAs from 2013-2015.
Tennessee PTA was established in 1911 and has a legacy of advocating for all children and families. Mr. Hunter’s advocacy focus will be on increased diversity, equity and inclusion for all; thereby, increasing participation in local PTA units throughout the state.
Mr. Hunter is a proponent of the community PTA unit concept - units not associated with schools - that provide community members access to advocating for children and families even if those members do not have any students in schools. “Too often,” Mr. Hunter said, “people equate PTA membership with a school when all of us are involved with the education of our children and youth within a strong education system. PTA is connected advocacy from the local unit communities to the state and to the national level. Everyone has a place in PTA from school parents and caregivers to community citizens.”
Mr. Hunter served on the Tennessee PTA board of directors as vice president of advocacy twice, vice president of membership, parliamentarian, and president-elect. His first position was public relations committee chair. The social media channels used by Tennessee PTA were started up by Mr. Hunter and connecting through social media and other communications channels will be a priority. “I plan to create several blog posts,” Mr. Hunter said.