Georgia church member is first black male to become national PTA president
Otha Thornton (Photo by Jon-Michael Sullivan, via mdjonline.com)
11Alive in Atlanta reports:
He is Georgia-born, Georgia-raised, and a Georgia resident. Now Otha Thornton has taken one of the most pivotal posts in American education.
Last month, Thornton was named the president of the national PTA (Parent Teacher Association). He is the first African-American male to hold that position.
“It gives me an opportunity to serve our nation and serve our children,” Thornton said.During the day Thornton works at Fort Stewart Military Base, overseeing battle simulation in the classroom as a private contractor. He holds the PTA position as a side job — and as a volunteer.A Morehouse graduate, Thornton spent his first adult chapter in the military, most recent leading the draw-down of forces in Iraq. He was most moved by his work with the Iraqi children.
“Just working with the kids and seeing the lack of resources some of them had,” Thornton said, “we were able to bring kids out of the war-torn cities of Iraq, bring them to the base, and give them a safe place every Saturday.”
See the full story, and read Thornton’s bio on the National PTA’s website.
Thornton and his family attend the Richmond Hill Church of Christ near Savannah, Ga. Before moving to Fort Stewart, near Hinesville, Ga., the family worshiped with the West End Church of Christ in Atlanta.
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