Parent Teacher Association Receives National Honors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 9/18/25

DYSART SCHOOLS - Freedom Traditional Academy’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has been recognized as a 2024-2026 National PTA School of Excellence. The designation celebrates PTAs and their affiliated schools that go above and beyond to build a welcoming school community where all families support student success.

To be considered for the School of Excellence designation, Freedom’s PTA and administration team had to make a year-long commitment to identify and implement an action plan for school improvement based on one of the National PTA Standards.  In June 2024, they enrolled in the program, choosing to focus on Communication, which, according to the Standards, challenged the school to “engage in proactive, timely, and two-way communication so that all families can easily understand and contribute to their child’s educational experience.”  

Freedom PTA President Amy Hues explains why they decided on this particular standard, “As this was the first year Freedom Traditional Academy utilized ParentSquare, it provided an excellent opportunity to enhance all avenues of communication.”

At the start of the school year, the PTA conducted listening sessions with teachers, students, and parents.  They then developed a feedback-based strategy, which was implemented a few months later in November.  The PTA conducted surveys both before and after enacting their communication improvement plan in order to track the results.  A detailed report of their process and successful outcome was then submitted to the National PTA in June 2025, concluding a year of robust work.  In August, they received the news that Freedom Traditional Academy had been named a National PTA School of Excellence. 

Hues proudly acknowledges that this honor was a joint effort, saying, “Freedom PTA earning the National School of Excellence designation is a testament to the collaborative efforts between families, administration, and the wider community.  It underscores our commitment to fostering strong relationships and building a supportive educational environment.”

Established in 2014, the National PTA School of Excellence recognition program opens the lines of communication and critical thinking within school communities to make data-driven decisions that yield positive, long-term results.  School of Excellence is committed to supporting and recognizing partnerships between local PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.