As the Department of Education and all schools gear up for the start of the 2026-2027 Academic Year, the Department is pleased to welcome the newly elected executive of the National PTA to a collaborative partnership in education.
Elections for Anguilla’s first-ever National PTA were successfully held on 16 July 2026, following more than ten months of effort by dedicated members of PTAs from across the primary and secondary education sectors.
The newly installed executive comprises President, Mrs. Twyla Richardson Thomas (ALHCS); Vice-President, Dr. Timarah Hodge (VVPS); Secretary, Mrs. Khera Gumbs (AARPS); Treasurer, Ms. Andrea Brown (ATHPS); Assistant Treasurer, Mrs. Kenny-Anne Proctor-Benjamin (ALHCSi); and Public Relations Officer, Ms. Sheila Bryan (OKPS), along with Trustees Ms. Keischa Brooks (ALHCSi) and Mr. Kenroy Herbert (VVPSii).
The journey towards the establishment of the National PTA began during the previous academic year, when Ms. Keischa Brooks and Mr. Kenroy Herbert joined the Anguilla delegation, including the Honourable Minister of Social Development and Education, in Barbados from 30 September to 2 October 2025 for the Regional Symposium and Policy Dialogue on Transforming Education. At the event, the President of the Caribbean Council of National Parent-Teacher Associations (CCNPTA) emphasised the importance of collective action among parents and professional educators, alongside government and other stakeholders, to support reform, innovation and transformation in education.
The consensus emerging from that meeting was that Anguilla would work towards building strategic collaboration among PTAs. The first activity was the development of a database confirming the executive membership and contact details for all PTAs in the public sector at the primary and secondary levels. PTAs at private schools and home schools were also invited to participate.
On 8 December 2025, PTA executives were invited to a “Socialise and Strategise” session to meet and discuss the concept of a national PTA. Following that session, a Steering Committee, led by Founding Members Brooks and Herbert, was established to develop Bylaws for the operation of a National PTA. This process ultimately culminated in the election of an executive for Anguilla’s first-ever National PTA.
President of the ANPTA, Mrs. Twyla Richardson Thomas, commented that “Anguilla’s National PTA is the beginning of an important new chapter—one built on partnership, advocacy, service, and a shared commitment… We will support our educators and schools, encourage academic achievement, and advocate for initiatives that positively impact families across our island.” The President went on to issue a rallying cry to all parents, saying: “Your voice matters, your participation matters. Together, let us create stronger families, stronger schools, and stronger communities.”
Trustee Ms. Keischa Brooks noted that she was honoured to be part of the fledgling ANPTA, saying: “I am excited about the work ahead and confident that, through collaboration and a shared commitment, the ANPTA can make a meaningful contribution to education in Anguilla. Our goal is to ensure that parents and teachers are empowered to play an active role in the educational journey of every child, while creating an environment where students are encouraged and inspired to reach their full potential. As a body, we look forward to empowering parents, supporting teachers and inspiring students.”
The ANPTA executive considers the election and initial establishment activities to be a soft launch and has confirmed that a more substantive activity is being planned for the first term.
