HOWARD COUNTY
A fact often overlooked is that the Howard District was set off from Anne Arundel in 1838 to become Howard County in 1871. Our histories prior to that date are, therefore, the same. One of our earliest schools, Ellicott City Elementary, was built in 1888. Lisbon school opened in October 1890 and later became the first two-year high school in 1899.
By 1927 most of the schools had formed local PTAs and it became apparent that a county association was needed to coordinate the efforts and goals of the individual groups. On March 10, 1927, a joint meeting of PTAs was held for the purpose of organizing a Howard County PTA. The President of Elkridge PTA, who had long championed this cause, chaired the meeting. She has since often been referred to as the “Mother” of this Council in recognition of her untiring efforts on its behalf.
The officers elected to head this first Howard County Parent Teacher’s association were: President – Mrs. Robert Peddicord; Vice President – Mr. Edward Clark; Treasurer – Mr. Albert Nichols; Secretary – Mr. Joseph Fisher. A resolutions committee was appointed and the chairman was the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. John E. Yingling. Other members were Mr. Melvin Scott, Mrs. J. Raymond Curtis, and Mr. Steward E. Oberlin. The report of this committee was adopted later that same evening, thereby establishing the time and place of the next meeting to be held for the purpose of adopting the bylaws and constitution. This meeting was held on April 8, 1927 at Ellicott City High School and the Howard County Parent Teachers Association became official.
Interest in the Maryland and National Congresses is evidenced from this point on and on December 5, 1935, Mrs. H. Ross Coppage, MCPT President; spoke to the group on PTAs organization, aims, and efforts. She also spoke about the “three R’s” as she called them. Radios, Reels, and Rumble seats and the responsibility of the parent in counteracting them. On April 22, 1936, a new constitution was adopted, using for the first time the name Howard County Council of PTAs. This seems to have caused some confusion as to whether the required number of locals were in affiliation with the National Congress, but this was complied with by January of 1937.
While many of the old schools such as Dayton, Elioak, Daisy, Pfeiffers’ Corner, Bethany, Alberton, Hanover, and others have disappeared, many still carry on the good work started so long ago. The PTA Council of Howard County now has 75 locals in membership out of 78 existing schools. The newest school, Guilford Park High School, began construction in April 2020 and opened in August 2024.
The PTA Council maintains liaisons with the Board of Education, provides training for new PTA leaders, directs the Reflections and Scholarship programs, and attacks problems beyond the scope of the individual PTA. Over the years it has undertaken studies through various committees in areas of vital concern such as libraries, rapid learner; physical fitness; safety; teacher retention, PTA funding assistance to schools; curriculum; health; the dropout; and kindergartens, to name a few, and has seen great advancement in most of these areas. Through the efforts of the 1964-65 Chair, a Health Advisory committee appointed by the School Board, was established. Academic Advisory Committees have also been appointed by the School Board and is comprised of parents, community members, students, and staff with a desire to work collaboratively to improve education in Howard County. The Applications and Research Laboratory (ARL) has had several different identities since it opened its doors in 1968: a vocational-technical center, a tech magnet school and, since 1997, the ARL. Now, the school is a career and technology center, offering 12 different academies.
Although the kindergarten program had an uphill fight in Howard County, county educators were convinced of it’s potential. Beginning in 1991, there was a mandatory half day kindergarten program and used to be an intervention for low-income families. It was phased into a full day program from 2004 to 2008. A pre-kindergarten program was invented after the full-day program and accepts children aged 1 to 5 years.
Through the combined efforts of the Board of Education, two council Pre-school Chairman and many volunteers, the Headstart Project was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs.
The Howard County Council and the Board of Education of Howard County have developed a mutual respect and understanding over the years, thereby creating an atmosphere in which it has become possible to have the Board of Education meetings open to the public; school budget information made available; and public hearings, The Board of Education sponsored an annual conference on Education for the public, and invited the Council to participate in the planning of the program.
It hasn’t been all clear sailing, but the resolutions committee “build better than they knew” on March 10, 1927 when they said:
“Resolved-that an organization be and is hereby formed to be known as “The Howard County Parent Teachers Association” (in 1972 the name was changed to PTA Council of Howard County) whose purpose shall be to bring about a closer cooperation between the County Board of Education and the parents and teachers of Howard County Schools and to assist the Howard County Board of Education in improving the public school system of the county and to advance educational interests throughout the county.”
In embracing the objects of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers, a Council assumes responsibilities that transcend boundaries, for there can be no boundaries to the concern for the problems of children and youth. Though county problems have “first call” Howard County Council (aka PTACHC) feels justifiably proud that it has been able to provide service and leadership in the past, not only to Howard County, but also to the Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers.
Some historical facts provided by Edna Puncke, Howard County Council PTA President from 1966-67 and 1972.
The Council was duly authorized as a branch of the Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers (formerly known as MD PTA) and empowered by National PTA as of March 10, 1927. In 2022, MD PTA lost its charter, and a new state PTA was formed and is called Free State PTA. During 1972, the Council became known as PTA Council of Howard County. The Council was officially incorporated as of May 19, 1976.
History – Council Presidents of the Past
1966 – Mrs. Martin M. Puncke (Edna)
’67 – Mrs. Puncke
’68 – Abraham Bates
’69 – William H. Shehan
’70 – William H. Shehan
‘71 – William H. Shehan
’72 – Mrs. Martin M. Puncke (Edna)
’73 – Nathaniel H. Hoff
’74 – Paul R. Shockey
’75 – Richard Cook, Sr.
’76 – Betty Flohr
’77 – Edna Puncke
’78 – Pat Whittier
’79 – Mrs. Karen Federline
’80 – (Feb. Pat Whittier)
’80 – Karen Federline
’81 – Deborah Kendig
’82 – Irma McNeal
’83 – Irma McNeal
’84 – Irma McNeal
’84- Oct. Karen Campbell
’85 – Karen Campbell
’86 – Sandra French
’87 – Sandra French
’88 – Sandra French
’89 – Jan Chastant
’90 – Rosemary Mortimer
’91 – Rosemary Mortimer
’92 – Ellen Rennels
’93 – Lynn Benton
’94 – Lynn Benton
’95 – Judy Butler
’96 – Virginia Charles – ½ term
’96 – Susan Poole 2nd half
’97 – Susan Poole
’98 – Susan Poole
’99 – Wanda Hurt – ½ term
’99 – Mary Jo Neil 2nd half
2000 – Mary Jo Neil
’01 – Mary Jo Neil
’02 – Deborah Wessner
’03 – Deborah Wessner
’04 – Deborah Wessner
’05 – Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso
’06 – Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso
’07 – Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso
’08 – John Hannay
’09 – John Hannay
’10 – John Hannay
’11 – Chaunfayta Hightower
’12 – Christina Delmont-Small
’13 – Christina Delmont-Small
’14 – Christina Delmont-Small
’15 – Reg Avery
’16 – Reg Avery
’17 – Vicky Cutroneo
’18 – Brent Loveless
’19 – Brent Loveless
‘20 – Brent Loveless
’21 – Srinivasu Gorantla
’22 – Srinivasu Gorantla
’23 – Terri Marcus
’24 – Terri Marcus