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Schools

Saddleback Valley PTAs Win State Awards for Developing Leaders

Both the Saddleback Valley Council of PTAs and Laguna Hills High School PTSA will be honored April 30.

Two local PTAs have been recognized for excellence in training future leaders by the California State PTA.

The Saddleback Valley Council of PTAs and the Laguna Hills High School PTSA will receive the 2011 California State PTA Spotlight Award for Leadership Development at the group’s statewide conference in Long Beach next month. Awards will be presented on stage during the convention in front of more than 3,000 delegates.

“We are thrilled to be recognized for the work we accomplish on behalf of children,” said Molly O’Grady, president of the Saddleback Valley Council PTA, which is made up of 25 PTAs at schools in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. “We’re one of the few councils that offer the kind of training we do.”

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The Saddleback Valley Council of PTAs was honored for its yearlong leadership development program, which trains parents who serve as PTA officers at schools in Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita and Trabuco Canyon. Each year, the council trains 150-200 people, using specialized workshops as well as fun activities such as  “PTA Jeopardy,” O’Grady said.

Laguna Hills High School PTSA’s award is for its leadership program for students called I Can Make A Difference.

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“This program grows tomorrow’s leaders and promotes community involvement,” said PTSA President Chris Mackey. “The community, city council members, and board of education trustees—along with our principal and student leaders—collaborate in making this conference a success.”

Leaders from the Saddleback Valley Council and Laguna Hills High groups will also lead a workshop at the state convention to train other PTAs about their leadership development strategies, O’Grady said.

Both the Saddleback Valley Council of PTAs and the Laguna Hills High School PTSA are part of the California State PTA and National PTA, a 114-year-old household name and the nation’s largest volunteer association working on issues affecting education, youth and families. Local PTAs in middle and high school call themselves PTSAs to welcome and encourage student members’ involvement.

The fourth district of the PTA, which represents Orange County, is the largest PTA chapter in the nation.

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