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Multiple parents and community members defend PTA leader amid board controversy
Summary
Several parents and PTA members addressed the board to defend Noelle Cravens, a PTA president at a district elementary school, saying comments made at a prior meeting had unfairly maligned her and urging the board to protect parents who speak up.
Multiple parents and community members used the district’s oral communications period to defend PTA president Noelle Cravens of Faharee Jeffers Elementary School after remarks about her character at a prior special board meeting. Speakers urged the board to ensure parents can advocate for students without fear of retaliation.
Speakers, including Rosemary Lowry, Carlo (last name not specified), Lanae Henry and Iris Marcela Alkane, said Cravens has been a volunteer leader who helped families, promoted inclusion, supported students with disabilities and worked to connect parents and teachers. Cravens spoke herself and said she had raised concerns last year about bullying, special education students who were injured or left unsupervised, and other allegations she said the district and school had not addressed.
Several speakers said statements made by union representatives at the prior meeting were ‘‘false, petty and cowardly’’ and could chill parental advocacy. Lanae Henry and others said they had cosigned written statements in support of Cravens and urged the board to ‘‘restore’’ her reputation. No formal board action was taken; the remarks were heard during the public comment period.
Speakers asked the board to ensure the district remains a safe space for parents to raise concerns, to align actions with stated equity policies, and to avoid actions that might silence or ostracize volunteer leaders. The board did not make a formal response at the meeting.
