10/01/2026
Empowering Youth to Lead in PTA.
Great read. Thank You!
Empowering Youth to Lead in PTA
In kindergarten, my mom and I were looking for a community and we found it with our local PTA. My personal gateway was the Reflections contest, as I was a shy kid who found it easier to advocate through art and poetry than through conventional methods (such as, you know, opening my mouth and speaking).
I was eventually entrusted with the role of Arts in Education Chair for our high school PTSA Board. By the end of senior year, my very last round of Reflections, I was granted the incredible honor of the 2024 Outstanding Interpretation Award. What I said in my thank you speech led to a life-changing invitation to serve as a youth representative for the National PTA.
Serving on the National Board of Directors let me directly engage with the network of volunteers and contribute to the labor of love that goes into meaningful community change. Working alongside PTA members on committee work and seeing our impact during our Legislative Conference (LegCon) especially helped fuel my passion for amplifying young and underrepresented voices. Surrounded by welcoming, seasoned advocates, I learned to not only trust my opinion but also use it to uplift others.
To me, empowering youth means giving them real agency. Trust young people with the power to lead discussions and events, and you’ll celebrate the stories, creativity, and dedication they trust with you in return!
🎓👩🏽🎓👨🏿🎓🧑🏻🎓📣✊🏽📢🗣️🌎🤝🏾🫶🏽📚📖🏫📝✏️💡🎭🎨🖌️🖼️🎬🎶🌟
Gauri Binup grew up in Plano, TX and is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a newly-elected member of the Nominating and Leadership Recruitment Committee (NLRC). She is passionate about writing, public service, and the intersection between education and international affairs.
