10/10/2026
Oklahoma PTA is proud to share that one of our PTA youth members, Union High School senior Richelle Rogers, has been named to the National Parent Teacher Association Elections Committee! Congrats, Richelle! 🤩
Richelle Rogers, a 17-year-old senior at Union High School, has been selected to serve on the National PTA Elections Committee, where she will serve a three-year term helping support and oversee National PTA’s election process.
The National PTA Elections Committee plays an important role in ensuring fair, transparent, and impartial elections for the organization’s national leadership. Committee members help administer election procedures, communicate election guidelines, support candidates throughout the process, and uphold the integrity of National PTA governance.
Rogers has been actively involved in PTA advocacy and leadership throughout her life. Inspired by her family’s commitment to public education, her journey in advocacy began during the 2018 Oklahoma Teacher Walkout.
“My mom offered to have children of family and friends come over during the walkout,” Rogers said. “We homeschooled together, made signs, and went out to support our teachers. We talked with them to better understand what was happening and why it mattered.”
That experience led Rogers to become engaged in advocacy at a young age. Since then, she has traveled annually to the Oklahoma State Capitol during National Public Education Week, meeting with legislators and sharing her experiences as a student.
“I didn’t realize I was advocating when I was telling my story and explaining how decisions affected my learning environment,” Rogers said. “Advocacy is sharing your story and having a voice.”
At Union High School, Rogers has been part of efforts that helped grow PTSA membership from approximately 100 members to more than 600 members. She also assisted with the implementation of a National PTA TikTok “Create with Kindness” grant, which provided resources to help families discuss online safety, digital citizenship, and healthy communication.
Earlier this year, Rogers had the opportunity to serve as a page in Oklahoma State Senator Christi Gillespie’s office, where she gained firsthand experience observing the legislative process and learning more about government operations.
“PTA has been a constant presence throughout my life,” Rogers said. “Serving on the National PTA Elections Committee will allow me to continue advocating for students while helping ensure that members’ voices are represented through a fair and transparent election process.”
Later this week, Rogers will travel to Washington, D.C., September 25–26, to attend the National PTA Governance Retreat and leadership meetings, where she will begin her service on the committee and collaborate with PTA leaders from across the country.
Her selection reflects National PTA’s commitment to developing student leaders and ensuring youth perspectives are represented in the organization’s work to support children, families, and public education nationwide.
Founded in 1897, National PTA is the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy association, dedicated to making every child’s potential a reality through strong family engagement and advocacy for all children.
