ECCC PTA History

An organizational meeting was held October 29, 1956, at Sprayberry High School. Schools represented were:

Sprayberry, Blackwell, Powers Ferry, Kennesaw, Mountain View, East Side, Sedalia Park, Elizabeth

Mrs. Norman Cory, President of Sprayberry PTA was Temporary Chairman, with Mrs. Parker Norton, 14th District Director, leading the organization. The Council was formed and named “East Cobb Council of PTAs” with dues set @ $10 per local unit. A nominating committee was elected and asked to report at the November meeting of the Association.

Presidents 1956-1972:

• 1956-58 Mrs. Mark Smith
• 1958-59 Mrs. Norman Cory – North Cobb High School added
• 1959-60 Mrs. Norman Cory
• 1060-61 Mrs. A. L. Garman – Eastvalley added
• 1961-63 Mr. E. M. Tornquist, Jr. – Acworth added
• 1963-64 Mrs. Charles G. Paramoure – Bells Ferry & East Cobb added
• 1964-65 Mr. George O. Walls
• 1965-67 Mrs. M. H. Carlile (Sue) – Awtrey, Daniell, Wheeler, Brumby & Due West added
• 1967-69 Mrs. Paul Newkirk (Ida May) (Installed by Ann Weeks – 14th Dist. Director) – Big Shanty added
• 1969-71 Mrs. Mary Hugg
• 1971-72 Mrs. Jane Damiano

At the January 24, 1972 meeting, it was voted to disband East Cobb Council of PTAs. (Only 7 of 18 PTAs had submitted dues by deadline – only four local units had delegates registered with Council. It is not clear how many of the schools were actually PTAs at this point, but it was considered not enough support from area schools & their PTAs to continue Council.)

A New Start —

May 6, 1974, organizational meeting held at Sprayberry High School. Schools represented:

Blackwell, Brumby, Powers Ferry, East Cobb, Big Shanty, Kincaid, Daniell, Eastvalley, East Side, Elizabeth, Mountain View, Wheeler, Awtrey

Billie Jo Working (presiding), Vonnie Gilstrap, Beverly Boyd and Wynelle Blough represented 14th District .

The Council was formed and named Eastern Cobb County Council of PTAs with annual dues of $20. Mrs. Herb Nichols was elected President.

The first regular meeting of the Eastern Cobb County Council was held on October 22, 1974 at Eastvalley. Mr. Kermit Keenum was present as Superintendent of Cobb County Schools.

Presidents 1974-present:

• 1974-75 Mrs. Herb Nichols (June)
• 1975-76 Mr. John Harper – resigned October, Laura Dingler completed term
• 1976-77 Laura Dingler
• 1977-80 Margie Hatfield
• 1980-82 Barbara Kell
• 1982-84 Lynda Gresham
• 1984-85 Carole Poole
• 1985-86 Barbara Derketsch
• 1986-88 Virginia Dixon
• 1988-89 Jan Watson
• 1989-91 Barbara Lester
• 1991-92 Jo Anne Taylor
• 1992-93 Becky Keith
• 1993-94 Mary Allphin
• 1994-95 Lillian Lurye
• 1995-96 Patti Di'Turu & Lillian Lurye
• 1996-97 Linda Bonstein
• 1997-98 Linda Bonstein & Cherie Eastburn
• 1998-99 Cherie Eastburn & Marty Berry
• 1999-00 Marty Berry & Lynda McCarthy
• 2000-01 Marty Berry
• 2001-02 Virginia Ackley
• 2002-03 Virginia Ackley & Christie Doak
• 2003-04 Brigitte Gerritsen van der Hoop – resigned October, Barbara Jones & Christie Doak completed term
• 2004-05 Mary Helen Harris & Pat Giuliani
• 2005-06 Mary Helen Harris & Karen Hallacy
• 2006-08 Terry Fast & Yvonne Single
• 2008-09 Amie Fann
• 2009-10 Amie Fann & Abby Shiffman

In 1992, 12 schools from ECCC PTA were transferred to help create the Tom Mathis, Sr. PTA Council.

In March 1999 the Cobb County School District adopted the policy that all schools in Cobb County would be PTA schools (Jean Banister, 14th District Director).

In 2001, Georgia PTA redistricted the state and ECCC PTA, which had previously been the 14th District, became the 9th District – which includes Carroll, Cobb, Douglas, Haralson, Paulding & Polk Counties.