Thomas named 2013-14 NC PTA principal of the year

Chad Thomas, principal of Bailey Middle School, was named the 2013-14 North Carolina Parent Teacher Association Principal of the Year at a ceremony Friday in Winston-Salem, said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials.

Thomas was recognized by the North Carolina PTA, the state's oldest and largest volunteer organization advocating for the education, health, safety and success of all children and youth while building strong families and communities. He was honored for being a voice for all children, making membership available for all families and promoting school unity at Bailey.

"I thought I was one of several in the state," said Thomas. "I didn't know that I was the only one in the state. This is a great honor to be recognized for the wonderful (Parent Teacher Student Association) we have here at Bailey Middle."

Without Thomas' knowledge, his assistant principals along with the PTSA leadership submitted the nomination. The North Carolina PTA then selected Thomas from applications submitted from across the state.

Family participation has increased since Thomas arrived at Bailey. When he came to the school in the 2012-13 school year, PTSA membership was at 1,000 members. This year, the membership has risen to 1,500. The school will receive an Acorn Award for the accomplishment.

"It is important to have the teachers on the board because the fundraisers and supply drives support them," said Thomas. "They need to have a say in what we are doing for them."

The Bailey Middle PTSA included these qualities in their nomination about Thomas and his involvement with the school and PTSA:

• Thomas is truly a voice for all children. He has developed such a rapport with students, staff and families that he inspires commitment, respect and hard work and he does so by example.
• Rather than make PTSA membership appear to some families as an elite group, Thomas worked with the PTSA to include all families in the Bronco community.
• Thomas is a participant in our PTSA. He's willing to put himself out there, being accessible and showing students, staff and parents alike that he is one of the team.
• He promotes school unity by personally making time weekly to meet with the PTSA. These meetings promote a collaboration of ideas, not simply a report of one view.

“This is the smoothest and most effective PTA I have been around,” Thomas said. “They are supportive of what I want. They make suggestions but trust me in deciding what we want. It they all really believe it benefits the students they fully support me. We have a really good relationship.”

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