Middletown Parent Leader Helps Secure $10,000 National PTA Grant
Posted Date: 09/25/26 (02:00 PM)
A Middletown parent leader has helped secure a $10,000 national grant to expand family advocacy in public schools throughout Connecticut.
Melinda Gladden, a Spencer Elementary School parent, and the Connecticut PTA Vice President of Inclusivity and Outreach, helped support the Connecticut PTA in their efforts to secure the competitive grant from the National PTA.
The announcement was made at the Connecticut PTA Symposium and Expo held Saturday, September 19 at Quinnipiac University in Hamden.
The grant funding will support a new statewide "Train the Trainer" initiative, which is designed to broaden access, increase representation, and foster equitable engagement across public school communities and local PTA units in Connecticut.
"This has been a pivotal year of expanding our reach to ensure every family feels seen, heard, and supported," said Gladden. "Securing this grant allows us to keep that momentum going through quarterly training sessions across our school communities. Our goal remains clear: to unlock every child’s potential by empowering families and educators to advocate together.
In addition to Gladden, representing Middletown Public Schools and Spencer Elementary School, parents from Bielefield Elementary and Farm Hill Elementary Schools were also on hand for this event to represent the District, highlighting an ongoing community effort to deepen home-school collaboration and elevate parent voices in local educational decision-making.
Melinda Gladden, a Spencer Elementary School parent, and the Connecticut PTA Vice President of Inclusivity and Outreach, helped support the Connecticut PTA in their efforts to secure the competitive grant from the National PTA.
The announcement was made at the Connecticut PTA Symposium and Expo held Saturday, September 19 at Quinnipiac University in Hamden.
The grant funding will support a new statewide "Train the Trainer" initiative, which is designed to broaden access, increase representation, and foster equitable engagement across public school communities and local PTA units in Connecticut.
"This has been a pivotal year of expanding our reach to ensure every family feels seen, heard, and supported," said Gladden. "Securing this grant allows us to keep that momentum going through quarterly training sessions across our school communities. Our goal remains clear: to unlock every child’s potential by empowering families and educators to advocate together.
In addition to Gladden, representing Middletown Public Schools and Spencer Elementary School, parents from Bielefield Elementary and Farm Hill Elementary Schools were also on hand for this event to represent the District, highlighting an ongoing community effort to deepen home-school collaboration and elevate parent voices in local educational decision-making.