2026 Advocacy Award Winners

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2026 Outstanding Advocacy Awards

National PTA is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2026 Outstanding Advocacy Awards!

The annual awards honor state, local and individual PTA advocates for taking action to improve the education, health, safety and well-being of every child.

Advocacy Award

Outstanding State PTA Advocacy Award

New York State PTA


When federal funding for universal free school meals ended in June 2022, New York State PTA focused its advocacy efforts on securing funding in the New York state budget for school meals for all students in New York. New York State PTA has worked extensively on the issue and achieved partial wins, but going into the 2025 legislative session, a significant student population in their state was still without access to school meals. New York State PTA conducted substantial advocacy activities, including lobby days in their state capital, a virtual state-wide legislative summit to train PTA leaders to meet with legislators, multiple media interviews and press conferences with coalition partners and supportive legislators, social media and email campaigns, creating educational materials and infographics, testifying to the state legislature, meeting weekly with state leaders and collaborating with partner associations and their governor in their efforts. Thanks to the efforts of New York State PTA, in the final enacted state budget, all students—in public and independent and private and religious schools (if they participate in the federal school lunch program)—now have free breakfast and lunch in New York state.

About the Award 

The Outstanding State PTA Advocacy of the Year Award is awarded annually to one State PTA that through their dedication, leadership & efforts positively affected legislative and/or regulatory policy aligned with National PTA’s public policy agenda. 

Outstanding Local PTA Advocacy Award

Double Eagle Elementary PTA (Albuquerque, N.M.)


Double Eagle Elementary PTA is committed to advocating for every student by identifying and addressing the needs that most directly impact academic achievement, emotional well-being and equitable access to resources. In the past year, their PTA partnered with teachers and administrators to implement three major initiatives, including improving student math scores through a pilot instructional program; decreasing bullying and improving student behavior through social-emotional education; and improving mind, body and wellness while increasing family engagement. Each initiative was data-driven, collaborative and scalable with clear results. By collaborating with educators, supporting research-based programs and setting measurable goals, their PTA helped improve both academic performance and school culture. Through the initiatives, Double Eagle Elementary PTA demonstrated that advocacy is more than raising funds—it’s about driving meaningful change—and they proved that when PTAs and schools work together, every child truly has the opportunity to soar.

About the Award 

The Outstanding Local PTA Advocacy of the Year Award is awarded annually to one local, district, council or regional PTA that through their dedication, leadership & efforts positively affected legislative and/or regulatory policy aligned with National PTA’s public policy agenda. 

Shirley Igo Advocate of the Year Award

Devin Brown (Pearsontown Elementary PTA, Durham, N.C.)


As chair of Pearsontown Elementary PTA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, Brown has worked to ensure every parent, caregiver and child—especially those from historically excluded groups—has equitable access to communication, learning and inclusion. Under Brown’s leadership, the DEI Committee and African-American Black Children Community (AABCs) executed a year-long advocacy plan that included parent-led curriculum and testing workshops; a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration that increased participation by 10%; Black History Month “Celebrating Our Melting Pot” events with student art, music and history displays; a Black Fathers Read-In and STEM sessions led by Black mothers; PTA board, teacher and staff DEI trainings; monthly “Relax & Chat” meetings offering social support and resource sharing; and collaboration with local colleges for enrichment opportunities. Each action connected families to school life, strengthened cultural pride and removed barriers to engagement—turning advocacy into everyday practice, increasing membership diversity and improving morale and student success. By meeting families where they are, building trust through empathy and empowering them to speak for themselves, Brown’s leadership reflects Shirley Igo’s legacy of advocacy through connection, compassion and community.

About the Award 

The Shirley Igo Advocate of the Year Award is awarded annually to one individual who most exemplifies the qualities that made one of PTA’s greatest child advocate leaders, former National PTA President Shirley Igo, a true advocate for all children. Shirley was a model of public service and volunteerism throughout her life. She was an impassioned and compassionate leader, dedicated to moving PTA forward and committed to ensuring that others would follow. 

Outstanding Youth Advocate of the Year Award

Anagha Sainath (American High School PTSA, Fremont, Calif.)


Sainath’s goal with her advocacy has been to bring attention to the crisis faced by school districts in California that are underfunded despite extremely high costs of living. Gaps in funding due to the design of California’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) have real major unintended impacts for these school districts ranging from inability to attract and retain teachers, invest in educational technologies and expand programming for disadvantaged students. Sainath has worked to raise awareness state-wide of how the current funding formula disadvantages middle-income districts; mobilize students, parents and policymakers to pursue constructive, data-driven reforms; advocate for legislative and administrative changes; and led a student team to come up with creative ideas and solutions. Her approach has been grounded in constructive dialogue with a mix of creativity and data-driven insight. She has translated complex school finance topics into relatable and actionable language for families and PTSA members and motivated other students by showing that advocacy isn’t just lobbying. Through her dedication and leadership, Sainath has advanced PTA’s mission of advocating for every child and family and demonstrated that youth voices can shape meaningful change in education policy.

About the Award 

The Outstanding Youth Advocate of the Year Award is awarded annually to a young person (defined as someone under 18, or still in high school at the time of nomination) who exemplifies the qualities of creativity, leadership, and dedication, and has positively affected policy or change in his or her school or community in a way that aligns with PTA’s mission and goals. The youth individual(s) must be a member of a PTA or PTSA.