National PTA Revokes Charter of Maryland PTA

The National Parent Teacher Association revoked the charter of its Maryland chapter three days after a News4 I-Team investigation revealed a series of allegations of mismanagement and a series of recent criminal charges against the Maryland PTA president in unrelated cases.

“It is with deep regret that I must inform you that the Board of Directors of National PTA has voted to revoke the charter of the Maryland PTA effective immediately,” said a letter from National PTA president Leslie  Boggs to local PTA councils in Maryland. Boggs’ announcement said there were failures by the Maryland PTA to provide financial information, failure to provide information about its operations and set elections for leadership.    

The National PTA had placed its Maryland chapter on probation in May, alleging failures by the Maryland PTA officials to properly follow bylaws, rude and disrespectful behavior, and a series of resignations. In her letter to local PTA leaders,  Boggs said, “As you know, National PTA has attempted to work closely with the Maryland PTA for more than a year to bring it into compliance with the National PTA Standards of Affiliation Policy. We were not able to achieve this objective.”

The National PTA will now oversee and help serve the hundreds of local PTAs in Maryland, including the 196 PTAs in Montgomery County.

“It’s a relief. We’ve been battling for over a year,” Montgomery County PTA Council President Cynthia  Simonson said. “But it’s also sad.”   

The News4 I-Team investigation found the Maryland state PTA had suffered years of complaints of mismanagement, disputes and financial problems. Signs of trouble and dissension inside the organization surfaced in late 2019, when the then newly elected president reported finding problems at the Glen Burnie offices. In an annual report to local members, leaders of the PTA reported finding doors broken, papers shredded, vandalism and a $95,000 certificate of deposit — which had been earmarked for building emergencies and upgrades — cashed without the requisite approval of the state board.

The annual report for 2019 said the Maryland PTA’s bank balance had plummeted below zero, to a deficit of $68.16. 

After a quick series of resignations, a new president, LaTonja  Carrera, took over the organization in November. As she attempted to save the organization, Carrera was also facing newly filed criminal charges unrelated to the PTA. The I-Team found Carrera was charged in two separate theft cases during the same month she took over as Maryland PTA president. Her attorney said she has been falsely accused. During an interview with the I-Team, Carrera would not comment on the charges, but did say, "My personal business has nothing to do with my ability to run Maryland state PTA."

In a statement to the I-Team about the National PTA announcement about decertifying the Maryland chapter, Carrera said, “I personally believe the revocation of the affiliation agreement is retaliation against my revelation of a plot of individuals affiliated with National PTA attempting to mismanage and bankrupt our organization. Leslie Boggs has not once reached out, said hi, or offered any support to me as Maryland PTA president. I find all of her public statements to be disingenuous and look forward to revealing the behind-the-scenes truth in the near future.”

"One of the things for restructure was that all communications were to be run through the support team,” Boggs told the I-Team Friday. “They were not. So, it came to the point of impasse that we knew leadership was not willing to do what we asked them to do."

Carrera said the leaders of the former Maryland PTA will continue operating a nonprofit and will attempt to serve some school groups, including athletic groups and bands.

Statement from Carrera:  

“The nonprofit corporation is still open for business. The PTA brand is limited, and local schools will no longer be asked to subsidize the over $1 million dollars of compensation for top National PTA leadership.  We will be expanding our scope to include supporting school-based nonprofits such as PTOs and band boosters. 

“I personally believe the revocation of the affiliation agreement is retaliation against my revelation of a plot of individuals affiliated with National PTA attempting to mismanage and bankrupt our organization. Leslie Boggs has not once reached out, said hi, or offered any support to me as Maryland PTA president. I find all of her public statements to be disingenuous, and look forward to revealing the behind-the-scenes truth in the near future.

“Please continue to check our website for updates as we move forward to servicing more schools throughout Maryland.”

Carrera had joined the board of directors in August 2019 and would serve as chair of the organization’s health committee. She helped operate a food drive, collected a state grant money, and gathered food donations and gift cards for families in summer 2020. 

Amid several disagreements, a quick series of resignations from board members occurred in April 2020. Though new to the organization’s board, Carrera said she noticed infighting between state PTA leaders and some local chapter leaders. She said those relationships would deteriorate further through the year.

“I actually feel like I'm back in high school,” Carrera said. “You know, when you're in high school and you have the mean girls, that's what it simply feels like.”

In May 2020, the National PTA put the Maryland chapter on probation. In its letter to the Maryland PTA, National PTA president Leslie Boggs cited a series of complaints from local PTA chapters. The letter said complaints included condoning rude and disrespectful behavior and communication toward local PTA leaders, lack of regular communications with local PTA councils, frequent and high turnover among board members, violations of bylaws, and preventing board members from fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities.  

One of the conditions of probation requires a team of people designated by the National PTA to review and approve decisions and operations of the state PTA.

“We cannot send out anything to (our local) units without National PTA approving it. So anything that we send out has to be approved by our support team,” Carrera said.

The organization will remain on probation through at least March 31 when the National PTA is expected to announce the next step, the I-Team learned.

The 17-person Maryland PTA board has shrunk to just four members.  

At least one group of local PTA organizations decided to cease sending dues payments to the Maryland PTA in autumn 2020, the I-Team learned, instead opting to send money to the national organization. 

Multiple sources said the National PTA would likely take control of oversight of Maryland’s hundreds of local PTA chapters, if the Maryland PTA is decertified for failing to make required changes.  

In a statement to the I-Team, the National PTA said, “National PTA continues to work with Maryland PTA leadership on solutions to help them come into compliance with the National PTA Standards of Affiliation Policy. National PTA remains committed to having a statewide PTA in Maryland to support all the council and local PTAs in the state. Our goal continues to be to get everyone back focused on our association’s mission of ensuring that all children reach their fullest potential.”

Maryland PTA President Facing Criminal Charges in Separate Cases

“You know at the end of the day, everyone is innocent until proven guilty," Carrera told the I-Team when asked about the recent charges against her.

The U.S. Justice Department charged Carrera in December with stealing from a veteran for whom she provided a group home service. In 2019, Carrera operated M&M Residential Services, a residential facility for people with mental health needs.

D.C. investigators allege she took money from one of the veteran’s bank accounts and used the money for her own purchases. A Justice Department statement about the case said, “Carrera used the account of one of the facility residents — a 73-year-old veteran — to pay her own personal bills. Carrera used $1,524.36 from the veteran, whose sole sources of income were benefits from the Social Security Administration and Veterans Affairs.”

Carrera declined comment on the case. Her defense attorney, Charles Tucker, said he could not talk about her pending cases, but added, “I'm proud to represent somebody who's been falsely accused.”

In October 2020, the niece of a Mitchellville woman accused Carrera of unlawfully making withdrawals from the woman’s bank account. In a complaint filed with the Prince George’s County District Court, the woman’s relative said Carrera assumed power of attorney in May 2020 over the alleged victim, who suffers dementia. The complaint said Carrera took control of the woman’s bank account and ATM cards and used the money for personal purchases.

Hope McCullough, who said she knows both Carrera and the alleged victim of the theft, called the case “tragic.”

“The truth is going to come out,” McCullough said. “Justice is going to be served.”

Carrera has not yet entered a plea in the case, as COVID-19 continues to stall the processing of criminal cases in Maryland courts. Carrera would not comment specifically on the case.   

During an interview with the I-Team, she said, "That has nothing to do with my ability to do what I need to do to bring Maryland PTA back on track.”

LaTonja Carrera's Legal History

Though her criminal cases are still pending, Carrera has already defended herself in a series of other criminal and civil cases, according to the I-Team’s review.

In 2004, Carrera pleaded guilty to a theft charge involving misuse of bank checks in Washington, D.C., according to court filings reviewed by the I-Team. A judge sentenced her to three years’ probation and 200 hours of community service, the court filings said. 

In 2015, while operating another residential home for disabled veterans in Temple Hills, Maryland, Carrera was accused of improperly evicting a veteran.

Clarence Smith-Bey, a former U.S. Marine, sued the business, Peaceful Haven, operated by LaTonja Carrera.

In his suit, Smith-Bey argued that he had made rent and security deposit payments to Carrera. The suit said the locks were nevertheless changed and his items were removed from the home in 2014. His suit also alleged electric and water were cut off for a week during his time in the house. The lawsuit said Smith Bey “experienced poor housing conditions, including cockroaches, ants and other vermin.”

Smith-Bey won a $120,000 judgment from a Prince George’s County judge, according to court filings obtained by the I-Team. His civil attorney said the business was later dissolved and the payment was not made before Smith-Bey died.

Smith-Bey’s widow said the experience rendered Clarence Smith-Bey homeless and pushed him back into drug addiction.

“It was devastating to me,” Virginia Smith-Bey said. “It was heartbreaking that my husband had to go through this."

Court filings and attorneys involved in the case said another veteran also sued Peaceful Haven in 2014 for breach of contract and secured a judgment against the company. Court filings reviewed by the I-Team do not specify if the judgment was paid.  

Carrera declined to comment on the Smith-Bey case or Peaceful Haven during her interview with the I-Team.

In 2016, Carrera filed for federal bankruptcy protection. An attorney for Smith-Bey filed motions in the bankruptcy case seeking money from Smith-Bey’s $120,000 judgment in his case against Peaceful Haven. The attorney cited the bankruptcy filing as one of the reasons Smith-Bey did not receive the money.

According to court filings reviewed by the I-Team, Carrera did not successfully secure bankruptcy protection. A federal court trustee ruled against her in 2019. 

In 2019, there was another legal challenge for Carrera and her business, M&M Residential Services. D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine filed a motion in D.C. Superior Court accusing M&M Residential Services of failing to properly pay wages to at least three of its workers. Court dockets show a judge ordered M&M Residential pay approximately $18,000 in damages to the workers in January 2020.

Carrera would not comment on the unpaid wages claims. 

Future of Maryland PTA

Carrera said she has no access to the finances at the Maryland PTA, which is operating with at least 13 board vacancies. Finances are administered by the board treasurer and professional staff, she said.

“I have no access to the account whatsoever,” Carrera said. 

In a statement to the I-Team, the National PTA said, “National PTA has requested confirmation of the financial processes currently in place and has made recommendations to ensure the assets of Maryland PTA. National PTA reviews the financial reports and bank statements when provided and created a process for local PTAs to submit dues directly to National PTA. Maryland PTA still controls the finances of the association.”

The Maryland PTA remains on probationary status under the National PTA. A “support team” of appointees from the National PTA continue to oversee Maryland PTA operations, according to Carrera and her attorney, Charles Tucker.

Carrera said the organization is attempting to set up dates for a convention and elections later this year. In prior years, those events have been held in the summer.

Tucker said, “Maryland PTA, thanks for the current board's efforts, are working to right the ship, so to speak. And they have been working diligently from day one.”

And some parents think the president is making a difference.

“She’s trying to unify people,” said Lisa Robinson, a Riverdale PTA member. “She put herself on the line.” 

Other local PTA parents told the I-Team they are hoping for the state PTA to be stabilized and resume larger operations to help school parents and teachers. Shear, the PTA member from Bethesda said, “The PTAs are just wonderful organizations, and every school that has an active PTA in general sees their students do much better.     

“When you have parents and teachers working together to help students, it really helps make the community stronger and helps kids learn better,” Shear said.

And as for any parents concerned about Carrera's leadership, she told the I-Team, "I'm going to still continue to do my duties and my job as Maryland PTA president, whether they're on board or not."

"So, if I'm doing everything I'm supposed to, as far as, you know, as president for Maryland State PTA, then that's all that matters,” she added. “If I'm not doing what I'm supposed to do, then yes, you can have your issues and say whatever."

Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Steve Jones and Jeff Piper.