PTA’s Davis puts (all) kids first

Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Friday, November 20, 2009

The 16th District PTA has four male chapter leaders including Bill Davis, PTA president at Julius Marks Elementary (seated); Jim Hampton at Jessie Clark Middle School (left), John Newton at Henry Clay High School and Bryan Baseheart at Clays Mill Elementary (not pictured). On the national level, the PTA has a male president for the first time in its 113-year history. (Photo: Nema Brewer-Candy)

Nov. 16-20 is Parent and Family Involvement Week

Bill Davis is a busy man, but never too busy for his children – seven daughters, to be exact, and now six grandkids, too.

A self-employed attorney, he has been extremely involved in their schools for nearly three decades. This year, he’s PTA president at Julius Marks Elementary.

“My business is there to provide income, but my kids are my investment,” said Davis, who noted that everything from spring break to band competitions takes priority in his life. “My occupation is a lawyer, but my profession is a father.”

Davis, a single parent who grew up with a single parent, has been a homeroom helper, a School-Based Decision Making Council member and a dependable PTA member and leader through the years. (His children range in age from 7 to 37.)

“I was always willing to do whatever they asked me to do. I can do a lot of things, but I don’t bake,” he said with a laugh.

For this 56-year-old volunteer, it hasn’t always been easy to break into the PTA, which traditionally is dominated by mothers – until “they get to know you and know you’re sincere.”

But he’s now one of four male chapter leaders in Fayette County Public Schools’ 16th District PTA, along with Bryan Baseheart at Clays Mill Elementary, Jim Hampton at Jessie Clark Middle School and John Newton at Henry Clay High School. On the national level, the organization has a male president for the first time in its 113-year history.

Davis tries to encourage more men to join, often first assigning them a specific task with a limited time commitment.

“All fathers want their kids to succeed,” he said, arguing that guys who can follow their kids’ sports activities should also step up to bat for the PTA.

One key is to ask for feedback and input from newcomers, he said – almost like persuading a jury to buy into a theory.

Before deciding on law, Davis considered social work and teaching. As his family grew, “since I wanted to be of service, PTA was the best vehicle I could find,” he said. “They’re on the cutting edge of advocacy for education.”

Davis has been vocal and visible in several locations, including Julius Marks, Squires and Maxwell elementaries, Lexington Traditional Magnet School, Bryan Station and Morton middle schools, and Tates Creek and Henry Clay high schools.

Among his most memorable PTA projects was deciding to buy new computers, rather than bleachers, for Maxwell Elementary. “We’ve got to invest in things that will help our kids,” said Davis, who is now pushing for technology resources to help close achievement gaps at Julius Marks.

Whatever the situation, PTA members must remain focused on the students, he said. “They should go in with the idea that kids are the priority. … It’s about all kids – not just my kids.”

Davis juggles myriad activities and commitments. Among the balls in the air: studying for a Ph.D. in theology and next summer helping chaperone 200 honor band students on a trip to Europe.

“I haven’t had time not to be involved. It’s hard when you’ve got seven daughters and they say ‘Who’s your favorite?’” he said, chuckling. “I’m busy, but I find time to do what’s important.”

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