Brinker PTA is a noncommercial, nonsectarian, nonpartisan association that does not endorse any candidate or political party. This PTA does not endorse non-PTA products or services. Solicitation, or anything that resembles solicitation, shall not be posted on this site. If complaints are received about content or if the PTA deems content to be advertising, that content will be removed regardless o
f whether the content is relevant to our members. Offensive or inappropriate content shall not be tolerated. Any such content will be removed and the author banned from the site. Offensive or inappropriate content includes anything that is not child friendly, personal attacks, spam, copyrighted material, or bullying of any kind. Posts endorsing a candidate for office or any political party shall be removed immediately. This site is not the appropriate place to express complaints and grievances. If you have a concern, please contact a member of the PTA executive board. Maureen Connolly Brinker Elementary School opened its doors on September 1, 1988 to 291 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The proposal to build Brinker was made on January 20, 1987. Construction began in June 1987 and the school was completed in July 1988. A dedication ceremony took place on November 20, 1988.,
Nicknamed “the little school on the prairie”, Brinker was named for the well-known tennis champion, Maureen Connolly Brinker. At the age of 18, Maureen became the first American woman to win the Grand Slam in professional tennis. She was voted into the National Lawn Tennis Hall of Fame in 1965. In 1955 Maureen married Norman Brinker. They had 2 daughters, Cindy and Brenda. At the age of 34, Maureen lost her battle with cancer. Cindy Brinker Simmons continues to visit Brinker annually to keep a tie between the school and the Brinker family. When school began at Brinker there was farmland surrounding it. A pumpkin patch was planted beside the school in July 1988. The pumpkins sold from that harvest raised money to build the original playground, which was replaced in 1997. The first class to graduate from Brinker had 31 students. Their graduation took place on June 2, 1989. Camp Wannaread was constructed in 1992. Four elementary schools have been opened with some of Brinker’s population: Mitchell Elementary, Robinson (now Gulledge Elementary), Barksdale Elementary, and Centennial Elementary.
