AT Public School 11 in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, the senior president of the Parent Teacher Association is a vivacious chatterbox who ascended the school’s executive board the way many do: forging bonds with parents and teachers, doing an impressive stint as treasurer and finally being drafted for the top slot by a growing fan base.

The one thing this executive officer did not do is man the cupcake table.

“I’m not into the baking,” said Juan Brea, an admission that once would have been unheard-of in the PTA.

Mr. Brea, a 43-year-old who favors football, blue blazers, Polo cologne and chopping wood in his Catskills backyard on weekends, is part of the changing face of the PTA. What was once an easygoing volunteer group made up mostly of stay-at-home moms has begun to give way to male leadership.

“This is like running a small business,” said Mr. Brea, whose day job is chief operating officer at a small nonprofit. “I’m an operations guy. I believe I add value.”