"I live in a small town and things are very political here. Any advice?" MOVE
Sorry for the defeatist attitude, but seems you are in bad compnay with the school leader you describe. Either you bring the anti-public-school (no discrimination allowed) attitude to the attention of the super and get things fixed that way, or there is little hope.
And, a principal that 'talks about other parents' is a principal without principles. Let that be a red flag for you.
I guess I see the point of a PTO as getting the parents involved. The teachers by definition already are. By getting the parents involved you are bringing in additional talents and capabilities to support the school/teachers. The "T" is important of course but the focus in my mind is on the additional abilities that the extended and involved community of parents bring to the table.
There has to be a way to find out about meetings. When you do, you publicize it (even by phone)...talk with the principal and give her a glimpse of all the additional support she could/would receive. Otherwise the PTO is reduced to some sort of fund raiser committee that is just out there to make money as opposed to building an extended community to enhance the children's learning experience.
Do folks "join" the PTO or are they a member by definition. If they join, see if you can get the roster. Offer to run for a position and then start to spread the word. There is also a "P" in that acronym for a reason and it isn't called the TPO....good luck...d
The principal at the school I volunteer at, prefers to have teachers as officers on the PTO. I think she does because she can tell them what to do. She gets around it by not publicizing elections to the parents and then saying noone ever shows up so she has to put teachers in as officers. If I ever question it, she replies it is " a Parent-Teacher Organization!"
She also does some other questionable things( talking about other parents, exhibiting signs of racism). I live in a small town and things are very political here. Any advice?
