Let me just add after the bad week I had with new board members.
Be careful even speaking to your husband or others, KIDS hear everything!! My neighbors kids told me his mom was mad at me because it was my idea to have the boohoo/yahoo event and did not get a vote from anyone else. Ok, I was not happy with this child and can't wait to call him mom his mom this morning. She is not even on the PTO!! Maybe I will be asking her if she is so unhappy maybe she can make a positive change by being more involved instead of talking on the phone negativley about me. (Jealous, I am the new pres)
Good luck.
Just let her know that as much as you appreciate her help, you prefer to find your own way and if you have any questions you hope you can come to her. School hasn't started for us yet and the new prez has asked me a lot of questions however she has already stepped on alot of toes too. As much as I want to "fix" things because parents are already complaining, I am trying to only offer my experience when requested and stay in the background. Yeah the newbies may make things worse but its not my place anymore. I do get upset that every time she ask me something she seems to put down my response ("oh well I'm not going to do that", etc.) even though my way has worked very well for years. She wants to shake things up and make a name for herself, to show everyone she can do so much better, which is fine but she's going about it in a bad way- thats fine too, she'll hang herself I guess. I wish that newbies didn't feel that had something to prove and then maybe oldies wouldn't be so in your face. Its hard on both ends I know. If she makes it a point in front of others of trying to make you look bad ask her right then and there why she seems to have a problem with letting you supervise the group. Good luck!
I would ONLY speak kindly! Honestly, I don't really have anything negative to say (she also has the school's best interest at heart), except that she is very difficult to work WITH. I am confident that others see it too. I am not worried about "what people think" as much as I am not looking forward to a painful year of PTO when we could have so much fun!
Never, ever easy--not matter what what leadership position you take...I would suggest though, an up front discussion where you acknowledge the differences in your style -- being complimentary of some of her accomplishments yet not differing to her style. Let her know in no uncertain terms that you plan on supporting her as soon as her tenure as President BEGINS, but up to that point you would hope that she can support your tenure in the best interests of the organization. Let her know you'd appreciate her comments to be "in private" as a "professional courtesy" and that anything other than that would not be to the standards that she is known for. Every president knows how "tenuous" our relationships are. Find those quiet power brokers (the secretaries, paras etc) and make sure they have your ear to discuss what they feel is important...they will appreciate being listened to and can in turn counter any negative press that might go through the grapevine from your nemesis. By the same token ABSOLUTELY REFRAIN from saying negative things about the other individual. If you speak, speak kindly and with the type of respect you would want accorded to you. Above all, rise above the issues and be in control of the greater mission of getting your TEAM up and moving forward....good luck...dianna
I am PTO President this year (1 year new to the school). Last year's President will be the President next year. We have extremely different management styles!
She is a serious micro-manager while I believe in allowing members to take responsibility for a task and do it (even if it is not exactly the way I would do it). We have very active/responsible parents working toward a common goal - improve our school.
School has not even started and I see that the year will be a struggle. I love my school and I love PTO, but this is not what I signed up for. I don't want to debate every little topic - and I don't want to quit. She is critiques me every time I open my mouth!
I need advice on how to handle this situation. I want to appeal to our PTO Officers (be open about the situation), but I don't want this to turn into some cat fight! That is not where I am at.
