how can that idle talk or gossip hurt your group? do you really think people will belive the badmouthing? are you all adults then dont get swept into the world of cattiness and swirling gossip, rise above it.
if there is truth to the rumors, or some of them, that is another story.
If people know her well enough, then they already know that she doesn't take responsibility for her own actions, she is all talk and apparently made of teflon since she isn't accountable to anyone else. We have a couple of parents like that and although people let them vent, they then roll their eyes or blow them off as they walk away.
Rise above it and prove her wrong. Have the best year yet and have it all go smoothly. And if she is that angry at the PTO, she won't show up at your functions which would be a treat for all of you! That's what happened when I removed a parent from one of our functions. She boycotted & so did her friend and it was the best year ever. It got back to her and she fumed. Her friends DIDN'T boycott the following year with her, though!
Thanks for your posts. It almost seems like you know the situation, this must happen at sometime... everywhere. I do want to take the high road and continue on the way we have, it is so dispiriting though that she is still going on. Thanks for the communication idea, that is important and I will make sure our good word is getting out there. It would be easier if we had something big coming up, but we don't have any big thing planned until the end of January. Thanks again.
I agree, don't stoop to her level, but you can go the other route...
If you know the negative things that she is saying, and it is either a fabrication or a misunderstanding, then why not try to promote the truth?
If you have a newsletter, use it as a positive forum to debunk her rumors. Never take it personal, but communication is always the key. If she is saying that your board doesn't allow anyone else to present an idea, seek out input from all of the parents via your newsletter or a survey. If she is telling people that a certain event flopped because of everybody but herself, instead put the positives of the event within the mewsletter.
I'm sure you could figure out how to word things as you have insight into what and how she is saying.
The positive spin is a great way to promote your group. It's kind of like this...
If someone only hears one thing about something, they may tend to believe it, especially if they hear it over and over. But if they hear the other side they are in a better position to make a decision for themselves.
You need to stay above her and don't reduce yourself or the PTO to her level. We had the same problem at my school. A PTO with a bad reputation because of certain people talking garbage.
We are doing great now.
You can prove them wrong by doing your job to the best of your ability and not getting caught up in other peoples issues. The parents will see the truth in what you do.
Talk is cheap.
A Former officer who wound up quitting after only 2 months on the job is now bad mouthing the rest of us officers. We knew last year when she was voted in that she would be trouble and we all tried to work with her. She is the complaining type who finds fault with everything and everyone and when her own mouth found her in trouble, she wanted to blame everyone but herself. I am just fuming because now all she is doing is bad mouthing us "PTO b****s" , the school staff and everyone in between. How do you handle someone like this, PTO's images suffer enough on their own without someone walking around talking like this. I am thoroughly frustrated and not sure what to do. If anyone has had to deal with someone like this your input is appreciated.
