Originally posted by TeresaU: I am a new PTO president this year and my goal is parent/teacher involvement of ANY kind. I have busted my butt, I talk to parents when I see them,I send out invitations(fliers) to the meetings, I offer to send meeting agendas/finance reports to those who can't make meetings, I started a monthly newsletter, web site is under construction, I send out thank you cards to anybody who volunteers or donates, etc...Last year we got maybe 8 volunteer slips back for the Halloween Party, this year we have gotten 48. I wanted to jump up and down. Every person who sent back a volunteer slip has gotten a phone call, whether we could use them or not. Also, in my first newsletter I announced that our Fall Festival had been cancelled due to lack of volunteer involvement, in the hopes that it would kick some people into gear. It looks like all of this may be paying off, although my husband is consulting with a divorce lawyer(just kidding). I am obsessed with the PTO! Anyway, I don't care that not many come to the meetings, but last week we had 14 parents/board members and 2 teachers, when in the past we only had 4 board members, maybe 1 parent and the Principal. I just want the parents to be involved in their children and the school. WHEW!!! Ok I think that's it for now.
Theresa, I have to say DITTO, DITTO, DITTO, DITTO (you get the picture) on everything you said you did. Everything you did, I've done too. Your concerns are my concerns. There are about 4 parents that are truly faithful to the PTO and they are getting burned out and it is only the 2nd month of school. Sad to say that I am one of the ones that are getting burned out. I'm not sure what to do to encourage Parent AND Teacher involvement. I've tried everything I could think of, short of bribing them...oh yeah, did that too.
We have two things in the last year that have improved both attendance at PTO meetings and attendance at events.... We are in Vermont with very long and cold winters..so we host Flynn Family Nights every Friday in Jan,Feb, Mar and most of April...these events have varied from sport nights, dance nights, movie nights, board game nights to arts and crafts.... this has opened the doors to people who may never felt comfortable doing so.... the other thing we have done is to start an email informational list... this is where I as President list volunteer opportunities... I break things down so people have th opportunity to give an hour or a whole day,
we also have started a wonderful pto web page that is both welcoming and informative... you can check it out at flynnflyer.com...
I am a new PTO president this year and my goal is parent/teacher involvement of ANY kind. I have busted my butt, I talk to parents when I see them,I send out invitations(fliers) to the meetings, I offer to send meeting agendas/finance reports to those who can't make meetings, I started a monthly newsletter, web site is under construction, I send out thank you cards to anybody who volunteers or donates, etc...Last year we got maybe 8 volunteer slips back for the Halloween Party, this year we have gotten 48. I wanted to jump up and down. Every person who sent back a volunteer slip has gotten a phone call, whether we could use them or not. Also, in my first newsletter I announced that our Fall Festival had been cancelled due to lack of volunteer involvement, in the hopes that it would kick some people into gear. It looks like all of this may be paying off, although my husband is consulting with a divorce lawyer(just kidding). I am obsessed with the PTO! Anyway, I don't care that not many come to the meetings, but last week we had 14 parents/board members and 2 teachers, when in the past we only had 4 board members, maybe 1 parent and the Principal. I just want the parents to be involved in their children and the school. WHEW!!! Ok I think that's it for now.
i am a new family liaison in NB and I work along the PTO and my goal is to increase the parents attendance. I realize that this is a goal that takes time as well as tact. I have reviewed some of your tactics and I also have a 70% latino population. I am trying to come up with univesal ideas, however, the latino parents are the main attendees. How do I find a diverse approach and get other minorities involved with the PTO?
Just an FYI some people do't want to sit through a dull PTO meeting and their days are already full so when we stand at open house or end of the year functions and beg for volunteers we tell them there is no need to attend any meetings if they can't but we need their help with all our events and any time they can give is gratly appreciated even one hour is great! Some times you just have to get them on board. Meeting attendance does not show you are a successful PTO only successful events and fundraisers show that! Good Luck! Also when looking for people asking in person always works great sometimes people just don't know what to sign up for but if you ask they would love to help, hey whats the worst that can happen they say no.
lorrie,
I am not having much luck boosting our attendance for meetings either, something about parents being felt like they weren't needed for so long. We also don't have many people show up for school based activites. Here's what's working for me: I go to all the activities off site, like skating parties and such. I'm finding lots of parents at these places. So I introduce myself to them and say would you be interested in coming to a PTO meeting. Usually they tell me they can't for one reason or another but that they would like to helo. So I ask them what they would like to do. I found a volunteer to help in the library, two people to send out letters requesting things from businesses, two mom to run the box tops store and one mother who finds and writes grants for us. None of them come to meetings and they don't volunteer as room moms but I found things they like to do and people that could us them to do those things. This is what is important. Get to know your staffs needs as well as what your parents strengths are. This takes lots of time, but it will make things so nice for you in the long run and give you a great group to fall back on when you need something!
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
