I'm with everyone else. Showing your teachers that you're thinking of them can go a long way in getting them involved in your group. Establishing that friendly relationship can mean the difference between events and programs succeeding or failing miserably.

We rely on our teachers to help us work events, send home our various flyers and announcements, support our fundraisers and events with their enthusiam in the classroom(they can "sell it" to the kids), and most importantly be a source of information as to what programs and events work in our school and what items the school needs most.

What does the "T" in your PTO stand for? The teachers see our kids as much, sometimes more, than we do. I am all for showing them graditude. Also showing them appreciation may get them involved in your group. I love involvement where I can get it especially from experienced people such as teachers that deal with PTO issues every day such as parent involvement and other needs that can be helped with. Our teacher appreciation budget is about $400 per year (we are small) which includes all staff members. If you can't get your group to budge on that for the time being talk to parents who may want to help out by doing a pot luck or making homemade gifts.

I totally agree with the other responses!! We show appreciation to our teachers and staff throughout the year and do a week long celebration for Teacher Appreciation in May.

My thoughts are that parent groups are "of the people, by the people, for the people". "People" being everyone in the community - parents, teachers, staff, students.

Teacher Appreciation is a common committee in most parent groups. My team always has a First Day of School treat for teachers. The treat is different every year but the message is always the same - "We think you're terrific and hope you have a great year!!!"

I don't think it should be that subjective of a question. What your PTO is designed to do should be in your purpose.

If. like ours, your purpose is to enhance the educational environment and foster relationships among the school's interest groups, (paraphraed) then your idea was very good.

Even if not, it is great to get a goood rapport going with the teachers to let them know you are on the same side.

I'd be worried that your board has a little too much of an us vs. them attitude with the teachers. They need to lose that, even if there is some kind of history there.

Being as your idea would probably cost $50 at most but go a long way towards building a positive relationship with the teachers, I would not drop this if I were you.

(The idea is so good, actually, I hope you don't mind a hole lot if I steal it )

In my view, PTO leadership should be doing two things -- allocating resources and fostering relationships. You sound like a great leader.

Do the bagels, too. If you are talking about your board's toes, I would not tread so lightly. You are the one in the hot seat. If there is trouble between your group and your teachers, it is you who will feel it most.

It's a good question.

My opinion: you're there (like the teachers and admins are, too) to make the school as great a place as it can be for your kids to thrive.

That's a real general answer that leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Yes.

It's not your (the parent group's) job to teach the Three R's. But it's your job to create the environment in which great teachers can teach the Three R's most effectively.

That can mean:

Building parent involvement. (research shows that schools with higher involvement perform more effectively on most every measure).

Creating community - the coccoon in which the kids learn best.

Appreciating teachers. Happy, suppported teachers who know that parents are in it with them make for most effective teachers.

Supporting teachers/admins. Helping provide the tools they need to help your kids excel.

All of these and more are great causes for PTOs. It's certainly not as simple as "buying things that are directly for the kids", because some of the best things you can do for the kids (like building involvement) are somewhat indirect.

My $0.02.

Tim