7+ Ways To Support Teachers During Parent Teacher Conferences

For teachers, parent teacher conference weeks mean hours of preparation and days of back-to-back meetings. They also have to rearrange their family’s typical evening schedule on conference days. On those especially long days, a gesture of appreciation can go a long way. Here are a few ways your PTO and PTA group can support teachers during this busy time.

Parent Teacher Conference Survival Kits

Make parent teacher conference survival kits for teachers including items like aspirin, hand sanitizer, gum or mints, a piece of fruit, a bottle of water, and a snack (like an energy bar or a bag of pretzels). Some PTOs will also include a quick bite that can be microwaved in the teachers' lounge, like Ramen Noodles or a can of soup. You can use these survival kit gift tags and place items in a bag or a glass jar.

For more gift ideas, see our Teacher Appreciation Ideas round-up.

Bring in a Coffee Truck

Ah, the joys of parent teacher conferences, when teachers are often seen drinking coffee at 5:45pm. Bring in a coffee truck so that teachers can get their late afternoon (or early evening) caffeine fix.

Offer Childcare for Teachers

With conferences going into the evening, teachers often need to make childcare arrangements for their own children. Consider having PTO volunteers or high school students watch teachers’ kids during evening conferences. Poll teachers and find out how many would use this type of service. Decide whether to open up the babysitting to students during their parents’ meetings, as well (and don't forget to do volunteer background checks).

Schedule Chair Massages

Make arrangements with a local massage therapist to provide chair massages to teachers. Have a sign-up sheet. If it’s too difficult for teachers to take a break on the day of parent teacher conferences, schedule the chair massages for the day after.

Teacher Glow Up

Because there's no tired like teacher tired during conference week, set up samples of self-care items in the teachers' lounge (like hand lotion, nail polish, bath bombs, eye masks, tea bags) that teachers can take home and unwind with.

Dirty Soda Bar

When teachers' energy is lagging, a caffeinated soda will help them perk right up. To set up a dirty soda bar for teachers, you'll need cans of soda (Coke, Dr. Pepper), flavored syrups (like coconut and vanilla), cream, lime wedges, and marachino cherries.

Hydration Station (Flavored Water Bar)

Help teachers stay hydrated with a flavored water bar! Here's everything you'll need (recipes, signage and a shoppable list of supplies) for a water bar in the teachers' lounge.

Provide Food

Hours of back-to-back meetings can leave teachers hungry and low on energy, so it’s common for parent groups to provide snacks or meals. If your PTO or PTA would like to provide food for teachers during conference week, the first step is to find out what the teachers’ schedule is like. If teachers have a meal break planned into their day, you might want to provide food in the teachers lounge. If their meetings truly are back-to-back all day, you’ll want to offer portable food they can eat in their classroom.

Stock the Teachers' Lounge

Stocking the teachers' lounge is always a nice surprise for teachers. Make it extra fun by adding teacher memes. We round up everything you'll need to stock your teachers' lounge in a convenient shoppable list (printable memes included!).

@ptotoday Stock the Teachers’ Lounge: Meme Edition #teacherappreciation #PTOlife #ptopresident #ptomomsoftiktok #ptapresident #schoolvolunteer #meme ♬ Printer print sound (ink-jet, room) - LEOPARD

Snack Station or "Snack Zone"

Nutritious snacks can help keep teachers going during long days. Some parent groups provide drinks and protein-packed snacks like energy bars or string cheese. Place snacks in the teachers lounge with a note or display on a table in the hallway for teachers to grab in between parent meetings. If some snack items need to be refrigerated, mention what they can find in the fridge.

Buffet

Pay for a catered buffet from a fast food or fast casual restaurant or have parents provide certain dishes. Popular choices include burritos, sandwiches, a salad bar, or soup.

Baked Potato Bar

Baked potato bars are the perfect grab and go dinner for teachers during parent teacher conferences. Set up baked potatoes in the teachers' lounge along with a variety of toppings, like cheese, sour cream, scallions, and bacon bits.

Potluck

If catering a meal will cost too much, consider asking parents to bring dishes for a potluck dinner. Have parents sign up and indicate what type of dish they’ll bring, and be clear about when they should drop off their dish. If you have access to refrigerator space, it’s fine to allow parents to drop off dishes when they bring their child to school in the morning. If you won’t be able to use a refrigerator, ask parents to drop off the food at a set time in the afternoon. Line up a volunteer to heat dishes that need to be served warm.

Special Delivery

If it will be hard for teachers to leave their classrooms, take orders for sandwiches or other easily portable food in advance. Have volunteers deliver the food to each teacher’s classroom before conferences begin.

Offer Fuel in the Morning, Too

It's a looooong day, so in addition to treating your teachers the night of conferences, kick things off with a few morning treats, too, like coffee and donuts.