16 Tips for Executive Board Members

5 Things You Should Know About Representing Your PTO in the Community

1. Always introduce yourself.

2. Don’t speak on behalf of the school. You might have a great rapport with the principal, but you aren’t an official representative. Refer school questions to the principal; they’re not PTO business.

3. Don’t share your personal opinions on issues. When you’re in your official role, speak on behalf of the PTO as a whole.

4. Be polite.

5. Give credit where credit is due.

4 Essential Tips for Working With School Staff

• Introduce yourself. It’ll be easier to ask the custodian, secretary, school aide, and audiovisual technician for help later if you introduce yourself today.

• Learn their names—and call them by name.

• Respect their school jobs. Remember that their primary responsibility is to the school. They aren’t there to do PTO grunt work. If you need substantial help from school staff, clear it with the principal first.

• Include them in staff appreciation efforts.

7 Secrets for Transitioning Your Office

1. Clean out and organize your old files.

2. Then hand over the files.

3. Train your successor side by side.

4. Introduce them around the school.

5. Share your best advice (and worst experiences) about the job.

6. Be accessible in the new year.

7. But don’t hover; it’s their job now.

Originally posted in 2007 and updated regularly.