Question: Room Parents vs Grade parents

So our PTO at the end of the year established a new role of grade parent coordinator to be the communicator to the teachers and room parents. Does anyone have any input to the success of this design? Now our President wants to remove the Room parent and just have room volunteers then a grade coordinator. Any input would be appreciated.

Asked by LoriAkins

Answers:

Advice from PTO Today

Craig writes:
I don't have any experience with that specific system, but it really comes down to how much work your volunteers are willing to take on. Being the grade coordinator with no room parents means you're responsible for several rooms--to me that's a significant increase in responsibility over being a room parent. If you keep room parents, then the grade coordinator's role would probably be to facilitate communication and to offer backup support. That would be a much easier job than if you design the job the other way. Even if you reduce the role of the room parent, I'm thinking it would help to have at least an "assistant coordinator" in each room.

Community Advice

NeillRay writes:
Generally grade parents make more sense for middle school and room parents make more sense for lower school. School needs vary by school division and the PTO can best meet those needs with the appropriate class or grade focus. But grade parents still need direction for a grade coordinator.