Critter's exactly right. But you basically have two issues here:

1) Who is allowed to run for office, in general? (Which includes what is "membership"? Is everyone automatically a member or only those who paid dues?)

2) Are there any specific provisions regarding teachers/staff.

Some groups may have limitations about the capacity in which school teachers/staff can serve. Some groups are silent on this, meaning there are no restrictions.

I belonged to two PTOs with different policies:

Elementary - Large Board comprised of 5 elected officers plus a lot of committee chairs, grade reps (6), school reps. (By the way, we also had Principal, Vice Principal, and 2 teacher rep positions on the Board.) Our bylaws had a specific provision prohibiting any teacher/staff member of our campus or management level employee of the district from being an elected officer. But that was only 5 of the 20+ board positions. They could still be committee chairs.

Membership: parents/guardians with a child in the school who paid their dues plus all teachers/staff automatically (dues waived). Any member could run for office.

Middle School - no restrictions - any member could run. This group had no dues. Members were anyone with a child in the school, teachers, and staff. The school nurse was our President one year. A staff member was president one year. Both did a great job.

Yeah, I was afraid you were going to say that. I guess it's a judgement call for your group to make, then, about eligibility. I'm not a big fan of that system for reasons too many to list.

I'd have to suggest that someone either get real busy tracking down the last known copy of the bylaws or get even busier drafting new ones. Surely there are enough people around who know the history of your group and can point you toward previous officers and recording secretaries. Check your school's library too. My last group always kept copies of agendas, minutes and bylaws reviews on file there. Also, we were required to present all of our info to the school board as well so copies were in their records. Perhaps your group followed the same practice?

I am new to the board and according to our president no one knows about the bylaws. Any suggestions?

I guess you'll have to dust off your bylaws and see what they have to say about candidate eligibility. Each group has their own specific rules outlining who can and cannot run for office, be a member, have a vote, etc. If she falls within the guidelines then, yes, she can run. Otherwise, nope.

Does anyone know if a teacher who does not have a child in the school can run for PTO office. She has never attended any meetings and did not pay dues this year. Anyone have any ideas?