That's an easy one for me... because I work about 30 miles from school and I'm not available during those hours either (unless I take off from work).
I send e-mails to the staff when I need to "talk" with them... that way, I don't interrupt classroom time and they can read and get back to me when they can. I also make it a point to get to school at least twice a week on my way home from work... so I'm able to see teachers "after hours."
On the flip side of the coin, your Principal is pretty darned short-sighted. Since much of what the PTO does is in direct support of the Teachers... it seems like s/he's cutting off his/her nose to spite her/his face! How silly is this?!?!? If you have question about an item the PTO is buying for a teacher, etc... You can't take care of this during the teacher's day? Lunch time? Some of their planning time? Are your teacher's unionized? Go talk to the Union. Your Principal isn’t doing his staff any favors.
I agree, Twin, when did our organization become for Parents only. And since about 25% of our teachers also have children in our school...who can say they are not important to our group?! Our teachers can't always come to meetings, but they help us out with our events and fundraisers. We alternate our meetings from one month in the morning and the next month at night to accommodate everyone. We have a teacher rep on our Exec board and our superintendent, principal and vice principal come to every meeting whether it's during the day or at night. Also, our school board members are active in the PTO. Our main purpose is the enrichment of our childrens' education and, to me, that takes our entire community. :cool:
i can't help but ask.... and what's wrong with teachers being part of the general membership? being able to attend meetings like any other PTO member, vote, ask questions, etc????
as the Parent TEACHER Organization we encourage our faculty and staff to become members, we've almost 90% for our 100 some odd faculty and staff members (a much better percentage than our student families).
if you're not open to active teacher involvement, then why bother with the T in PTO?
As a long standing advocate, member and an officier of PTO it is clearly a conflict of interest to place a teacher on an Exec. Bd. of any PTA or PTO. There is an advantage; however, for a "teacher rep." position within the general membership. This means no vote, no attendance to Exec. Bd. meetings and merely a liason position with the teachers and the PTO/PTA. Having teachers input is great having a vote and too much say is dangerous.
Last year I was VP, and it was very impotant to myself, and the P to have a lot of communication with the teachers. The teachers signed up for meetings and we always had 2 at a meeting, if not more. I am P this year and approached the teachers about a liaison position. It was interesting and troubling to hear their response.
In a nutshell, due to problems with past executive members, they did not want to have a permanent position on the executive board as a decision maker, or otherwise. I do understand this because a few years ago members of the PTO were making assumptions about the curriculum. They raised issues at meetings and had people all riled up. The teachers were upset because they were not even approached until after the fact. It was an ugly time for our school and it was not handled at all well. Currently the VP and myself meet with P and VP of the teachers association to talk over things. This works for us and our teachers feel included with no permanent position.I personally would love to have a teacher willing to be more involved because I feel it would help the teachers feel ownership of the PTO. Currently they are observers with little input at meetings.
