Hi OK -

Could you and your fellow officers have constructive conversations with teachers during school hours? Maybe set up an appointment with one or two.

Or are your meetings the only time that the input can be received?

Tim

I too would like more involvement from our teachers. There is only one teacher is our school that their actually attend our school, everyone elses kids go to surrounding schools. So at 3:30 they are usually gone and don't want to return... Here comes the but.. I constantly get complaints about some of the things the PTO has done or are wanting to do, but no teachers ever show up to give advice or anything. so help would be good

My last group's meetings were usually attended by board members only. The board includes the Asst Principal and two teacher reps (one from k-4th and one from 5th-8th). Infrequently a parent member or two would show up.

It's often said on these boards that event participation is a better indicator of a team's success than meeting attendance. My team was great at encouraging members and teachers to volunteer and participate in many ways so we did consider ourselves successful.

It's unclear from your post if your teachers routinely support the PTO in many other ways: Volunteering at events; Playing a vital role in the backpack express; Accepting your presence during the school day as you go about your work.

I'd say that if you have a solid representative that ensures two way communication and staff support in many other areas of your work then maybe let the meeting attendance issues go and continue to provide the teacher appreciation services that provide much needed moral support for these seriously overworked folks.

If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work spread out over too few volunteers then perhaps your main focus could be on building your volunteer base to a point where this dedicated handful doesn't have to do it all.

Good luck to you. It sounds like you're just the kind of leader to make a huge difference at your school!

At our school the only people who come to the meetings are the boardmembers. The Principal and a Teacher Liason are a part of the board. They each have reports on the agenda. I, too, would like to see more teachers. Not just at meetings but at the events we put on.

Hello from the new land of OZ, Connecticut! We had tornado weather yesterday, on the first of December!---Our PTO is spunky and we are getting a lot of things planned and done. I would like to know of any suggestions for more teacher involvement. A sour note is that two years ago a teacher approached our pto president and said it was a shame...that we (the PTO) didn't fund a teacher breakfast that particular year! To which our president said it wasn't an affront, it was just a hectic spring schedule with our 23 yr veteran principal's retirement and a rash of new items to deal including a new fundraiser---we didn't have the "man" power to do the teacher breakfast. That president expressed her utmost gratitude to our teaching staff and said it did not mean that our teachers were un-appreciated, it was again, that we few parents were doing all the grunt work for all the events and we were worn out. I was quite disgruntled, plainly, that up to then, I'd only seen one teacher, and our school nurse in 2 years come to a meeting. I felt used in a way, that our teachers expected a breakfast, but didn't show up to give us any feedback or assistance. I kept my thoughts to myself, because I am a teacher--not teaching at the present, and I KNOW about the long hours and not recieving any thanks.BUt I thought it was terribly wrong on that teacher's part to complain about a breakfast, as if it was deserved automatically.

Well, that was 2 years ago. Since then, a new PTO board, etc. And I have yet to see teachers consistently at our meetings. And I love our teaching staff; my kids have been at this elem. school for going on six years! They are truly a dedicated bunch, and I am proud of them, and all they represent. However, it is true, they seem to come only when they need things. We (the PTO)consistently raise monies for cultural arts and needful items, like the new smart boards (we bought 2 for our elem. school at $3K each),equipment for various teachers, playground items, and--field trips!

So, what am I missing----I brought this up at the last PTO meeting too. That night, we had a GREAT demonstration of the new smart boards---after which the teacher left. I mean NO disrespect. Quite the opposite! I want to know what it would take to get more teacher involvement. Our principal does make 99% of the meetings---and again, I know he is the representative of the teaching staff. But I want faces! Am I expecting too much? I want to learn why it's only parents, who come to our meetings.

We have a raffle, provide a certified babysitter, and! refreshments.I was thinking, we could plan the agenda to ask a teacher at each meeting. What are the thoughts on this situation? I would really appreciate any and all suggestions! THANK YOU for listening; a long time PTO volunteer mom