This is always difficult as, usually due to union rules, teachers can't be forced to do anything outside of the work day (and some things during as well). I know, we shouldn't have to make them as they should want to, but at the same time when their day is over they often have their own family responsibilities to take care of.
As far as getting them to attend meetings, that is going to be difficult. Personally I would rather have them attend events. Usually we get one or two to come to certain events, such as our Harvest Hoopla or the dance/party we have is February. But their involvement seems to increase when it is a grade specific event, such as the family BINGO nights that we hold. When it is a third grade evening the 3rd grade teachers seem to feel that they need to make a showing. Also, for our Back to School event we saught donations of teacher related items in order to make a basket. We had a calculator, post it notes, highlighter markers, a 2 GB flash drive, an automatic stapler with staples, etc. We put this all in a basket and displayed it in the main office. We invited them to the event and explained that it was going to be raffled off to a staff member during the party, but that they had to be in attendance in order to win it. My one mistake was holding the raffle about half way into the event, thinking that since they were already there they were going to likely stick around. Boy was I wrong... The moment the raffle was over the staff created a congo line filtering right back into the school. So the idea worked, but next time I'll hold off on the raffle until about 1/2 hour before it is over.
Hey, does anyone know when Teacher Appreciation week is for this school year? I can only find dates for last year and not sure if they change from year to year.
Thank you
Julie
We had a similar problem a couple of years ago. Understand that, no matter how much the teachers love our children, attending a school function is additional work. We started by not charging admission to teachers for any of our event. That helped, but was no magic bullet.
The one thing that really helped was a single, great teacher rep. we had one year who organized dinner out/alcohol-free happy hours between school and the event. I think that made it be more of a night out with friends from work than an extension to an already-long work day. We also made a point of thanking them for coming, and things seemed to be progressing well.
Unfortunately, that teacher rep has swapped schools this year, and no teacher representative has come forward to take her place (we're trying a rotation model). The principal is "strongly encouraging" (ie requiring) teachers to attend events. We still get teachers to attend, but not as many.
Last night we did "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?". We sent invitations to all teachers (with candy), asked them to each turn in some questions appropriate for their grade, asked them to attend and offered teachers that RSVP to be in a gift card raffle. Only 3 showed up! They were vital to our game! We felt we truly had to gush over those that attended. The last time a teacher game to one of our regular meetings was last school year when we offered $500 "grants". and they had to attend in order to explain their need.
How frustrating! Wonder why it's a PTO if there's no T!?! Our Principal's great to us, but doesn't have a backbone with teachers on this topic. Any suggestions?
Attend your principal's staff meeting. Inform them of the ways in which the PTO will be assisting them this year, programs they will continue this year, trips and what "gifts to school" you are considering. Also remind them how you will be planning a special Teacher Appreciation celebration as well.
Then go in with just two ways you need their assistance this year to make it more successful for the PTO. Let them know how their involvement would be instrumental to the success of these two events and how excited the kids would be.
Take any questions they may have on these two events or any other questions about or for the PTO.
Leave your sign up sheet with the date and times of the events and let your principal follow up with them after you leave.
We asked for teacher support with our Fun Fair event (held the 2nd Sat in February) by running a game for 1 hour. The kids LOVE seeing the teachers there!!!!
And at our Barnes and Noble event where they sign up for a story reading. they get a 20 minute slot and they can read alone or share the time with other teachers. Some read a play, or read from separate books, but the kids sit for hours listening to storytime by the teachers.
We've had a tremendous turn out from the staff at the events and they are happy to do it considering all we do for them throughout the year.
