Those are exactly the types of appreciation activities that would make it easy(ier) to include every school employee.
Generally, it's when a PTO wants to express appreciation above and beyond this approach that problems arise in determining the employees to include within the budget available.
Just a reminder to those who are planning their teacher/staff appreciation events:
It's not really how much money you spend, but the sincerity with which the thanks are given. An event doesn't have to be elaborate and you don't have to give out hundreds of dollars in prizes to let your teachers and staff know how much you appreciate them. A simple luncheon with food prepared by grateful parents, thank you cards from parents and students, and covering recess or other duties to allow teachers a little extra break all show your appreciation without breaking the bank.
**You are going to have to spend money anyway, just include alll the staff. **
How large is your school (number of total employees)? How large a budget does your PTO allocate for appreciation purposes?
Theoretically it's a wonderful idea to try and include every last person who works at the school. Realistically, though, trying to "appreciate" that many people in a meaningful way could bankrupt the budget and/or deplete monies intended for classroom/school material and equipment improvements.
If we took your approach in our school with our budget, the faculty and staff wouldn't be feeling particularly appreciated afterwards as any gestures would be very watered down.
It's not that the staff and ancillary teaching staff aren't very important. They are. But, the core group of teachers are the backbone of the education program, so they have priority when it comes to allocating budget.
Just try and run a school with teachers only. You are going to have to spend money anyway, just include alll the staff. We would not think to not include the other staff. JC
I know of no school that doesn't struggle with who to include and who not to include in appreciation efforts. If a PTO includes teachers exclusively, does that include all the ancillary teaching staff like speech, ESL, talented and gifted, guidance, etc. (i.e. teachers who may only serve a portion of the student population intermittently)? If a school includes aides, then why not include the janitorial staff, the cafeteria ladies, or office support staff (all of whom everyone knows work just as hard as teachers)?
But....if a school includes every staff member in addition to every faculty member, the numbers can become so huge that any appreciation effort becomes far too unwieldy or expensive to execute.
No matter what direction a PTO chooses, there will be someone or a group of someones who will feel "left out".
Our teacher appreciation week has always included the classroom aides and other staff members. However, this year, the PTO president (on her own) decided only teachers will be allowed to participate in the fun events (prizes, contests). Aides are allowed to join in the luncheon, but with all the fun going around them and not being able to participate it's hard not to feel left out and unappreciated. Many of them work just as hard as the teachers, hold degrees, but do not have the title of "teacher". Should teacher appreciation be for teachers only?
