You know "mom and teacher", I've stayed out of this thread, but see how you could feel the way you do after reading some of the posts. I think that many times parents think that it's part of the teacher's job to be involved in everything related to the school and they forget that teachers have lives outside of that building. That is a crucial thing to remember when a parent group plans any event or program for which they want teacher involvment. As a parent who served for many years on the exec. board of parent groups, I will say that having your teachers available to give you feedback at meetings is a huge help in planning school activities and your group's budget. I think it all comes down to working as a team to do what is best for the students in your school. Here are my thoughts:
Keep in mind what the ultimate goal of your parent group is-to make your school a better place for your children.
Parents: Remember that teachers are people just like you. They have families and committments and their own lives outside of the school. Plan your programs and events accordingly and don't get upset when every teacher in the school doesn't get deeply involved in your group. Every parent doesn't get involved either and they have a vested interest in the success of the school-their children.
Teachers: Remember that you are sometimes the BEST source of what is needed in the school and what programs and events will and won't work for your student population. You know the children and their parents. Having a successful parent group means having the best information so you can plan programs/events that will be enjoyed, will educate, and will be successful financially.
All in all it means working TOGETHER to find ways to achieve the things you want in the school.
While reading these posts I was a little concerned. As a parent of 2 children at our school, a teacher during the day, and a softball coach, travel baseball manager, taxi driver, gymnastics coach, team mom, tutor, etc. at night....I'd like to know exactly what everyone is expecting from teachers. I do attend PTO meetings, try to help out for an hour or so at carnivals, etc., and am on the nominating committee for our new officers. After hours, I have a second job I go to. It's the job of mom (like most of you). I have two very active kids and very little time to myself.
It seems like everyone is very quick to ridicule and criticize what teachers are doing, but have no understanding of our life once we leave those doors. Just because we are teachers doesn't mean that PTO gets to dictate what we do after 3:30.
Maybe I am reading this wrong (and hopefully I am). My life is pretty scheduled as it is, and "forcing" other things on me isn't a way to get anything out of me. Asking me (and understanding the times when I can't help) is going to get you farther.
I'm here!!!!! But I'm busy starting up the new school year and getting our PTO thru triage - the previous PTO's have left it in a severe state of deprivation! I do have a few ideas/tricks that are working for us - when I can take a breathe I'll get back on!
What do you do when any event held at school requires (per principal) teachers to be there because they are "certified" but teachers do not want to have anything to do with PTO activities outside school hours???
The principal does not seem to excited to have parents attend PTO activities after school. She would rather have things during school without parents.
But the parents ask to have activities such as sock hops, fall festivals, ice cream socials, etc. Last year the PTO had 1 activity parents could attend with their children and that was because the school half sponsored it with the PTO.
Does anyone have any suggestions, I am currently the PTO president and new at this school, inexperienced, with an all new inexperienced board. HELP!!!! We want to have fun and get parents involved, which they want also!!! ColoradoPTOMom where are you I need your input!!!!!
We have a teacher liason who comes to every meeting and reports back to the teachers. We try to get them more involved by making them feel special. Throughout the year, we send them treats, have doorprizes, have a wishlist contest where two entries are chosen and they get $50.00 for whatever they wished for as long as it has to do with chldren. At our fundraisers they try to donate things or volunteer. We have a Burger King night and try to get teachers to attend. The kids love to see them. We weren't getting many teachers so after polling them, this year our hours will be earlier. Don't get me wrong, it still is hard to get them involved but hopefully our incentives help.
Motonmom
