You caught me on a good day . . . there are days I could (and would) write pages about what the "T" in PTA/PTO stands for, I'll try to stick with the question which, if I understand it, is are teachers ideally involved in the organization.

Ideally - yes - they are, in fact, the "T" in the acronym.

Realistically - in my never to be humble opionion - there will always be the few teachers who will participate. I can tell you that in the schools I have worked in the teachers realize the squeaky wheel mentality - that is, if you are at the meetings asking for something, you have a much better chance of getting it than if you ask me, the lowly volunteer, when I pass you in the hallway at school. (Oh yeah - I wasn't gonna climb on my soapbox this time, right?)

O.K. - I'll quit and hope I answered the question.

Our current by-laws address parent membership, but not teachers without children on the campus. The new President is not allowing teachers (without children on campus) to vote....even though they had paid their dues. Has anyone encountered this problem before?

Hey Kma! took me awhile to jump in here but I can't give a blanket answer. It's been said already that in some places the teachers are wonderful in other's, they're not. My school's PTA for an example, has 100% teacher membership in the PTA. We assigned through discussion, teacher representatives for each grade and they constantly praise the great work PTA is doing.
During meetings, we're lucky if one of them shows up and surprised to see more than two!
Another unit under me, has two teachers on the board. They are super PTAers and support their school well but they have low membership and struggle with issues such as budget, lack of parental involvement and general complaceny.

You can encourage them to participate by offering incentives to join (my school had a drawing during the teacher's welcome lunch and everyone who joined prior to or during was entered into the drawing) Other schools have a PTA/PTO rep that attends the teachers' staff meetings and gives a report and keeps them involved in the day to day.

As for their work performance, you can see it in most of the posts. It isn't really up to the school, it then goes to the district but they answer to the state and federally, the money partially comes from them, so who ends up with the buck? If you see that some of the materials being used are outdated, offer as a PTO/PTA to subsidize the costs of updating them. Poll your teachers and ask them what the PTA/PTO can do to help them enhance the curriculum and get their individual answers. Find out who they get their directives from. Start digging. In the meantime, support measures that increase funding for education, including teacher training. Volunteer to assist in your child's classroom and encourage other parents to do the same.
That's the best I've got. i hope it's enough!

Hi kmamom,
I agree with LUVMYKIDS. Treat the teachers like they are members. They might not show up to meetings or help out at every event, but they can provide a unique insight in other ways. Don't let them think that they are seen as just wanting money.
Thanks.

kmamom-
Not sure what your relationship is with the Principal but let me offer this. When you shop in a dept. store and given the chance to tell a manager about the customer service you did or didn't recieve, (well, I do) you say something. Especially when the situation could have been handled better. Same here. Your Pricipal wants to know about concerns like this, please don't make this an issue but rather a concern. As far as curriculum, our school is a Core Knowledge so THAT IS and ALWAYS will be the curriculum but my son is NOT doing the same work that my daughter would have done 6 years ago because of the consant training and in-service and a convention our teachers attend to keep a good idea, good!
Our Principaal visits each room at least twice a month (we are K-12, lots of rooms!) and notes their good days and bad but the teachers that have been let go, for the most part, the parents understood why as they saw the same issues. I hope that made sense!
I haven't worked in the school but have gotten to know and observe like you. Ask to met your Principal for a cup of coffee and discuss your concerns. Keep it like meeting a friend as it should be. I love my lunch with my principal before school starts for the year.

Were the PTO and teachers fit together is (as you have seen!) different with everyone! We love our teacher reps and others that associate with the PTO. They often provide us the insite we lack as to what assembly (for ex) worked or didn't, what fundraiser was a pain...etc. We also ask that they present there needs to the group so the important questions can be asked or just talked about. The toughest part is reminding them that we are here to help and not just a slosh fund for them (really hasn't been an issue for us). Maybe a formal invitation should be given...see the reaction you get!
One afternoon a teacher said to me "UGH, PTO tonight, I have so much to do...." and went on to go on and on about feeding her cat and correcting papers! Well, I smiled and said " I'll trade you, I need to make dinner for my five children, grab the sitter, remind my husband to come home early , throw another load in the washer, nurse the baby, change a few diapers and remeber to eat and change myself." She came to the meeting and teased me about my shirt...I forgot to change my shirt! I didn't want to make my life more crazy but show her I MAKE the time to be involved in the five most important people in my life. After all, I am my kids mom!

Hi, everybody. I'll try to keep this up-beat since I've been dumped on pretty consistantly for the last two weeks. I'll try not to be too depressing!
There is a poster in my son's school that reads: "NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THAT A FEW DEDICATED, COMMITTED PEOPLE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD; FOR IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT EVER HAS".
And since I have been dumped on by 1. Mom's at a PTO meeting 2. the school secretary 3. the school principal and 4. my neighbor, I try to live by that poster!! If we keep our chins up and gather even a little support, things can change for the better. Ya gotta believe [img]smile.gif[/img]