Solutions

There are many things that can be done to improve parental involvement at any level, but the success of any program will be tied directly to the support and encouragement of the principal. 'Principals are key contributors to helping parents and other educators understand each other. Ultimate responsibility for creating harmony between the school and the home rests with the principal'. By the school being more aware of the circumstances of nontraditional families, better communications can be established. One thing that the school can do is to let the parents handle parenting responsibilities and the school handle the educational responsibilities. Also, by working with the parents more, the school will have a better idea of what the parents can and cannot do. More realistic expectations for out-of-school projects is an example of this.

Example:
Single parents often do not have the time, money, or knowledge to help children with projects. For example, many mothers do not have equipment or skill to plan science fair experiments or construct woodworking projects, and fathers may not be able to help design and sew costumes for the school play.

Another important item is communication. More communication between the school and home are needed, but specific types of communication are important. Two-way informal exchanges between teacher/parent are much more effective than one-way communication from the teacher. Also, friendly contact should be established with parents early in the year before something has happened that makes it necessary for the teacher to contact the parent.

There are many ways that a school can improve communications. One way is for the school to sponsor a parent/student fund raising. Parents and students working side-by-side gives them a chance to talk, and hopefully the teachers and schools will also be included in this important exchange. Also, parent/teacher organizations can be an avenue to reach parents. Parents who attend parent/teacher meetings are able to get to know their child's teachers better. Another avenue sometimes overlooked is inviting parents to volunteer. By doing this, the school is letting them know that they are wanted, needed, and welcomed at the school. Many parents are more than willing to share their knowledge of occupations, foreign travel, special skills and hobbies. They just want to be asked. Alumni events have been shown to be an excellent way to improve parent/community involvement and a way to raise needed money.

Former students may appreciate the opportunity to return something to their school. One popular program is parent classes, which can help parents with parenting ideas/problems, homework/tutoring strategies, drug education, and improving communications skills. These classes can help the parent, student, and school. Invitational events can encourage people to get involved with the school that might not otherwise.

Grandparents event that has met with success. An open house program at school can bring in parents, and it is very important to greet these visiting parents face-to-face as quickly as possible. Also, greeting visitors with a sign in their own language can make a big impression. Find out the languages spoken by students and parents and put up a sign with all languages on it. Another way to help parents feel genuinely wanted and welcomed is to establish parent advisory groups.

People like to know that their input is valued. Also, the school could set up a parent center in the school stocked with resources to help parents. This is one way the school can say we care. In addition, the school could recognize what parents are doing to help the students and praise them for their efforts. People like to know that someone takes the time to notice and appreciate what they were doing.

One very important way that parents can become involved in their student's work is through the use of computers. This is a new world opening up for a lot of students as well as their parents. They can learn about this exciting world together. One thing that is necessary is to make sure the programs used are at the correct grade level and that there is a lot of variety.

Congratulations okaymom2! It's always great to hear success stories. Your team is lucky to have such hard working and dedicated volunteers like you!!

Since my last post--we have had a complete turn around. We held an open house and it turned out great, the teachers really saw we mean business about getting parents involved in the school and are really there to help them. We have alot more teachers backing the PTO now regardless of what they think of the president..

Our president isn't liked because she pretty much does everything her way... we vote to do it one way and she does it how she wants.. and there is enough of "her buddies" in the PTO that no one will challenge her. She says she will do things and never follows thru..she does alot of stuff that she brings up at the next meeting that she has done or already has in the works.. So I don't know what to do.. I have taken alot of stuff on to do and get accomplished so maybe the teachers will see that the PTO is trying to put out the effort to get some positive feedback from the teachers..... :confused:

okaymom2 - you say teachers may be staying away because they don't like the PTO president. Is it just a personality thing or is something else going on? Why they don't like her may have an impact on the advice you recieve.

JHB gives amazing advice regardless of the personal issues. Deb gives excellent perspective from the teacher viewpoint which only reinforces why teachers are critical to a PTO's success.

Here in Illinois, teachers must earn CPDUs - Continuing Professional Development Units - every year to maintain their teaching certificate. By being Teacher Reps in our PTO, I believe they earn hours towards their CPDUs. We have two teachers who sit on the board, a K-4th rep and a 5th-8th rep. Our principal assists in recruiting for these two positions each year. All other teachers work through the principal and the two teacher reps. We have a mutually respectful relationship between the PTO and the staff. We understand that this is their work place and that our role is to enhance the learning environment. The few times a year we really need their help they are more than willing to assist.

Our school has over 60 staff and about 450 students. We have 3 teacher reps on our PTO board. They consist of 1 primary rep. (k-2), 1 elementary rep. (3-5) and 1 special ed rep. Teachers are asked to volunteer and so far we havnen't had a problem finding them. They have been a great asset to us in that it gives us a teacher's perspective in all decisions. They also relay details to the other teachers in their grade levels. Also, as pres., whenever I send a note home with students about a new fundraiser, event or whatever.......I send a seperate note to all teachers explaining what is expected of them, if anything is.
Any volunteer time a teacher puts in is counted in their extra work hours. A lot of teachers will volunteer so that they don't have a million hours to work at the end of the year. I don't know how many hours they need, but with working at PTO events, many of them aquire a lot of time!