I posted this on another Teacher Involvement thread and think it's relevant here as well.

Absolutely, teamwork and respect go a long way toward developing and maintaining a positive relationship. With all due respect, though, I think it's a mistake to assume that low teacher involvement is a result of lack of respect from the parent group. Sometimes there's a dynamic already at play and no amount of positive interaction with a parent group can fix that. It doesn't mean we quit trying, just that we need to recognize the situation for what it is and do our best to continue to help.

In return, I think there are many ways other than membership and meeting attendance that teachers use to show their appreciation for us:

- A great response for volunteer hours.
- Cooperation in the "Backpack Express".
- Parents are welcome in the building and the classrooms.
- A steady stream of heartfelt thank you cards from teachers and students in your mailbox.
- Members stopped in the hallways and personally thanked for their hard work.

Shawn is right - we need a middle ground.

anonymous is right too - ALL volunteer efforts need to be recognized and appreciated.

I think one of the misnomers (and we're sorry anonymous) but why are they called Parent Teacher Org or Association if Teachers arent members?

I wouldnt call my West Coast Dynasty Baseball Leage the West Coast Dynasty Footbal League when baseball is the game......

No parent begrudges teachers 'having families and lifes' but the families do too --- yes it is their childs school but it is also the teachers school..

Most are just trying to get involvement , support and suggestions from teachers. Unfortunately a lot make us feel the PTA/PTO's are "handouts" for $$$$$, supplies and neccessities.

Everyone here is trying to find a middle ground --too do all but not just be a mindless ATM for the school

[ 08-20-2006, 04:08 AM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

I am speaking as a teacher who has tried to be involved with our PTO. In the past I have attended events to help and the PTO members didn't even know I was a teacher at the school. They didn't have kids in my grade, so they had no reason to know who I was. I was never even thanked for giving up my Saturday to work a double shift at a PTO event. Our PTO this year is already making an effort to familiarize themselves with ALL the teachers, not just their children's.
As teachers we work A LOT of hours. We try our best to get all the notes home, participate in events, and attend meetings. But sometimes we do need a "break". Go easy on your teachers and make sure they know they are appreciated. Sometimes it is just something we need to hear one more time.

You might also try to get teachers with children in the school system. They seem to be more willing to be involved with PTO and are able to be present and both a teacher and a parent.

I have to say that we have such a wonderful group of admistration and teachers in our district. Our principals come when they can to our meetings so they have an idea what we do and to give us any input. We have 4 teacher reps, 2 from the elementary school and 2 from the middle school. We ask that at least 1 attend from each building and they give us updates or needs that they have and then report to the other teachers of important PTO items at their staff meetings. Our super attends at least 2-3 times a year to help or assist with any needs also. We have an annual carnival every spring and our teachers volunteer to help with it. We only ask them to work a half hour to an hour shift and they are all very receptive to that. And we have the middle school teachers supervise the older middle school students that we have working snack booth, raffle booth and trash detail. Try offering multiple positions on your board so teachers can take turns coming to meetings but still stay informed and short shifts when asked to work for carnival etc. We did a back to school night before school started this year for the first time and got a lot of positive feedback from all of the teachers about how they enjoyed the relaxed feel of it and about getting it done before the hectic first few weeks of school, with getting students settled into a routine. We also wanted the students to have a chance to bring in their supplies (get rid of the heavy bag on the first day of school) and give them a chance to see where their room is and meet their teacher. Was a big success.

Bribery didn't work for me, but it does for some. I went from a school where there were often more teachers to parents to one with many teachers saying "What's a PTO?"

At one school the principal expected teachers to be at the meetings. I didn't want them to be resentful so I started doing a supply basket for the teacher with the most parents there. Teachers had to be present. In the past they won a banner to hang by there door until the next meeting. They still got to do that. I carried the supply basket idea with me to the next school. I feel the basket helps teachers, students, and parents. I also kept a sign in sheet seperate from parents and teachers. Each time a parent or teacher came to a meeting their name was threw in a hat for $50.00 Wal Mart gift certif. That didn't work either. I think we had two teachers and three parents at the last meeting of the year.

Hopefully tonight we can get a new pres with a magnetic personality that no one can resist. LOL!