I have been active in out PTO for since my daughter started school. I enjoy being a part of what goes on at her school. I feel that everyone at the school is equally important, the principal, teachers, support staff, custodians, cafeteria staff , students and the parents. Lets face it, it takes everyone to have a successful school. That is why it is PTO or PTA. To do you best everyone needs help from someone else at some point. With that said, at our school we have several support groups. We have teacher appreciation coordinator (which includes ALL the staff), a room parent coordinator (which includes all the parents that are volunteering their help) and a fund raiser coordinator (which reaches everyone). Each group does things through out the year to make everyone feel as they are important. It is usually small things like a treat and a note each month. Some months it might just be a special poem on some decorative paper, at valentines we put a mail box in the main lobby for anyone to send a note to who they think makes them feel happy. Some of the PTO members and parents have even received them. The cost doesn’t have to be expensive. If one month we want to have something that is a little costly doing it for everyone, we ask for donations from anyone. As far as the fundraisers go, everyone is included. The money raised is to improve the school as a whole, it is for improvement where it is needed the most. We have a very happy school. The kids have the best education provided to them by us all working together. That’s the goal we have made for our school, making our school the best!

This is my 1st year as pto pres at my school, but have been actively involved for 9 years. All of our teachers are involved somewhat in school events, whether it be fundraising, dances, whatever. We appreciate our teachers so much!
One of the ideas we did this year was sent around a survey to the teachers, asking thier fav bookstore, teacher's supply store, restuarants, beverages, flowers, desserts, homemade meals, hobbies. These were then copied for all the students, folded/stapled (so the teachers didn't know what we were doing and sent them home to the parents. This way, if someone wants to do something nice for a teacher, they have ideas to go from. Some parents have cooked a meal and taken it to their teacher at the end of the school day, taken a case of their favorite soda in to them. Even the smallest gesture is always appreciated. For Easter (or beginning of spring) we are thinking of buying inexpensive plastic vases at the dollar store, setting them outside of the classroom doors or near the teacher's desk and sending a memo home to parents to ask them to and simple. send thier child to school on a particular day, with a flower, whether bought or handpicked. Then the teacher will have a vase full of flowers from her students. Simple, inexpensive and the teachers will love it!
Also, for Christmas, I had a surprise cookie party. I asked 20 volunteers to bake 2 dozen cookies. I bought inexpensive shirt boxes, laid tissue paper in them for the teachers to put their goodies into. I had chocolate fondue with fruit & different dipping things, water and cider. Then I went to the classrooms, and asked each grade level to come to this room. They each could take home 2 dozen cookies of their choice, plus have the fondue/drinks to eat then. They loved it! Again, inexpensive & simple.

Wow for me too! My treasurer is always making statements about the "T" in PTO, wondering why we don't see more teachers involment! I aprreciate that our small Charter School pays less, with less benefits for our teachers, and yet we have many dedicated teachers stay year after year! I too feel we need to recognize their commitment to our students, not to our PTO functions. Thanks for the input that I plan on sharing at our next meeting!

Yes! It is not "just for the children". Parent groups these days are focused more on "parental involvement" than ever before. Not only that, groups look to make the school climate much better by offering a few "extras" each and every year. At our school, we say "it is all for the school". It means the staff, the students and their families.

Wow... i am so glad to hear others that feel the same way our group does. Yes... a happy teacher goes a long way. Everyone likes to receive little "happies" it makes them... well.. happy. And although I do expect our teachers to support our fundraising efforts...I don't feel it is their job to "help" necessarily. I want them to do what they are there to do... teach. We are there to carry out the fundraisers. When we walk around our schools and into their classrooms we are greeted with open arms... their appreciation of our organization and the work we do for our children shows on their faces and i truly believe it comes (not from the gift card we gave them or the lunch we provided them) but from their knowlege that we value and appreciate them whole heartedly.

I agree with Tim!
I am President of a PTA here in Florida and we always do staff appreciation every month.
A happy staff makes for a happy school. A happy school makes for involved and inspired students.

I am not saying you need to spend a lot of money on this. But it is well worth while to do something small for the staff members- including secretarues, lunchroom workers, and custodians (they are important to the school as well). Even if you only acknowledege these underpaid workers' dedication once or twice a year- it is well worth it. I don't know of any profession that has so much inpact on our children's lives so much of the time-(180 days at least a year) that gets paid so little. A small thank you every once in a while is not out of line.

This time of year everybody is talking about holiday tipping for everybody from the hairdresser to the UPS man- but no one thinks about how to really thank the dedicated people at the school. That is where your Parent group can come in.
If it is not in your budget to do anything big- perhaps your group can coordinate the parents in each class or grade level to do something for those teachers. Parents always want to know what the teachers want. Maybe your group can post a wish list.
(I know this posting is after the holiday- but maybe it is an idea for next year or even teacher appreciation week in May).

If you are looking for another idea for your PTA to do something small- this year we put together "Snowman Hot Chocolate". We got cello bags and layered 1/4 cup of hot chocolate mix in the bag with a layer of chocolate chips (a handfull) and a layer of mini marshmallows. We tied it with a pretty ribbon and passed it to all of the staff members. We got the hot chocolate mix very cheaply at out price club, and the chips and marshamllows were donated. All in all it cost about 50 cents per staff member. we did 110 of them. Not bad...and everybody loved it.
This might be something you could modify for Valentine's day.