We are showing more support for our teachers this year and we hope they will start rallying behind us more in return. We redecorated the teachers lounge this summer. They were shocked and very thankful. We received a lot of thank you notes saying "thanks for caring". We are also giving a monthly "staff luncheon". We hope that by showing them a little more attention they start giving a little more of themselves in support of the PTO.
Looks promising!

What teachers involved? LOL!

This was a small issue when I first became pres at the elementary. Then the principal pretty much put her foot down. In the past the teacher with the most parent's attending received a banner to hang outside their door until the next meeting. That didn't seem to work to well and the upper grades were getting left out. It was a K-5 school at that time. So a parent made another banner for me. I wanted to give $10 for supplies. Principal said no. So then we tried dinners from local diners. That was rather disasterous. Which brought me to the supply basket idea. The baskets were about $15. We had one for the primary winner and one for the intermediate winner. I felt that students, teachers, and parents could benefit from the supplies. I had a talented volunteer to help me dress them up pretty with ribbons and celaphane. That sparked some excitement. It was standing tradition that teachers and classified staff had to work fall festival in order to recieve their money. But one year there was several sick, one in the hosipital so my board fixed it where they could make it up during other events.

This year is a total differnt story. I had one teacher to ask me to change the second meeting. I did and she didn't even show. We had about 3 classroom teachers. Since there are only two grades at this school and funds are limited we only have 1 supply basket. There was a tie (something you have to consider). The original board decided on having the teachers to attend three meetings and two events in order to receive their money. That didn't work so well since most of our teachers will not accept their money in order for it to go to our playground fund. New this year each time a parent and teacher that attends the meetings their names go into a drawing at the end of the year for a gift certif.

This is actually an area that I feel pretty good about... we have great teacher support-- and I feel it keeps getting better. At our first meeting/ family night (we combined the 2) this year, we had 6 (out of 20) teachers plus our principal. We typically have about the same turnout for our family nights... and at our first carnival last year, we had all but 2 of the staff volunteer (AND SOME OF THEM WERE IN THE DUNK TANK!!!) We have really created a good realtionship where they support our efforts and we support theirs. Thus, our classroom support money comes with no strings attached. Every teachers in the building recieves $75 for extra expenses.

Kelley
Madison PTO
Mount Vernon, WA

Our teachers must work 2 of our events to receive their money. Attendance at meetings is better among teachers than parents alot of the time. We award a supply basket to the teacher with the most parents in attendance. The teacher must be present to win.

we have some teacher support, non really at our meetings but when it comes to the fall festival and events like that we do get about a dozen that will give their time. They actually find that they enjoy it, as far as funds we have never really been in the position to do so and with our mission statement devoted to bringing families and school together it is clear that we spend our money on family events or school wide events. even if we had the funds I think we would do something special for the whole school.

Unfortunately ours are supportive but not Active(ly) supportive (only 2 out of 30 teachers are PTA members).
We've had a good relationship until this year, our school and teachers have made a few too many "I need $$$ for this?" the last 2- 3 weeks instead of looking for alternatives plus the PTA (we are not just a cash cow and they didnt come to our $$$ allocation mtg.)

We are putting some more stipulations in place, re-issue of how-to-request funds, timetables, other resources and funding, grant request(s) for larger items/ projects and just some information for them on common courtesy.