thanks this gives me a great place to start

These are really random notes from various sites because I was going to throw together a Room Parent Job Description", but maybe this will help???

Room Parents
Parents and guardians from a particular class or grade level who serve as a liaison or contact person for that classroom are room representatives. They are encouraged to be members of the local PTO, but they do not serve on the executive board.
The room representative coordinator (chairman) represents them on the executive board.

RESPONSIBILITIES

* Help build friendly relations among parents from that classroom or grade level.

* Work effectively with the classroom teacher(s).

* Encourage teacher(s) and parents to develop a "team effort" to foster communications and cooperation between home and school.

* Interpret and promote the work of PTO within the school and the community.

* Be enthusiastic and demonstrate to parents and teachers that PTO involvement creates excitement and a sense of accomplishment for everyone.

DUTIES

* Work closely with the room representative coordinator or other designated board members.

* Make an appointment to meet with the classroom teacher(s),to become acquainted and to offer assistance, if needed, with classroom projects, field trips, celebrations, etc.

* Attempt to contact the parents of all students in the classroom(s) either by telephone, letter ore-mail. Personal contact is vital in helping parents get involved and in making them feel welcome.

* Encourage members to participate in and help with PTO activities: study groups, parent orientation meetings, health examinations and immunizations, library functions, school volunteers, legislative action, and other PTO programs and projects.

* Prepare a file containing parents' names, addresses, telephone numbers and other pertinent information for PTO use only. In some instances school district records may be open for PTO to use. In others, information may be obtained from teachers and/or parents. In either case, the information must be kept strictly confidential.

* Set up a telephone or e-mail tree so that each parent is responsible for calling or e-mailing other parents to advise them of PTO and school activities and events.

* Assist with PTO membership enrollment or with hospitality as requested.

PREPARE
* Meet with the room representative coordinator to learn the association's work plan for room representatives.

* Understand the unit's goals and plans for the year.

* Become familiar with the policies and Purposes of the PTO.

* Understand the school district policies regarding TB testing, fingerprinting, food service, classroom visits, classroom interruptions, transportation of students, etc.

* Reinforce the objectives of the classroom teacher(s), assisting in activities as requested and promoting a positive attitude for PTO projects.

* Participate in PTO, not just as a voice on the phone or an e-mail sender, but as a member who values the work of the organization on behalf of children and youth.

* Keep in touch with the coordinator and other PTO officers and chairmen to share ideas and suggestions for improving interpersonal relations and team building.

A list of classroom teachers (room number and grade level).

A current calendar of PTO and school activities.

A copy of any school/school district policies regarding parent involvement and participation in school activities

Room Parent Helpful Hints

Keep in contact with your teacher and let him/her know you are available.
There may be things he/she will call on you to help with, or he/she may need you to make phone calls for donations for class projects. Check with the teacher before you do anything and follow up often.

Call or send a letter to your parents just to introduce yourself. By doing so you will be surprised how much more cooperation you receive when you call for help. Give them your phone number and let them know they can call you also. When you take the time to personally call a parent, you get a sense of whom you can depend on later. Included in this handbook is a sample letter you may complete and copy to send home to parents. Also included is a sheet to record phone numbers and email addressed you collect.

Use your helpers. They will be a great help with donation phone calls. You may be asked to help identify volunteers for school-wide events, so please keep a record of who proves dependable. A copy of the Event Volunteer Form is included in this handbook.

Do not feel like you must do or provide everything yourself. It is very important that you give other parents an opportunity to be involved. It is vital that no parent feels left out of an opportunity to benefit the classroom.

Any letters you wish to send home to the parents must have the teacher´s approval. Some parents have found responses improve if they make a list of desired items and let the teacher "assign" things to parents in a letter.
Discuss this possibility with the teacher.

Ask the teacher if any children have food allergies or religious restrictions and try to accommodate their needs.

Give parents a clear time to send items to the classroom. Non-perishable items can be collected up to a week ahead, while perishable items should arrive the morning of the event. Always communicate with the teacher regarding amounts, time, storage, etc.

{Insert name here} can assist you with ideas and letters for upcoming events.

Combine any calls to parents that you possibly can. This will save time and aggravation. Divide the phone list with helpers whenever possible. Make sure you follow up with the helpers!

Make a list of each parent´ promised donation. Ask the parents to label items they send to the classroom. Follow up on what has not been sent.

Try to remember that your classroom is part of the larger network of classrooms. When the opportunity arises, encourage the parents you meet to participate in PTO meetings, fundraisers and school-wide events. Please lead by example. Parents will more likely continue their involvement if they see others they know at PTO events. You are a crucial conduit of information from individual parents to the PTO.

Confidentiality is to be maintained in order to respect the dignity and privacy of every student.

Volunteers should dress modestly and appropriately for all functions related to school.

To volunteer in any capacity where the parent may have contact with the children without the supervision of a teacher or staff member, the parents must also submit the Volunteer Criminal History Screening Consent Form and attend a training session. These sessions are offered in the evening near the start of the school year.

Our new principal requested volunteers for a "room mom" for each grade/classroom however I asked her to define this position and she hasn't done this for me yet. I understand she is new to our school and is making connections with not only the staff but the parents and students so can anyone provide me with a rough idea of what a "room mom" is or does then I might expand upon it.

thanks in advance