Idea Bag

  • Comprehensive Involvement Prescription

    Impressed by this feature from Michigan, where author captures both the importance of involvement and the challenges of growing involvement at the elementary, middle and high school levels. A good read...

  • Bigger Fundraising Events in Michigan

    This trend started before the economy cratered (though reporter makes the connection), but this Michigan piece is still interesting. More and more Michigan groups organizing major community events for their fundraising. Piece profiles several.

  • Birthday Club and Your PTO

    (Note: cross-post from our schoolfamily.com blog). Really like this idea spearheaded by a couple of kids down in Florida.

  • 2 Hour Power Success in Rhody

    Always fun to read about one of our programs paying dividends for a group, so I was more than pleasantly surprised when i picked up a local paper this morning and ran across this piece from a paper near my hometown.

  • Indy PTO Takes on Flu Bug

    Like the community spirit of this local parent-serving effort. Local PTO partners with Visting Nurses Association to bring flu shots right to school setting.

  • School Health Fair in Ohio

    Looking for a programming/service idea? Like what these guys did with a community health fair. Looks like three different groups got involved, recruited some neat local speakers, and even roped in the Radio Disney crew for some fun. Cool.

  • School Make-Over in Arkansas

    Local PTO, principal and a local church group looking for a project team up in a big way to transform a school.

  • Help Optimize an Important New Product

    I can't think of a better group for this than us active volunteer leaders, so I've got a request: One of our best partners (Symantec/Norton) is working on a pretty exciting new development around keeping our kids safe online.

  • PTO's Parent University Impresses

    Here's a concept I hope you can run with. Check out this day-long, free "Parent University" put on by a Nevada PTO. What a service for the community's families. Fifty parents attended and I'm sure got a ton of benefit, but every family in that school received a very clear message on what this PTO is all about.

  • Multicultural Challenge -- NY PTA working to attract Asian families

    Winnie Hu from the New York Times does a nice job of frequently covering school and family and parent involvement stories. I found her story this week particularly interesting, as she follows the efforts of a Long Island (NY) PTA to connect with a growing Asian population at school. If you have a diverse popualtion at your school, I bet you'll find some interesting parallels.

  • Principal Sleeps on Roof for PTO Fundraiser Bet

    Love the spirit behind these good-hearted wagers -- the zanier the better.  Last week it was the Principal in the bunny suit riding a Harley and today it's the Principal sleeping overnight on the school roof(in 30-degree weather!).

  • Teacher Holiday Shopping Spree

    Nice twist on teacher gifts from this North Carolina PTO.  Rather than straight gift certificate or supplies, these guys throw shopping spree and thanks event at a teacher supply store. Cool idea.

  • Parent Survey Incentive

  • Canned Food Drive and Book Fair

  • Walkathon Fundraiser Incentive

  • Your documents are helping other parent group leaders

    First of all, a great big "Thanks!" to everyone who has uploaded a file to the File Exchange, our new document sharing tool. Other leaders are finding your docs really useful.

  • Q&A With PTO Doctor

    At each of our expos, Patty Catalano (PTO Today staffer) puts on her white doctors coat and helps leaders diagnose and find solutions.

  • The Power of Parent Involvement (part 906)

    I haven't really been counting, but I sure do love stories like this one about parents and teachers and admins working together to transform a school. Especially like how the parent piece is featured not as a nice-to-have, but as a must-have element of really getting the school thing right. Couldn't agree more.

  • PTOs and the Economy -- a Response

  • PTA for the Senior Set

    Their kids are all grown up now, but these North Dakota grandparents and retired school employees haven't retired from the PTA. The senior citizens formed their own group --Golden Oaks PTA.
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