I am new to this PTO thing and am actually really getting into it. Can't wait till my girls are in the High School so I can join the Boosters.

But I have a question and I think that it is very important that they (teachers) are involved especially when they only come to the meetings when they want something.

What if or is this too much to ask. If each month only one teacher needs to represent the teachers at meeting. This way it is only once a year that a teacher needs to come. But the teachers can inform us of what they need, what is going on with the kids, what is working and what is not. What is new and what needs to be over and done with. And since not all parents come to the PTO meetings maybe the ones that don't come come to the teachers and the teachers can tell us what they are saying or not saying.

I just think that it is the teachers responsiblity too. And by only requiring one teacher at the meeting representing the teachers it is not asking a lot. And the old timers can really put this off on the newcomers if need be. But is this not called the "PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION????

Heather L Morris
mrshlmorris@yahoo.com
Michigan:rolleyes:

Heather--I think you'll find as many answers to your last question as you'll find posters on these boards. Some feel strongly that teachers need to be more actively involved and others are satisfied that their support during the schoolday is their involvement. Either way you cut it...it can feel frustrating at times. Most folks do have a teacher rep at their meetings but like anything else it is not possible to make it mandatory without incurring some hard feelings. We are satisfied with our principal and assistant principal's participation as they are quick to enhance our programs with the "teacher's perspective" on things. Usually anything they add is an enhancement to what we are planning and I welcome their support. So go for it as far as your idea is concerned as long as the administration supports it, but the key is to not be disappointed if it doesn't meet the expectations you have set for participation in a physcial sense.
This is about what you can do; not what you/we cannot.
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I 2nd the (e)Motion -- its as varied an answer like/dislike as poster on this board.

We've always just had a teachers rep attend PTA/PTO mtg's -- my personal feeling is it works but would like to see more activley involved like parents-- but ya go wtih what works- and it works pretty well with just a teachers rep.

Good luck

As nice as it would be to have at least one teacher at the meetings, it doesn't always happen. Our principal attends all of our meetings and makes sure to give us the teacher perspective. When I first started as president two years ago I remember that I would see teachers AFTER the meetings and they seemed to feel guilty about not attending. You could see them sort of keeping their distance. I've always tried to reassure them we understand they can't always make the meetings-- that's why we have our email and newsletters to communicate. I have found it very helpful to email our teachers the notes from the meeting so that they know what's going on. I also email our teachers or leave them a memo in their mail boxes when I am looking for some very specific input. Most are great about getting back to me and sharing their thoughts. I just tell them how much their input means to all of our PTO. It has definitely made a difference. Even if they don't make the meetings their input is included now that we communicate more frequently. They are still a very active part. The teachers frequently tell me how nice it is to know what's happening. One thing that I've really noticed is that now that the teachers really know what's going on, they are huge supporters of our pto. They really talk up our activities in class and...this is GREAT.... they've been awesome at connecting us to parents that want to be more involved. So even if they don't make the meetings, we are still working as a team.

At my last school, in Illinois, teachers were required to earn a certain number of hours of CPDUs (Continuing Professional Development Units {I think}) to maintain their teaching certificates. Being a teacher Rep for the PTO was one way to do that so we usually had two willing and able teachers on the PTO board every year. One year we tried the rotation method so each teacher had to come only once. It didn't really work for us because the teachers forgot when it was their turn. Also, there was no continuity so each month we had to spend time catching up before we could continue.

We also provided copies of meeting minutes - posted on the work room bulletin boards for the teachers, to the BOE members and the superintendent.

I suppose it is frustrating to see teachers only when they have thier hands out. Many think that's the role of the PTO. The don't mean any disrespect, they just believe that the PTO raises funds to help the teachers and to 'enhance the learning enviroments'.

As long as there is open communication between your group and the staff, you can still get plenty of good work done. If you think having teacher reps present at the meeting is best, approach it as if they're helping the team, not that they owe the team or are otherwise obligated to be there. In short, exactly the same way you would treat any other volunteer you'd like to have on your team.

We, too, have the teacher rep. on our PTO, but it doesn't end there. I have 5 teachers who continually make the meetings, and are big helps, too! I think to the casual parent, seeing a teacher at the meeting makes it seem like that the teacher really cares about the school (which they typically do).