I've seen "room parents" and "room reps." mentioned several times on these boards. Our school doesn't have an organized "room parent/rep." program, and we're looking to start one. Our teachers currently sort of recruit a parent or 2 from their class to help them, if they need help on something, but nothing organized.

We're lookng at starting such a "room rep." program, to help our teachers, and maybe get more people active and involved(!). But we're not sure just what the duties/responsibilities of these room parents would be. Can anyone (everyone!) give me ideas as to what your "room parents/room reps." do?

Do they handle parties and field trips? Do they help w/ laminating, etc, do they communicate things to all the parents in their class (phone tree), do they come to meetings and relay info to other parents in their class? (sort of like a classroom representative)

How involved & organized is your room parent/room rep. program?

Thanks for any info - I'd love to hear how everyone does this!!

I would love to hear what everyone else does as well.
Currently we have room moms and from my experience last year with kindergarten... I just ran the parties, called parents asked them to bring stuff in for the parties. I think it depends on the teachers as well, our's didn't seem to want much done.
I would love to see more organization to it though. maggie

At our school (K-8), we have a room parent in each classroom. They volunteer for this at the "meet the teacher" night held the second day of school. The duties vary slightly with each teacher but mainly they plan the parties, call for donations of food & drink,and collect money to buy the teacher's Christmas gift and Birthday gift. They DON'T plan field trips or get drivers. They usually don't help in the classrooms either.

Our PTA uses the following as a guide: http://www.myschoolonline.com/page/0,187...2056-52-2722,00.html

most of ours help coordinate volunteers for the carnival and the booth that the classroom is assigned. Also, coordinate the parties for Dec. and February, as well as the Teachers Appreciation Day/Week.
Lots of phone calling and messages, and lots of out of pocket money when others don't send in what was planned etc.

We have a "Room Mom Coordinator" who organizes a little meeting before our first PTO meeting where she asks for volunteers to be "Room Mom" for their child's class. When they accept, she gives them the list of people who have completed the volunteer sheets for that particular class and the Room mom takes it from there. She only handles parties and she calls the volunteers to bring cookies, punch, games, favors, etc along with asking a couple to be chaperones.