Planning and Organization Archive

Being a PTO leader is fulfilling, but it can leave you drained, too. You'll find tons of ways to keep your energy level high and avoid burnout in the articles below. When you're done reading, head over to the Message Boards to connect with other leaders facing the same challenges.

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• A Tool To Manage Volunteers - PTO Manager helps you find and track volunteers, and manage your finances more efficiently.
• Energize Your Parent Group -  Tips to build interest and enthusiasm, then keep the momentum going all year long.
• Energize Your School - A strong parent group can instill pride, promote a positive attitude, and get parents involved in the school all year long. Follow these tips to help your PTO build—and maintain—school spirit.
• Organize Your PTO Work - Parent group leaders share their favorite tips for order and efficiency.
• Balancing PTO and Personal Life - It can be challenging to find balance. But a little strategy, a little organization, and a lot of support from friends and family go a long way.
• Officer Transition: Planning Ahead - Prepare new officers for success by making sure they have the information and training they need.
• Make Planning a Priority - Think ahead for fall and get a jump-start on a productive year.
• Procedures Book: Your PTO's Instruction Manual -  Newly revised guidelines on how to create policies and procedures books for your leaders. This tool can make a big difference for your group.
• Regional Councils Strengthen PTOs - Forming a regional council helps parent groups share ideas, coordinate events and fundraisers, and tackle bigger issues.
• Set and Reach Group Goals - How you go about setting objectives—and how you communicate them once they're set—plays a key role in your chances for success.
• How To Retire Gracefully - The way in which officers move on from their leaderships roles can affect the group even after they're gone. Make your transition a positive one.
• Annual Audit: How and Why - A yearly audit is a key safeguard for your money and a planning tool for the year ahead. Think of it as a "year in review" for your finances.
• What Every Treasurer Should Know - Being a good treasurer takes planning and organization. Follow these pointers and you'll be ready for success.
• When Schools Merge - Consolidation can be a stressful time for students and parents alike. Here are some ways parent groups ease the transition.
• 9 Stress-Busting Organization Tips - A little planning and organization now will help you breathe easy the whole year through.
• 9-Point Meeting Checklist - Follow these simple steps to make your meetings painless as well as productive.
• Create a School Tradition - Ambitious events build excitement and involvement. They make your PTO look great, too.
• We've Got You Covered - Our goal: creating solutions to deal with all of the challenges your parent group might face.
• Make Your Group a Resource - If people think of your group as welcoming and helpful, they'll turn there first when they have questions—and the PTO will gain their support and loyalty.
• Creating a School Directory - It's a project that takes careful planning and attention to detail, but the resource that results will be well-used and will help your group serve parents.
• Make New Families Feel Welcome - Holding out a helping hand when families first arrive at the school pays off in increased involvement and a stronger parent group later on.
• Recession Busters - The down economy doesn’t have to keep your group from having a great year. Try these tips for success when money and resources are tight.
• How PTOs Are Going Green - There are many ways to make your group more environmentally conscious. It starts with a critical review of day-to-day operations.
• Greening Our Parent Group - A Cleveland PTO worked to bring its school’s green policies to life. The result raised awareness along parents, students, and teachers alike.
• How To Start a PTO - Step-by-step tips for getting a new parent group up and running at your school.
• Sample PTO Strategic Plan - Use this shortened version of a strategic plan—based on one created and used by a real PTO—to help your group get started with its own long-term planning.
• 13 Things To Do This Year - Get out your to-do list and add these items to build involvement and strengthen your group.
• Creating a Long-Term Plan - Strategic long-term planning can help your group reach its goals.
• Defining the Role of a PTO - What role should your PTO play? That answer will change as the needs of your school community change.