PTO Today

Love it when districts “get it” when it comes to honoring and valuing volunteer efforts in schools.  Here’s a recent parent-focused release from the Anoka-Hennepin district in Minnesota that captures that well.

Two more cool things about the release: 

1. All that data on volunteer hours was captured because the district uses our PTO Manager “Volunteer Builder” software to help encourage volunteering and to track volunteer efforts.  Neat to see such nice end results.

2. We’re goig to be in Anoka-Hennepin Tuesday for our PTO Expo.  I’ll be presenting a “best habits of successful PTOs and PTAs” keynote in the morning.  If you’re in the area, i hope you’ll come by.

That seems about dead-on perfect, no?  Love the fact that this Tennessee super honors parents. Love the fact that this PTO leader was the big winner.  And love her very humble and very appropriate – we do it for the kids — reaction.  Cool.

In a perfect world, all of our volunteer efforts would garner this kind of praise.  It’s well-deserved, and it also serves to encourage others to jump in.  That’s also the spirit of our annual Parent Group of the Year campaign. Has your group bragged (It’s OK! It’s Ok!) yet this year?  You should. Nice prizes, too, thanks to our friends at DirectTV.

Here’s a lesson in the power of impressions over reality and the dangers of unintended consequences.  It’s from New Jersey where one PTO’s “tree” (in the school hallway, each leaf represents a family that donated to the PTO) is causing quite a stir.

Worth noting first that i am 100% certain that the PTO leaders here had no intention of hurting anyone’s feelings or causing harm.

But that doesn’t change how some parents feel, and that reality has to be taken into account.  I hope these guys can all come back together.  It sounds like this group already does a great job of thanking volunteers all year round, so my suggestion:  how about makig this tree two times or three times as big and combining the $$ donators and the hours donators on one big community tree in a “we’re all in this together” spirit.

How do you feel about this dust-up?  Should the parents who donated nothing just pony up a buck and get a leaf?  Or is this gripe legit?

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.

Run on a Saturday, topics and guest experts ranged from academics to discipline to dealing with parent stress and more. Very cool.

So I received this note in my inbox this morning, and it made my day. Thought I’d share:

Dear Mr. Sullivan and everyone at PTO today-

On behalf of the Fairview Elementary Home and School Association in Bloomfield, New Jersey, I would like to thank you for our inclusion in the Parent Group of the Year Editor’s Choice category. Needless to say, it is wonderful to have the constant efforts of our volunteers recognized and applauded. More than anything, it gave me the opportunity to give kudos to everyone in front of our Back To School Night crowd and everyone was thrilled. The men and women that I work with at Fairview School constantly go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that our kids have the best education possible. We are not a rich school by monetary standards, but we are rich in family, in friendship, and in dedication to our children. Sitting down to think over the entire year before writing our entry essay enabled us to reflect and rejoice on our accomplishments throughout the year and to recall the dozens and dozens of volunteers who made it possible. I am very grateful to lead a group of parents (and teachers and staff) who are so open and willing, and all of this with the full support and cheerleading of the administration.

Thank you again for allowing us to shine the spotlight on our volunteers and families. We sincerely appreciate it.

Sincerely,

Lyn Collins
Co-President
Fairview Home and School Association

I couldn’t have loved that more, especially the emphasis on the process and the value in taking the time to celebrate your accomplishments (even for groups that don’t win the big prizes.

I hope you’ll apply for the Parent Group of the Year program this year. As Lyn so nicely points out, it’s well worth it. Good luck!

Ran across this mom’s blog and couldn’t help but laugh. Talented writer who really captures a day many of us have also had. How many of us can commiserate with these frustrations that sometimes, regrettably go along with school volunteering?

Jersey columnist does a nice job capturing the spirit of a local PTO’s “flocking” event (think: pink flamingos on a parent’s lawn).

Writer includes my take on events like these, but — as happens — the editing process changes things a bit. Basically, I’m a big fan of events like this. Think they add a ton of fun and spirit to a school year, and more fun and more spirit are definitely good things when a PTO is trying to connect with parents.

But even if these events make a few bucks, they shouldn’t be mistaken for fundraisers. Or at least not for good fundraisers. It would take an awful lot of pink flamingos (and more parents than you likely have in your school) to make as much from an event like this as you’ll make from a well-run, more traditional fundraiser. Better to think of your big fundraiser(s) separately from a spirit effort like this. Pink flamingos? Great. A really successful big fundraiser? Great. Pink flamingos as a really successful big fundraiser? Unlikely.

Agree or disagree? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Now, that’s what we’re talking about! Most of our appreciation stories here are of PTOs appreciating teachers or PTO leaders appreciating volunteers. But this Kansas school turns that story (rightfully) on its head with a great, creative appreciative event honoring the PTO. Very cool.

Here’s a new twist (and I bet it will be the first of many of these). Talented volunteer puts together a video selling the importance of volunteering at school. Professional editing and a soundtrack make it really slick. Love it! I feel like I’m watching Oprah:

We’ve always said that if announcing: “Meeting next Tuesday at 7PM” is your main involvement-building strategy, then you’re in trouble. These guys clearly get that.

Love it when volunteers are recognized for all they do. This Ohio town names long-time volunteer (who started in the schools) as Grand Marshall of big parade.