Let Teachers Teach At some point this school year, you'll grow frustrated with the teachers at your school. Maybe it's already happened: You won't feel appreciated by them, or you'll wish they'd support your group more, or you'll wonder why they can't make your meetings. I know your pain. It's real.
But next time you're feeling that way, I'd encourage you to ask one simple question: Would you rather have 30 teachers who are amazing at teaching your kids and mediocre at supporting your parent group or 30 teachers who are great at supporting your parent group and only mediocre at teaching your kids?
Every parent group leader I've ever asked has chosen the former. Yes, we love those teachers who get all of it right, but it's really important that we continue to celebrate, support, and try to understand those teachers who nail it in the classroom but don't get connected with our groups. They're still great assets to our schools. Moreover, taking the opposite tack and calling them out or harping on them to change their ways often worsens the teacher-PTO relationship, which doesn't help anyone.
We have a couple of resources for you on this subject. I wrote a
column that expands on this theme a couple years back. And I think you'll appreciate our October cover package on
what teachers love about PTOs and
what they don't like so much about PTOs.
