Several years ago, I asked each grade to present a little something from their class room one time in the year at our meeting. The teachers would stay for the meeting and many commented on how much PTO does and was really impressed and how they should come more often. But, it doesn't happen. Everyone is just to busy!
We give each teacher $50. They have to fill out a form with a reciept attached to actually recieve the money.
Just a couple of thoughts on the 'increasing teacher / staff support' idea...
In our organization, the teacher's often (be it good or bad) outnumber our parent population at meetings! The teacher's worked it out here a few years ago that each grade level has a representative signed up to attend each monthly meeting. There are those old faithfuls that attend all of them - but in most grade levels, we see the rotation month to month. Those representatives are responsible for bringing any concerns or requests and thus reporting back to their particular grade level what happened at the meeting and what is coming up. It seems to work well for them! We don't have the great response from others - such as the special services teachers, music, art and support staff folks - but we're working on it! One last thought - previously, we asked that teachers/staff come and make any requests at our meetings for the group to hear and vote on. This past winter, we decided to try a new approach - and provided teachers/staff access to our "Teacher request form" that they could fill out with their request and turn in to the PTO for committee review and ultimately a vote. WHEW! Let's just say - wouldn't suggest it. We had people crawling out of the woodwork with requests ranging from volunteer time to thousand+ dollar items! We're now trying to move back to our original approach. It just became too much to muddle through - to pick out 1,2 or 3 out of MANY - not to mention the fact that we had teachers requesting items that there were grant funds available for. A bit off the subject - but food for thought nonetheless. Good Luck! :eek:
As I will begin my year as PTO president, I was wondering how to get our Teachers/staff more involved with our PTO.
We have a very low turn out of teachers that show up year after year. It also seems that after the December meeting that they drop off like flies.
I bumped into one of our teachers that has been off for 18 months but will be back at the beginning of the school year. She seem enthusastic in the comming year and wants to participate as much as she can. She is one of the younger teachers also.
What do your schools do for incentive for your teachers to come to the meetings? Please Help.
