Bringing Joy to the PTA (One Singing Snack Cart at a Time)
PTA President Hannah Nitz shares how small, joyful moments can go a long way in building morale—and a stronger school community.
Walking into Kindergarten orientation holding my son’s hand, I had one mission in mind: “I need to find the PTA table ASAP.” I have always loved parties, celebrations, and fun and knew the next chapter of my mom-life could be uncovered in these halls.
I enthusiastically walked up to the cow-print table that was labeled “PTA: Join the Herd” and wrote my name as fast as I could on the list. I started talking with the moms behind the table and said “So is the PTA fun? Do you love getting to do it?” They both looked at each other, looked at me, and shrugged. “I guess,” one of them said half-heartedly. I signed up anyway, and thought to myself, “Buckle up, I’m on my way...and I’m bringing the fun!”
I deeply believe every person was born with a special set of skills, talents, and passions that makes the world a better place. One of the super powers I’ve always had is the ability to get people excited about things. I thank my dad for a lot of that, as he was the same way, and I grew up watching him bring fun everywhere we went. This didn’t mean we were always going to amusement parks or buying new toys, but in the mundane and everyday tasks, my dad found a way to make people laugh and enjoy what they were doing. He worked for a collection agency, where people had to deal with unpaid medical bills, but found a way to bring joy. If he can do that, I can CERTAINLY make the PTA fun.
My first year in the PTA, I started small by volunteering to be a part of our Staff Appreciation Committee. Each month as I planned a way to make our elementary school staff feel appreciated, I thought about what would make our teachers smile as they walked into the staff lounge for lunch. Towards the end of the year I learned about Staff Appreciation Week, and one PTA member mentioned that they usually fill a cart with snacks and carbonated drinks and push it around to all the staff for one of the days. Immediately I had the thought “They should wear a costume and sing some songs as they do it.” I called my friend Kathleen, who is as silly as me, and pitched the idea of a singing snack cart. That same day she booked a babysitter and wrote lyrics about appreciating our staff to the tune of Spice Girl’s “Spice Up Your Life”.
Kathleen and I had THE TIME OF OUR LIVES dressed up as a Coke Can and Blue M&M, carrying around our blue tooth speaker and singing our made up song to 25 classrooms in a row. The laughter that erupted from every student and teacher as we pushed our way into each room is a memory I will always cherish. We truly acted like fools, like unashamed kids, and like a couple of crazy moms. How good it feels to bring joy and appreciation to our teachers who deserve it! Almost every teacher laughed as they grabbed a snack from our cart and said, “Well, that was the best part of my week.” All it took was some silliness.
If singing like an absolute fool isn’t something that is your strength, don’t worry! There are endless opportunities to bring joy into your school and your PTA. Last week I watched one of our PTA members cut out pictures of our principal and staff and hang them in hilarious murals around the hallways to decorate for our huge Family Fun Night. I love all the creativity our PTA team has!
Doesn’t it feel like a lot of life is hard? Parenting, bills, tough decisions, aging parents, health issues, and over-committed calendars seem to keep so many of us feeling the weight of life. You know what shouldn’t feel hard? The PTA. Yes, there will always be logistics, Sign Up Genius links, and budgeting decisions. But to the best of our ability as PTA leaders, I strongly believe we should always make decisions that move us and our school toward joy. How can we not just do what has always been done, but try to make each interaction with the PTA a happy experience for parents, staff, volunteers, and students alike?
A few years from now, I won’t remember what all the decorations looked like for our school dance, and I’m pretty sure my son won’t either. However, I can say with certainty I will remember the feeling of classrooms of giggles as two moms in costumes come bursting in. What an honor it is to shape the feeling of our school and our children’s memories.
It’s really special that we get to live in a country and a time of the world where we have the luxury of silliness. As a parent and the President of the Arrowhead PTA, I hope to take advantage of that, one singing snack cart at a time.
About the author
Hannah Nitz is the president of the Arrowhead PTA, a 180 member group in Copley, Ohio. She says her husband is the greatest man she ever met, and they love raising their 7, 5, and 3 year old kids together. Most days she is home with her kids, but her background is in marketing and event planning where she has worked with authors, small businesses, and non profits all over the country. Hannah is always planning her next party and dreaming up new ideas. She has a podcast called “There’s More” where she talks about her ultimate favorite joy-filled experience, spending time with God. You can also follow Hannah on Instagram at @hannahnitz.
