When I first got involved with the PTO at our lower elementary school, Halloween party season came with a side of complaints. Lots of them. Some classrooms were getting a full-on extravaganza. Balloons everywhere, loads of cupcakes, and bags of take-home treats for every kid. Then you’d walk next door and that class got a...Continue reading
I once organized a 6th grade glow dance and thought I had every detail covered. Black lights rented. Playlist approved. A giant box of glow necklaces ready to hand out at the door. About ten minutes in, I looked across the gym and saw a pack of boys swinging those necklaces over their heads like...Continue reading
Look no further for halloween class party ideas both elementary students and teachers will love. But first, settle in for a quick story. Picture it… a 5th grade Halloween party, a stack of toilet paper rolls, and me standing in the middle of the classroom with my arms out like a scarecrow. I was the...Continue reading
Quick question. When you made your teacher gift list for the winter holidays or the end of the school year, who was on it? If you’re like most parents (and a whole lot of PTOs), the answer is your child’s classroom teacher. And that’s it. It’s one of the most common mistakes I see parents and...Continue reading
Welcome to your step-by-step guide for Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) ready to go nonprofit without hiring expensive help. I get emails from PTO leaders who’ve gotten quotes from nonprofit consultants and basically thrown up their hands because the cost was hundreds of dollars. Here’s what I want you to know: you absolutely do not need...Continue reading
So you said yes to being PTO secretary. (Or maybe you got a little “voluntold” at the last meeting… it happens more than anyone admits.) Either way, welcome! The PTO secretary is the person who keeps the whole group on the same page, from taking meeting minutes and keeping records to making sure families actually...Continue reading
I still remember my first meeting with the teacher as a newly appointed PTO Room Parent. Standing in a hallway with a clipboard and tons of questions, but no idea (yet!) what I was doing. Turns out most room parents feel exactly that way. Excited, a little nervous, and wondering if there’s a manual somewhere...Continue reading
The start of the new school year is a high energy and stressful time of the year for Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) volunteer leaders So the thought of planing a PTO back to school party as a kickoff event may seem like it’s a bad idea. It’s actually just the opposite and is a fantastic...Continue reading
Are you a new Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) volunteer trying to make sense of how your school parent group operates? One issue that pops up frequently for new PTO leaders and parent volunteers is that they might think the executive board and the committees are basically the same thing. They’re not. And that’s actually the...Continue reading
School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) parent groups run on volunteers that give their time and talents to benefit the entire school community. PTOs struggling to attract parent volunteers isn’t new issue facing most PTOs. It’s the perennial challenge every PTO leader faces. But just because it’s a common issue pretty much every PTO will face...Continue reading
Thinking about getting PTO shirts for your executive board this year? Please don’t! Let me explain why I strongly recommend against PTO board only shirts. For the most part, they’re a huge turn off to everyone not on the board and further the clique stereotype of PTOs! Think that’s not the case? Try asking a...Continue reading
A common question I get from Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) volunteers is if their PTO can use Venmo or PayPal to collect money from parents. The good news is yes you can. But PTO payment app use comes with a huge caveat! You have to set up the account the right way (legally!) or risk...Continue reading
Here’s the thing the IRS knows that a lot of us don’t: your Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), from the government’s perspective, is a totally separate entity from your school. Even though you’re raising money for field trips and reading programs and all the things that make a school better, the IRS doesn’t automatically treat you...Continue reading
Dealing with taxes for your Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) or Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is one of the most stressful things about being Treasurer for your school parent group. Have no fear, we’re breaking down all you need to know about PTO nonprofit 990 filing with the what, when and how to file your PTO’s...Continue reading
If you Google “PTO meaning school” right now, you’ll get the official answer fast enough. Parent Teacher Organization. But that definition doesn’t tell you a single true thing about what a PTO school parent group actually does. So let’s clear up the stereotypes first, because I know you’ve heard them. A PTO is just a bunch...Continue reading
If your Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has been around for at least a year, chances are you already have a bunch of paperwork that’s getting passed from one volunteer leader to another. And if your school parent group has been around for many years a PTO record retention policy will serve you well, especially since...Continue reading
Can you imagine packing up your whole elementary school PTO playbook, carrying it into a middle school hallway, and realizing… half of it doesn’t fit anymore? That’s basically what happens when you go to a middle school PTO from an elementary school parent group. I’ve had a bunch of readers and viewers reach out with...Continue reading
Room parents and PTO leaders, are you struggling to find ideas for history teacher gifts and the perfect token of appreciation for the educators who bring the past to life? Tracking down the right history teacher gift ideas can be surprisingly difficult when you want to move past the standard coffee mug or apple-themed knick-knacks....Continue reading
Can you imagine doing all the work of a fundraiser (the flyers, the reminders, the “hey everyone go eat burritos tonight” posts) and then getting a check for two dollars? Yeah. That happened to my PTO. And it’s exactly why we need to talk about restaurant fundraisers today. Here’s the thing nobody tells you when...Continue reading
Organizing a school fall festival is a wonderful way to build community and raise crucial funds for your school. What goes into pulling off such an event isn’t second nature for most, so it’s a good thing you’re here to get ideas for planning this classic family fun event. I’m laying out all of the...Continue reading
School parent group Fall Festival Chairs and PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) Family Fun volunteers, are you trying to plan a school fall festival that people actually want to attend? Planning a massive event like this is an awesome way to build community and raise a ton of money for your school, but it can also...Continue reading
PTO Fundraising Chairs, are you tired of the usual pizza dine to donate nights but completely exhausted by the thought of cooking a massive school dinner? Do you want a fundraising win that doesn’t involve scrubbing giant sauce pots in the school kitchen at 10pm? Are you looking for a fun way to get parents...Continue reading
Is your Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) or Parent Teacher Association (PTA) considering hosting a bake sale? A bake sale is a classic school fundraiser that most people associate with school parent groups. Don’t underestimate the potential for this fundraiser, especially when you time the bake sale right. One Title 1 Elementary school PTA made over...Continue reading
Your school’s Principal, teachers and staff work so hard to make your school community a fabulous place to support your child’s learning and growth all year long So recognizing their efforts with a gift at the end of the school year with a lovely token of appreciation is a wonderful way to recognize their tireless...Continue reading