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 you 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
Boosting school spirit is one of the smartest things a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) or Parent Teacher Association (PTA) can do. Because smiles are contagious and schools can’t possibly have enough of them. Happy students and staff make for a happier school overall, and that’s a major goal of any school parent group! Fostering school...Continue reading
School parent groups like Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO) and Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) need to fundraise to bring in money to do all the wonderful things for their school communities they do. The best plan for school fundraising is to organize a fundraiser so successful that your PTO only needs to hold one or two...Continue reading
Let’s talk about one of the absolute most uncomfortable moments in PTO leadership. As the PTO Treasurer, you’re balancing the books, reviewing recent deposits, and come across a notification in your email from the bank about a returned check due to insufficient funds. Your stomach drops. Then you realize the check is from a parent...Continue reading
Congratulations on being elected to your new PTO position! Stepping into a parent-teacher leadership role is incredibly exciting, but it’s completely normal to feel a little overwhelmed by the phrase, “Now what?” Most school parent group volunteers don’t come to their role knowing all they need to. If you’re feeling like there are some gaps to...Continue reading
Don’t settle for the same old school fundraiser to bring in money for your Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) or Parent Teacher Association (PTA). If done right, school fundraising can be fun and creative while drawing participation from the students and families themselves, plus teachers, school staff and the surrounding community too. It all comes down...Continue reading
An elementary school dance is one of the most fun family events your Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) or Parent Teacher Association (PTA) can host. But as all experienced PTA/PTO volunteers know, dances can quickly devolve into a group of kids running around like they’re a bottle of coke with a Mento that’s just ben dropped...Continue reading
Planning an elementary school dance is a bit like directing a high-energy theater production where the lead actors are fueled by sugar and have a three-minute attention span. It’s chaotic, loud, but if done right, absolutely magical! Part of creating this experience is coming up with a fresh theme, so I’ve put together a massive...Continue reading