There are so many different ways to get parents to sign up to help as volunteer for PTO events: All of these methods for getting parents to sign up to volunteer are great options, except for the last one mentioned. If you’re using a program like Sign Up Genius to track volunteers, then you probably...Continue reading
Dealing with difficult people is last on the list for things PTO and PTA leaders and volunteer ever want to do. Heck, it’s last on the list for everyone in this world, right? Today we’re going to get into this topic and I’ll give you some great advice on how to deal with difficult parents...Continue reading
Congratulations on your new position as Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) or Parent Teacher Association (PTA) President Elect! It can be downright overwhelming when you’re new to the role and you’re probably not quite sure what the President elect responsibilities are for your PTO. Heck, even if you’ve been President before and you’re coming in fresh...Continue reading
Read this! Are you worried about running your first PTO meeting? Maybe even having nightmares about it? I’ll be honest… as if you were here for any other reason! If you want to have a good first meeting, there are a few things to keep in mind. It’s natural to be nervous. But that shouldn’t...Continue reading
Being a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) President is one of the biggest jobs out there for school parent volunteer organizations. This school parent group leadership role can really consume your life, especially during the busiest times of the year (like back to school, mid year holiday and end of the school year times). To stay...Continue reading
Last week, I started a conversation about PTO Board shirts. Since that post was so fun to put together, I decided to hunt down some sillier options. And now for some T-shirt eye candy for when you’ve had a rough day in PTO Land! Most of these are funny, some are sincere, but all...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
This is a sponsored post. I’ve been compensated by Cheddar Up to write about my experiences using the payment platform. All opinions are 100% mine and haven’t been influenced by the sponsorship agreement. A frequently asked question in the PTA/PTO Super Star Leaders Facebook Group is how best to collect and handle money. Leaders are...Continue reading
New to the role of Fundraising Chair and wondering what the heck is involved? This post will walk you through exactly what to do and also highlight some mistakes to avoid! Set a goal Before you do anything else, work with the PTO President and Treasurer to set a fundraising goal for the year. Without...Continue reading
Are you ready for it? Now that I’ve planted that little Taylor Swift ear worm (you’re welcome), listen up! This Summer, you’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow as a leader like never before! Smart PTO and PTA volunteers know that Summer is the perfect time to set aside some dedicated time to learn...Continue reading
One of the most important roles in the PTO is the Family Events Chair. And that’s because it’s the key to increased family and parent engagement and also for padding your volunteer base. Really terrific PTO family events are the perfect way to spotlight how well your PTO is working. They can act like a...Continue reading
Aside from leaders and volunteers for your PTO, having current set of Bylaws and Standing Rules is absolutely essential to keep your group running! But are you confused about the differences between the two? Is the thought of writing a set of Bylaws and Standing Rules super overwhelming? I totally have you covered in this...Continue reading
Keeping everyone literally on the same page is an essential part of running a healthy PTO. And one of the officers most responsible for this task is the PTO Secretary since it’s important to know the PTO secretary duties so you can see if you’re meeting expectations or not. This post will cover how to...Continue reading
Ready to up your leadership game? You’re going to love this post! It’s full of 11 genius ways to be a better PTO leader. After all, when you boost your leadership skills, you’ll also strengthen you PTO when you put the new skills to work! Let’s get to it! Delegate Woman, you are incredible! But...Continue reading
Speaking in front of people is one of the most common concerns I hear from people about stepping up to be a PTO leader. They want to give more of their time to make a bigger impact as a leader, but they’re afraid of speaking in public. The thought of standing in front of a...Continue reading
Is your Teacher Appreciation budget lower than you’d like? Don’t let having a small budget get in the way of showing your teachers and staff how much you appreciate all that they do! This post has nine terrific ideas for things you can do as a PTO or as an individual parent to show all...Continue reading
Teachers will appreciate being treated like the stars that they are with a Hollywood-glam Movie Star themed Teacher Appreciation Week! For an entirely themed out week, you’ll need to get a plan together to cover decorations, daily activities and a plan for treats you’ll surprise the teachers with! Unlike some other themes, this Hollywood teacher...Continue reading
Cinco de Mayo often falls during Teacher Appreciation Week… So why not go all out with this theme by showing them they’re Nacho Average teachers? Thanks for putting up with that dad joke… Onto the good stuff! Cinco de Mayo Decorations First, you will want to have a lot of fun with decorating for this...Continue reading
By the time Teacher Appreciation Week comes in May, you bet that teachers are definitely feeling like they’re survivors! As much as they love their jobs and the children in their classes, the reality is that post-Spring Break is a real struggle. So play up that fact by putting on a silly theme that they’ll...Continue reading
As a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) or Parent Teacher Association (PTA) leader, aim to welcome opportunities for growth with arms wide open like a big beautiful rainbow. Being defensive or closed off to learning how to be a better person, and in turn, a better leader won’t serve you well in this challenging volunteer leadership...Continue reading
Every year, my PTA throws an awesome school carnival! It’s one of the bigger, more involved events we do all year and it’s both a fun-raiser as well as a fundraiser. It’s a pretty huge endeavor and it is the biggest event we put on as a group. We’ve done it for so...Continue reading
As a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Treasurer, there are things that you absolutely must have in your bag of tricks, chiefly, a specific set of PTO treasurer forms. Using forms as treasurer templates will save a lot of time for you as the school parent group Treasurer, but also the fellow members of your group...Continue reading
One of the very first things you should be doing as a PTO leader to get your PTO organized is to create a PTO Planning Calendar! The main point of this entire exercise is to get all programs, fundraisers, meeting and other events written down in one place. This makes it possible to literally get...Continue reading
Being President of any organization, especially for a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) or Parent Teacher Association (PTA), can be a daunting task to anyone looking to step up into the role. A clear set of expectations and an outline of duties and responsibilities takes away the surprise of unanticipated expectations. Who likes the surprise that...Continue reading