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
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
Summertime is no time to totally check out of getting things done as a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) volunteer leader. In fact, the summer is a great time to prepare for the upcoming school year! You might be thinking, “It is summertime, Christina. What do you mean I need to do things for PTO?” Well,...Continue reading
School parent groups, namely Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO), come in a variety of shapes and sizes. And they also range in a number of other ways. Some have a deep bench of experienced volunteers, ready to take on the work of the group. Others may need a little (or a lot) support and guidance! If...Continue reading
As a 15-year Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) volunteer nerd, here’s how I wrap up the end of every school year so I can feel accomplished and ready for the upcoming school year. I really like to tie everything up from the past year in a nice little bow so that I can feel like I...Continue reading
Being in charge of any organization, especially a PTO or PTA, is not easy, but there are things that will help! There are volunteers (like me!) who are willing to share their experiences that you can draw upon to make tweaks in your own organization. In this post, I’m going to cover some...Continue reading
Ready to whip your PTO into shape and always have what you need at the ready? I’ve pulled together the list of essentials for you so you don’t have to wrack your brain trying to create the list because I know you’re busy and need just the facts, ma’am. This post will highlight items you’ll...Continue reading
Your PTO Binder can be a lifesaver if it has the right information organized the right way! This post will walk you through the process of setting up an organized PTO binder so that you won’t ever struggle to find what you need again! Supplies Needed Start off the organizing project by getting all the...Continue reading
There’s little doubt that this next school year will look pretty different than it has before. But that doesn’t mean that you there’s no reason to plan! This post will dive into the details of what all PTO and PTA leaders should be planning now for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year! Don’t Let Uncertainty Get...Continue reading
Have you just been handed a bag full of papers purporting to be everything you need to know about how to do your PTO volunteer job? Do your PTO board members waste time recreating event flyers because the digital file can’t be found? Does your PTO have communication issues that make the entire process more...Continue reading
One of the most challenging things about running a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is the sheer number of things going on at any given time. It’s far too much for any one person to manage, and that’s why PTO is a team sport! Aside from more hands helping to make the whole thing go smoother...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
In every school I’ve ever been in, there isn’t a whole lot of extra room, especially when it comes to PTO or PTA stuff. And that means that PTO stuff gets not a lot of real estate to work with (if the group is even that lucky!). But the need to have a central...Continue reading