Does your PTO fundraising need a big boost? Tired of working so hard for so little money? I don’t blame you! I’ve been there too- putting in a ton of work for very little money. It’s so frustrating, but that doesn’t mean you should give up. Time for a plan to turn things around. And...Continue reading
To do all of the great things PTA and PTO groups do, fundraising is essential. But how to go about picking the right fundraiser? It’ll be no mystery to you once you read this post with the 4 most important factors in picking the best school fundraiser! This post is a perfect read...Continue reading
Today’s post certainly covers a hot topic: PTO meetings! The debate goes a little like this: Do you really have to meet in person for PTO meetings or are there alternatives that can boost participation? Both of those questions will be answered in this post, so read on! Are PTO Meetings really necessary? In a...Continue reading
Figuring out how much food to serve big groups for events is a something that always feels like an unknown until you learn the rules! Over my years of holding the Staff Appreciation chair position for my PTA, I’ve learned how to ballpark how much food to serve for appreciation luncheons and other events. One...Continue reading
How do you handle multiple requests to fund pet projects of parents, teachers or Principals? Managing your PTO’s finances so that you don’t feel like a piggy bank is crucial for a well-functioning PTO! This post will cover some of the best strategies to get in control of what the PTO budget pays for. Strategy...Continue reading
Getting people to first come to your PTO meetings or events, takes one set of strategies. But getting these same parents to come back to volunteers and be part of the PTO time and again, well, that takes an entirely different set of strategies altogether. This post is going to walk you through some of...Continue reading
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
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 Anyone who steps up as...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
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