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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 friend of yours with school aged children who’s not involved as a PTO volunteer.
Maybe they’ll crinkle their nose a bit… or hesitate with a “Well…”
In any case, they think it’s a bad idea, but just don’t want to come out and say it.
But we need PTO T-shirts!
Ok, so in order to show you that I’m not a total party pooper, here’s what to do instead if you really, really, really want PTO shirts for your executive board..
I’m not saying to NOT get PTO shirts.
I get that you want a shirt to wear at events so you stand out and are visible to attendees who may need help.
But does it really have to say PTO Board or PTA Board on it to be effective?
Nope, it sure doesn’t!
Instead, it can have a more general gist to it.
Offer a general PTO t-shirt that would be appropriate for a parent with any sort of role with the PTO to wear instead.
Odds are 99% of parents who purchase the shirts will be board members anyway, so they will be de facto board shirts anyway.
But no one will be able to point to the shirts as evidence that your PTO is some sort of snobby elite mean girls club.
What color t-shirt is best
While we’re on the topic of t-shirts, let’s talk shirt color.
Make sure to get it in a color that will stand out.
Maybe consider not getting it in a school color!
The PTA shirts I chose when I was first President were Kentucky blue (royal blue for anyone not familiar) but our school colors were brown and gold.
What did our shirts have to do with the school colors?
Nothing!
And that’s ok and sort of the whole point.
Because we stood out at every event and attendees knew exactly who to come to with questions or if they needed help!
Funny story about those shirts…
A President who followed me two years after my term was up wanted to do pretty much everything different than the way it had been done before.
Just because.
She didn’t have a good reason for this and in the end that proved to be very apparent.
But that’s a story for another day and lesson about dealing with difficult people in PTO land.
Anyway back to PTO shirts.
She decided that the PTA shirts should be the school colors and ordered new PTA shirts in a white, gold and brown color scheme.
Most everyone else decided to get a new one.
I chose not to order a new shirt because I already had one and it was my favorite Kentucky blue color anyway.
Fast forward to the Spring Carnival, one of the biggest school events of the year.
Pretty much every one of the PTA volunteers who’d ordered new shirts had on the new PTA shirts.
I was in my Kentucky blue shirt and was stationed on cotton candy duty, kind of tucked into a corner.
Yet even though I wasn’t front and center, who did everyone who needed something come to that day?
Me because I stood out in my bright blue shirt!
The others in their white t-shirts blended right on in with the crowd and were hard to find even when I directed others to them.
Lesson learned. Pick a unique color!
Cute Options for PTO Shirts
Time for the PTO t-shirt design eye candy you’ve been looking for!
Simple is sometimes better, especially if the goal of PTO board t-shirts is to identify volunteers at PTO sponsored events.
Name and claim the awesomeness of your volunteers with this t-shirt design. It’s also available in a sweatshirt, which is a nice idea to offer some variety for people can choose between the two options.
This bright design is a fun statement shirt, letting everyone know the group name as well as the mission behind it- to help the school community.
This PTO shirt has classic school elements like the composition notebook pattern and handwriting guide that add a whimsical flair to the shirt.
All PTA/PTO volunteers are stars, which is a key design element to this shirt design.
The heart makes a clean and simple statement.
The layered fonts is a fun design for PTO board t-shirts.
This shirt does a lot to sell the benefits of PTO involvement, and is a nice reminder to all.
A PTO crew shirt could be used throughout a volunteer’s “career” helping in schools.
The repeating PTO parent will stand out in a crowd. Don’t necessarily default to school colors for PTO board shirt designs. At events, you’ll blend in with the crowd, which is not what you necessarily want!
This t-shirt features a simple, but fun frame design.
This typography forward shirt has both a retro and fresh modern feel.
The Star Wars nerds of your group will love this shirt!
You’ve heard a picture is worth a thousand words, right?
Well this shirt is a fun way to show exactly what your PTO does without having to say a thing!
The bright color scheme of this shirt is sure to grab attention.
Again, sell your awesomeness! This shirt makes it easy.
Funny PTO T-Shirts
And now for some PTO 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 are true!
Every PTO volunteer should have a few of these shirts to work into the clothing rotation.
Here are a few of my favorites:
True words have never been spoken. I am married to sailor and I absolutely kiss my mom with my mouth, so go figure!
Adding this one to my cart as soon as I finish typing this sentence.
Guilty as charged, officer.
Some days, this is exactly what PTO life feels like. I could wear this every day.
Over the years, I’ve run and participated in oh so many fundraisers. Name of the game for funding all the wonderful things we do for our school communities though, right?
Love this Rosie the Riveter inspired t-shirt for PTO Presidents!
Most days this is all true. Zero regrets, right?
Truth be told, most of my time being involved and active in my PTA has not been chaotic. But this is still funny.
When you’re as great as you are, don’t be shy about owning it!
This would be funny to give a longtime PTO volunteer whose last kid is finally graduating as an ironic token of appreciation. Because it would be an IYKYK situation for their friends and family.
I’ve learned over the years to not really mind being “that mom.” Because I get stuff done for the kids and the school!
I’m channeling the chill nature of this raccoon.
Mom foolery, is right!
This would be fun to wear to a PTO meeting you think is going to go off the rails. Shows you’ve got your finger on the pulse of what’s going on.
There’s so many good ways to put your crafting skills to use in the PTO. Heck,. I even learned how to make a balloon arch!
This is a fun shirt that doesn’t read as a PTO shirt at first glance. But it’s sweet!
I don’t think I’ve across a PTO Treasurer shirt before. And I gotta say this one hits because it’s true.
Gosh, this does feel true too many times throughout any given school year.
Fun Designs for DIY PTO Shirts
This is giving Electric Company vibes. But maybe that’s just my Gen X showing. Love the crisp line graphic.
I love the sentiment of this shirt, because yes it absolutely is a good day to volunteer and make the world a better place.
You’re not “just” anything, but this is a humble sentiment. But I’ll say it again because I don’t think you hear it enough- you’re amazing for doing all you do to better your child’s school.
Well, this kind of says it all, right? Honest and refreshing, I think.
How fun is this PTO typography shirt? So eye catching and fun! I love fun lettering and this design is very unique.
Over to you!
Hope you have a better idea of why is so important to not have exclusive PTO board shirts.
It will be a turn off in the long run, whether you realize it or not since PTO/PTAs are at risk of looking cliquey all the time.
Do yourself a favor by selecting a super cute PTO shirt instead and wear it with pride!
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