A common question from Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) volunteers and leaders is whether or not teachers can have a role in the PTO.
They wonder if teachers can have an elected position in the group?
Or if they’re permitted to be appointed as a committee chair?
Having teachers involved and participating in the PTO is really important for many reasons and there are some very specific ways they should and shouldn’t be involved.
Let’s get into the details about that!
Myth: Teachers can’t hold an elected or appointed position within a PTO because they have a conflict of interest
A huge prevailing myth that I’d like to call out right away is that some think that teachers should not be involved in a PTO as an officer or committee chair because they have a disqualifying conflict of interest.
While the intent behind this line of thinking may be for a well-intentioned reason, it’s misplaced.
The truth is that there is nothing wrong with a teacher being involved in the PTO as a leader.
Just by virtue of them working at the school does not mean they don’t have anything meaningful to add to the school parent group.
I don’t think the issue of a potential conflict of interest should be the standard for deciding someone’s fitness for participation in the PTO.
Because in truth, everyone has a conflict of interest at some level.
And excluding someone from involvement on the basis of a supposed conflict of interest is wrong.
Teachers have a unique perspective that parents, unless they are educators—really—don’t have.
And unless the parent volunteers are educators in the same school where they are serving as a PTO volunteer, they really don’t understand all of the nuances and specifics of the needs, the procedures, or the culture of the school.
And so, having a teacher who can be part of the PTO leadership team and speak to some of those things is incredibly helpful and valuable.
In my experience, I have never had a teacher involved in a leadership position where they have taken advantage of the situation.
Now, I have totally heard from other PTO leaders who’ve had the exact opposite experience, and I’m sorry for that.
It comes down to the individual personality of the teacher and if they know how to work well with others.
Some people are a total pain in the butt to work with.
Whether they’re a teacher or not, it doesn’t really matter on this point.
Teachers do not have more of a conflict of interest than anyone else that should bar them from a PTO leadership role.
Truth: Teachers should not serve in all PTO roles
There are definitely some roles that are more appropriate for a teacher and some that are definitely not as appropriate.
Teachers are not a good long term fit for the PTO President role
The first PTO position that is really not appropriate for a teacher to hold is that of PTO President.
If the teacher is the only person who is willing to step up in that role, then in that very specific situation, it’s ok- but only temporarily.
The teacher / PTO President, as well as the rest of the PTO members, should be actively working to get more parents involved in the PTO’s leadership team.
As soon as there is a parent who is willing to step up as the PTO President, the teacher should resign, allowing the parent to step into the role.
And this is because the primary drive of PTOs should really be coming from parents.
PTOs are awesome organizations and capable of so much, but the primary drivers of action always should be the parents, supported by the teachers and the principal and other school leaders.
Teachers should not serve on the Teacher Grant or Staff Appreciation Committees
The other roles that aren’t really appropriate for teachers to serve on are the teacher grant or staff appreciation committees.
In this case, there would be an inherent conflict of interest for a teacher to be in either of those roles.
But also, it’s really not necessary for them to serve on either of those committees because I’m sure there are a ton of other people who are willing to serve.
The teachers’ time and talents can be used in other ways to help the PTO.
Teachers make for great PTO Treasurers
There are some PTO roles that are perfect for teachers.
The first one is the Treasurer role.
And here’s why!
Treasurers don’t get to control where the money is going.
They do not get to decide whether Project A is funded or Project B is funded.
That is for the entire PTO to decide.
The Treasurer is just making the group’s wish—wishes—happen. They’re reporting and giving a monthly status report of the bank account.
That is essentially what a Treasurer’s Report is.
They’re talking about what money came in, what money was spent, which checks remain outstanding, and generally giving a quick snapshot of the financial position of the group.
The Treasurers doesn’t ultimately have any control over the PTO money.
Teachers serving as the PTO Treasurer might actually might be more careful in that position because their actual job, will be on the line if they screw up.
And if they were to steal any PTO money, they’d be out of a career for sure.
Over to you!
I hope this information helps to clarify the issue of how teachers can and should be involved with your school parent group.
The bottom line is that if you have a teacher who is willing to step up and get involved in a leadership position, that you should be welcoming them.
There are definitely some very appropriate roles—pretty much anything other than president and the teacher grant committee— for them to meaningfully serve and be involved!
You should welcome it, embrace it, and ask for as much as you can get because they’re only going to add a perspective that you really can’t get in any other place.
And it’s wonderful to have their involvement!