| A new school year brings new students, new | | | | acknowledging them by name to make them feel |
| parents, and new leadership to Parent-Teacher | | | | welcome. |
| Organizations (PTO). The challenge is | | | | |
| capitalizing on this yearly change and making | | | | A few simple tools will go a long way in |
| it work to your advantage. | | | | helping to increase PTO participation. The |
| | | | first step in connecting with the students |
| If last year's PTO Board members did a | | | | and their families is to collect their |
| fantastic job fundraising and maintaining | | | | contact information early in the school year |
| membership, then follow in their footsteps. | | | | so that you can reach out to them. Create a |
| Ask the former President to consult and find | | | | school directory and email list. The |
| out what they did to make the year a success. | | | | directory allows parents to easily contact |
| If on the other hand, parents were less than | | | | each other and the email list can be used to |
| enthusiastic about the results of the | | | | keep parents updated on PTO events, issues, |
| fundraisers or programs and participation | | | | and volunteer opportunities. |
| dropped off by year-end, then analyze why and | | | | |
| work to rectify the problem areas. | | | | Provide parents (and teachers) with |
| | | | information. Believe it or not, most parents |
| Perhaps the Board appeared disorganized and | | | | new to a school don't know what the |
| unable or unwilling to carry out the requests | | | | fundraisers are, just by the titles you give |
| of the members. Remember, the Board is | | | | them. As a PTO Board, do not assume that |
| established to carry out the requests of the | | | | anyone knows what the Fall Fair, Holiday |
| PTO as a whole. It's a democracy, not a | | | | Shopping Event, or the Grocery Receipts |
| power struggle! Encourage all of the board | | | | Savings Program is. At the beginning of each |
| members to be great leaders; leaders that the | | | | year, distribute a list of all of the PTO |
| members will want to see succeed. Be honest, | | | | programs along with a short description of |
| consistent, ask for suggestions and listen to | | | | each one and volunteer opportunities |
| the answers, work as hard or harder than you | | | | associated with each. |
| expect your members to work, and remember to | | | | |
| say "Thank You". | | | | Provide parents with resources. Parents are |
| | | | more likely to get involved if they feel like |
| It's also important that the Board be able to | | | | they have something to contribute. So give |
| follow through and actually implement ideas. | | | | them the resources to decide what types of |
| Be organized. Plan and prepare for each | | | | programs they would like to see implemented |
| monthly PTO meeting as well as each committee | | | | and in what areas they are most likely to get |
| meeting. If the Board appears disorganized | | | | involved. Actually distribute a flyer that |
| and unable carry out plans, the members will | | | | lists the resources, whether they are books, |
| get frustrated and eventually stop attending | | | | or websites. PTO Ideas is one website |
| meetings. | | | | specifically designed for PTOs and offers |
| | | | thousands of ideas and highly detailed |
| With new students, come new parents. Whether | | | | instructions for implementing fundraisers. |
| these parents have their first child entering | | | | |
| kindergarten or they have relocated from | | | | Remember to make fundraising fun! For your |
| another school, they will come with new ideas | | | | next fundraiser, try planning it around a |
| and a fresh outlook. Like any other | | | | theme. Children's books are fantastic |
| business, a PTO has to advertise and recruit | | | | resources for coming up with themes! Plan |
| new members each year. Parents new to the | | | | advertising and activities around the theme |
| school can be timid about joining a group of | | | | and you'll be amazed at what you come up |
| parents that already know each other and are | | | | with. |
| familiar with the programs. Advertise the | | | | |
| PTO and it's goals using flyers and signs. | | | | And finally, laugh and work together. The |
| And don't underestimate the power of a simple | | | | PTO can be a great social outlet. And so much |
| phone call to make new parents feel welcome. | | | | more can be accomplished when we laugh and |
| Ask them personally if they will attend a | | | | work together as a team! |
| meeting. It takes just one person | | | | |