Involving School Administrators and School Community

Whether at the county, school district, or local school level, administrators can ensure that a PTA is an informed and contributing part of the school community. PTA leaders and members often take their cues from the administrator's advice. An administrator's active support, cooperation, and inspiration are vital to the success of a PTA.

The administrators should:

• Become familiar with the basic policies and Purposes and basic policies of the PTA and their interpretation.
• Encourage teachers, staff members, parents, and students to join and participate with the PTA.
• Invite teachers and staff members to contribute ideas for programs and projects.
• Assist the PTA in reaching out to community and local business leaders as potential members for coalition building and as resources.
• Encourage the development of PTA membership and informational packets for distribution to parents of new students enrolling in schools and the community at large.
• Advise the PTA on school district policies regarding classroom visitation, field trips, class parties, parent participation, directory information, etc.
• Attend meetings and events of the PTA.

WORKING WITH THE PTA PRESIDENT

The administrators should:

• Meet with the president-elect or president to establish lines of communication and arrange for meetings on a regular basis throughout the year.
• Invite the PTA president to staff meetings when relevant.
• Review goals and the yearly school/district plan. Discuss opportunities for working with PTA together in the areas that are of interest to members and relate to local needs (parenting skills, health, safety, home-school partnerships, and education issues).
• Offer suggestions about presentations, professional speakers, and community resources.

WORKING WITH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

The administrators should meet with PTA committees to assist in program and event planning, arranging for meeting places, and using facilities and equipment. PTAs may be required to have school district facility use permits on file. Never sign a Hold Harmless Agreement on behalf of the PTA. If the school district requires the PTA to sign a Hold Harmless Agreement for use of school premises, the PTA should contact the California State PTA insurance broker, Armstrong/Robitaille Insurance Services, at 800.733.3036. If directed by the insurance broker to sign a Facilities Use Permit Addendum (Forms 403) refer to the Toolkit, Forms Section (PTA Use of School Facilities 1.3.4a, 18).

The site administrator serves as an advisor to the nominating committee or may be elected to serve as a member of the committee.

The administrators should meet with the budget committee to develop the PTA budget. The PTA budget should reflect the goals of the PTA, including the PTAs programs and projects. Items for schools that should be supplied by the school or school district (curriculum, equipment, etc.) should not be reflected in the PTA budget.

PROMOTE PARENT INVOLVEMENT

The administrators should:

• Promote PTA-sponsored parent education programs and projects. Use the Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) Guide for ideas and guidelines.
• Encourage and promote a PTA volunteer program where needed: library, classroom, art docent, computer labs, etc.
• Encourage PTA members to attend meetings and workshops sponsored by council, district and state PTA.
• Encourage PTA members to attend workshops and training sessions sponsored by school districts, county offices of education, and community organizations to become informed on childrens issues.
• Involve parents in staff development, planning, and implementation of programs and events.
• Encourage advocacy.
• Encourage PTA participation with school/district groups, advisory committees, and community service groups.
• Encourage PTA to study local governmental and state legislative issues and to be informed about PTA positions on these issues.
• Support parent involvement in setting educational goals for school/district in partnership with the school site PTA council or district level committees (e.g., discipline, homework, police interventions, attendance policy).
• Encourage PTA members to attend school board meetings and local governmental meetings to become aware of issues related to children, youth, and families.

FACILITATE COMMUNICATION

It is important for the PTA to communicate regularly with parents. The typical method is a newsletter produced in cooperation with the school administrator. If PTA does not publish a newsletter, arrange for the PTA to share in school-prepared notices or bulletins.

The administrator is responsible for the accuracy of school information and compliance with the State Education Code, and school district policy. The PTA president is responsible for the accuracy of PTA information and compliance with PTA policies.

Obtain the appropriate PTA resources for reference [Resource and Subscriptions (Introduction Section xxxiii); Communications Section; Job Description Section (Job Description for Publications Coordinator, page 531)].

SELF ASSESSMENT

It is useful to reflect upon one's performance to identify areas for improvement and acknowledge the development of new skills. Using the numbers 1 through 5, with "5" indicating the "best practice," how would you evaluate yourself or, how would you evaluate each other?

Principal

Do you attend PTA meetings, including meetings of the executive board?

Do you take time to plan with the PTA president?

Do you let the PTA president know about your schools plans and needs?

Do you personally feel you know and understand the PTA program?

Do you encourage your teachers to participate in PTA activities and encourage their attendance at meetings?

Are you careful not to dominate the PTA?

Do you make your PTA feel welcome and part of the school?

Do you invite your PTA president to attend some of the staff meetings?

Do you cooperate with the PTA in the use of school facilities?

PTA President

Do you invite the principal to all PTA meetings and activities?

Do you consult the principal on all plans early in the school year?

Do you constantly seek to understand your school better?

Do you build some of your PTA programs around the school programs?

Are you careful not to make excessive demands on the time of your school personnel?

Are you careful not to interrupt or interfere with the school program?

Do you keep personal matters and personality conflicts out of the PTA?

Are you a good manager?

Are you friendly with everyoneschool personnel and PTA members?

Do you work well with others and give credit where credit is due?

According to your profile, how are you doing?

Partners In Education

The Teacher and the PTA [pdf]

The Site Administrator and the PTA [pdf]

The Superintendent and the PTA [pdf]

The School Board and the PTA [pdf]

Many of the materials in this Web site are available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. The Acrobat reader is a free download from Adobe Software.