Washington State PTAs and COVID-19
Updated on March 26, 2020, to include summary of topics. Updated on March 11, 2020, adding information on Childcare and Venue Rental Agreements. This post covers the following topics: Advocating for All, Childcare, Supporting Schools, Events and Activities, Venue Rental Agreements, Virtual Meetings, Donating to Families, and Media Inquiries. Our local PTAs and PTA councils…
WSPTA President’s Power of Connection – March 2020
Despite restrictions on our ability to gather in person, I see a huge surge in our need to connect with others and lift each other up. We are all in a different place than we were when we began our PTA leadership roles. You may be reading this in a house full of children that…
Category:
Leadership
Ten Tips for Speaking with Media
The president is the designated spokesperson for the PTA. The board should refer all media contact to the president or if that is not possible, to another designated board member. Return calls and requests for comment from the media whenever possible. Even when the topic is difficult, these can be important relationships to build for…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA President’s Power of Connection – February 2020
How can you tell if your PTA is “healthy”? One fairly easy and fun way is to apply for one or more of WSPTA’s Awards of Excellence. These are a celebration of how much impact a PTA has in their community, and recognizes PTAs for the great service and programs they provide to their members.…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA President’s Power of Connection – January 2020
The newness of the year and decade feel like a blank page, just waiting for us to write the next chapter in the history of WSPTA. I testified on behalf of our members recently. As I stood in front of the capitol, I reflected on all those who have advocated for children and families, all…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA President’s Power of Connection – December 2019
This time of year reminds me of the family and friends connections that I hold most dear. My family has gotten fairly large, and getting 29 of us together for holidays is tough. We’ve started a new tradition of renting a large cabin early in the holiday season and celebrating then. It’s not easy to…
Category:
Leadership
Disability Access and PTA
In the state of Washington, 12% of students aged 3 – 18 have been identified with a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA.) More than 23% of adults in Washington have a disability. To serve every child and be inclusive of all families, PTAs must pay close attention to whether meetings and…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA President’s Power of Connection – November 2019
Dear Members, For parents, caregivers and PTA volunteers, Autumn is a very busy time! There are so many new people to meet, new routines, and projects to kick off that life can feel a little chaotic. Some of us thrive on these connections, and for some, it can feel overwhelming. Hopefully, you’ve completed some of…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA President’s Power of Connection – October 2019
Dear Members, Students are at the center of everything we do in PTA, but sometimes we get so immersed in running things that we forget to stop and ask the children how we can best serve them. I participated in two statewide education panels recently and heard so many touching stories about student challenges and…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA President’s Power of Connection – September 2019
Dear Members, “Intentional Inclusion” is a term I’ve been hearing lately. I heard it recently from a special education teacher who advocates for her students to be included not just during the school day, but in community events. She said inclusion is a learning process for all of us, and I think she’s right. Family…
Category:
Leadership