Because It’s Worth It!

1. Making the Case for PTA--- Because It’s Worth It! PTA National Convention June 10, 2010 Presented by: Deborah Walsh & M. Ivelisse Castro

2. Goals for today: • Learn the personal, professional and persuasive reasons people join PTA. • Understand the importance of knowing what dues fund. • Explore how to define and deliver a PTA value message.

3. Value. noun def :worth, desirability, utilitysyn : - merit, benefit - worth, advantage - practicality, effectiveness

4. Buyer: Teachers & Administrators • Needs: • Communication within and without system • Support for programs, curriculum, etc. • Parent involvement, especially to meet NCLB requirements • Fiscal accountability—no controversy! • Trained volunteers • Advocates for school funding and needs.

5. PTA “sells” Teachers & Administrators • PTA Value: • Communication --school & in community, and among all other PTAs everywhere. (lsn) • Program enhancement and curriculum enrichment , i.e., Reflections(lsn) • Parent involvement, i.e., National Standards for Family Engagement,Three for Me, Take Your Family to School Week (lsn) • Financial training and resources, i.e. Money Matters, website, state training, E-learning(lsn)

6. PTA “sells” Teachers & Administrators • PTA Value: • Volunteers, ready to lead , i.e., E-learning, Quick Reference Guides, state training, e-newsletters, etc. (lsn) • Advocates in the local community, Grassroots Advocacy Toolkit,state training and legislative platform, national platform and influence, a voice beyond the school system working for school funding and support of public education

7. Buyer: Parents, Guardians, Caregivers • Needs: • Network of support as they raise child • Information about school and education to help navigate the system • Child development info • Resources--$, programs, services • An “in” within the system to get things done • Successful schools

8. PTA “sells” Parents, Guardians, Caregivers • PTA Values: • Network of support including trained and connected local leaders • able to connect local members to parents and resources at local, state and national level— • with help of local leader training, e-newsletters, and trained volunteers and professionals at the state and national level. (lsn)

9. PTA “sells” Parents, Guardians, Caregivers • PTA Values: • Help with system navigation, i.e. PTA Takes Action, newsletters, web (lsn) • Child development info, i.e, PTA Parentenewsletter, website, Our Children(lsn) • Resources, i.e., individual member benefits, community resource info (lsn) • An opportunity to influence decision-making at every level (lsn) • Programs, resources, school support

10. Buyer: Community Members • Needs: • Strong safe schools • Cost-effective programs and management • Knowledge that money is well-spent and children well-served

11. PTA “sells” Community Members • PTA Values: • Volunteers working with administration to keep schools safe and strong through PTA local, state and national support (lsn) • Communication on how schools operate—”eyes in the building” (l) • Tax abatement: Programs, resources, enhancements at no cost to the taxpayer (lsn) • Research shows parent involvement = student and school success

12. www.pta.orgdwalsh@pta.orgDeborah Walsh860-739-4457Ivelisse Castroicastro@pta.org305-606-1060 PTA….. there is no “O”ther !