February 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, As a life-long learner, I am always taking courses, reading books, and otherwise trying to develop my talents and hone my skills. A few years ago, I took a couple of online courses in executive leadership. At the time, I wanted to learn more about what it meant to be an “executive.” I…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA President’s Power of Connection – January 2021
As I left the house to walk my pugs this morning, I noticed that our Texas Bluebonnets are poking up through the soil. It seems early, but it was a welcome sight that made me smile. Those bulbs were given to me by a friend when our kids were in preschool together about eighteen years…
Category:
Leadership
Transparency and Engagement with Meeting Summaries
Governance. Powered by PTA. PTAs strive to involve their members and communities in the work of PTA and often post meeting minutes online to be transparent and increase engagement. Unfortunately, posting meeting minutes is risky. Instead, encourage PTAs to post meeting summaries online! What is the difference between meeting minutes and a meeting summary? Minutes are a…
Category:
Leadership
January 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, I love the new year. That was not always the case. In my youth, when my life was focused on science and mathematics, I thought that all of the falderal around the new year was just silly. Didn’t people understand how the calendar works, that it is all just arbitrary? The year just…
Category:
Leadership
December 2020 – WSPTA Executive Director Message
Dear Members, We are rapidly approaching my favorite day of the year. As a native of Washington, I have always been very tuned into our day and night cycle. Throughout the summer we luxuriate in our long days and late evenings. We treasure the extra time we can spend on our patios, decks, and in…
Category:
Leadership
Five Key Resources for Council Leaders
Have you visited WSPTA’s online leader resources? The WSPTA website, under the “PTA Leaders” tab, has a variety of resources to help councils educate and support local PTAs. The “Leadership Guides” page has been recently reorganized to help you find what you need faster than ever. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact us to suggest…
Category:
Leadership
Seven Actions for Council Advocacy
Councils play a critical role in encouraging and mobilizing advocates for children and youth. Here are seven steps for councils to support and grow community advocacy. Learn about WSPTA’s Top 5 Legislative Priorities (and also supported issues) for 2020 – 2021 and encourage local leaders to sign up for Action Alerts. These legislative priorities have…
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Advocacy
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Leadership
November 2020 – WSPTA Executive Director Message
Dear Members, A good friend and mentor taught me a valuable lesson many years ago. I was considering whether I ought to take a job that I had been offered. I had told my friend that I felt that I was not qualified to do the job. He said, “Andrew, you are not qualified to…
Category:
Leadership
Are Local PTAs in Good Standing?
To be eligible to participate in PTA programs, grants, and awards at the state and national level, PTAs must fulfill the requirements set out in the WSPTA Standards of Affiliation (SOA.) Councils can support local PTAs with these requirements and ensure that everyone is able to take advantage of all the opportunities available from WSPTA…
Category:
Leadership
Plan for the Future: Engaging Future Leaders
Councils exist to serve local PTAs, to educate local PTA leaders, to create a stronger awareness and relationship between local PTAs and the school district, and to facilitate programs that are more effective on a larger scale. One of the biggest determining factors in the health of a local PTA is whether that local PTA…
Category:
Leadership