LEADING A PTA
To lead a PTA with confidence, you must first understand the PTA’s purposes and policies. PTA is a national nonprofit association that has dedicated itself to advocating for the well- being of children, youth and families for over 100 years. PTA is an advocate for public education, a vital resource for families and a powerful voice for all children. Children are PTA’s focus and we speak for every child.
PTA Mission
• A powerful voice for all children,
• A relevant resource for families and communities, and
• A strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child.
Values of the PTA Collaboration: We will work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organizations to broaden and enhance our ability to serve and advocate for all children and families.
Commitment: We are dedicated to children’s educational success, health, and well-being through strong family and community engagement, while remaining accountable to the principles upon which our association was founded.
Diversity: We acknowledge the potential of everyone without regard, including but not limited to: age, culture, economic status, educational background, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, legal status, marital status, mental ability, national origin, organizational position, parental status, physical ability, political philosophy, race, religion, sexual orientation, and work experience.
Respect: We value the individual contributions of members, employees, volunteers, and partners as we work collaboratively to achieve our association’s goals.
Accountability: All members, employees, volunteers, and partners have a shared responsibility to align their efforts toward the achievement of our association’s strategic initiatives.
As a local PTA member, you are part of National PTA and join over 3.7 million members nationwide in the largest child advocacy association in the nation. Each local PTA is also part of Nevada PTA. Nevada PTA and National PTA supply local PTAs with information and resources that help your members contribute to the nationwide effort to improve the health, safety, welfare and education for every child. PTA regions and councils within Nevada further support local PTAs to create a closer connection at the local level. *Not all PTAs in Nevada have council representation.
Think of your PTA as a franchise of an easy, turn key Family Engagement, Children Protecting, Community Building powerhouse! Like any franchise business we need certain things from you in order to continue our partnership. Most of the requirements are for compliance with the IRS to stay a nonprofit and continue to receive tax free donations. Some of the requirements are there so that in the unforeseen event you need to use your bonding or insurance, the coverage is valid because you have met their requirements.
GETTING STARTED – What do I do first?
Gather the materials listed here and meet with your board this summer to plan for the coming year. Take it one step at a time. The first step is most often the hardest.
• Visit www.ptakit.org, for great information!
• “Like” the Nevada PTA, National and your Region’s or council’s Facebook Page
• Talk with the outgoing president and officers about the PTA’s status and seek their recommendations.
• Verify the existence of required documentation and that the outgoing secretary has submitted a list of incoming officers to Nevada PTA office upon election, but no later than July 15th.
• Meet with the school principal to find areas of common
interest and concern. Learn about the school’s goals and share your objectives for PTA. Establish a good working relationship right from the start by opening a channel of communication.
• Determine how planning will be conducted, identify priorities and set goals. Decide what committees you want to have in place for the coming year, for example, Membership, Legislative, Family Engagement, Health, or Reflections. Review your bylaws as some of these may be listed.
• Identify and appoint committee chairpersons and Parliamentarian if necessary.
• Make opportunities available to officers and committee chairs to attend training and leadership development events offered by your council, region and state PTA. Stress the importance of attending Leadership Training events throughout the year.
• Send a copy of your PTA’s approved Budget to Nevada PTA before October 31st
• Make sure that an Financial review of your PTA’s books will be properly conducted at the end of the outgoing officers’ term and that IRS reports are filed when due. Financial Reviews are completed at the end of a Treasurer’s term. Previous Signers on the checking account cannot be on the Financial Review committee.
• Your PTA’s IRS tax filing, the 990 or 990-N e-Postcard, can be filed any time after July 1st and prior to January 1st
• Remove all previous signers and add new signers to the PTA’s bank account.
• Contact your council, region director, or Nevada PTA if you need support or assistance.
- Follow Nevada PTA and National PTA on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest
DOCUMENTATION
The following documents are needed to run your PTA effectively. Make sure you have them when you begin your planning for the coming year. If any of these important documents are missing, work with your predecessor and other members to replace or recreate them. If you need help, contact your council, region or the Nevada PTA office.
• READ YOUR PTA’s BYLAWS – this is very important
• Know the Standards for Continued Affiliation-Get your PTA in good standing
• Your PTA’s standing rules. (if your PTA does not have them already, consider creating them)
• Officers’ Roster – keep for your file and email a copy to Nevada PTA no later than July 15th.
• Latest membership roster including member’s names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Nevada PTA does not share personal information with any outside agencies or persons. Use Memberhub to keep track of your PTA members’ contact information.
• Historical documents like minutes of monthly meetings, treasurer’s reports, bank statements, and backup documents in the Treasurer’s Binder. Make sure to keep the binders for 7 years.
• Set of correspondence from the past officers
• List of community partners, projects, contact people
• Your PTA’s procedure books for each PTA officer
• Last year’s PTA reports and/or plans of work and results
• Last year’s PTA budget
• Last year’s calendar of events/activities
• Current copy of certificate of liability insurance
• Resources from National and Nevada PTA
National PTA PTA RESOURCES
• The National PTA Official Back to School Kit- www.ptakit.org
• Money Matters
• Our Children Digital Magazine
• National Standards for Family School Partnerships: Implementation Guide
• National PTA’s E-Learning Courses at www.pta.org
• Various publications and programs (See Reproducible Materials online at pta.org, many are also available in Spanish)
• National PTA Radio
• Follow National PTA on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter- Like other PTAs to get ideas
Nevada PTA Resources
• AIM Insurance Handbook www.aim-companies.com
• Website: www.nevadapta.org
• Follow Nevada PTA on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter
• Your PTA’s Region Directors and the Vice President of Leadership
