Grasshopper New Media Presents...

There’s a reason to be involved in your child’s school that goes beyond just getting to know the teachers. It even goes beyond knowing your children’s friends. You need to become, on some level, part of the Mommy Mafia, The Parent Network, The Coffee Clatch- whatever you want to call it.

In every school, usually starting with the PTA/PTO group, there are a group of Moms who know EVERYTHING that’s happening in the school. They are always on the volunteer list, they are always there at school for functions, and they know what’s going on. Even if you can’t be one of these ladies, you need to be friends with one of them.

These ladies know which teachers are good, and which ones need special handling. They know what the Principal will tolerate, and what kind of ship they operate. They treat school and the operation of the volunteer services like a professional job, and they are awesome at it.

(Note to big business- any parent that has managed to organize a week long bookfair, a school carnival, silent auction, or any other event like this, all with a small budget, having to solicit community sponsors and volunteer help to make it happen, can certainly handle anything you care to dish out day to day. Do not underestimate this experience.)

The women who run our local PTO group are simply powerhouses of energy and information. They are outgoing and welcoming, and are happy to put anyone to work, in big or small ways. And what they are perfecting is what so many businesses are looking for today- these ladies are Community Evangelists in every sense of the word.

They know what resources are available, and where to find them. They can help you find a pediatrician, dentist, doctor, or anyone else you can imagine. They know every camp, day camp, weekend activity and the like in your local area. or they know someone who knows. They are the Encyclopedia Brittanica of Parenting in your Neighborhood.

While it’s easy for busy parents and working parents to dismiss the PTO moms as women with too much time on their hands, nothing could be further from the truth. While their work is unpaid, their dedication in unrivaled, and they are passionate about their children, education, and being part of something bigger.

The PTO can be an engine that helps turn a school from an institution into a home of learning for kids. And if you need information, if you want your child to know you care and are invested in their success, do yourself a favor. Participate even just once or twice a year in your local PTO. Pick a committee, a passion of yours, and help in any way you can. The PTO will be grateful for an extra set of hands, and you’ll get more out of it than you ever could have imagined.

[tags]parents, moms, dads, school, education, PTA, PTO, PTSA, parent teacher association organization, networking, society[/tags]
Photo graciously provided by BrittneyBush, through a Creative Commons license, some rights reserved