Success Tips & Traps for Boosting Parent Participation in your PTA

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Success Tips & Traps for Boosting Parent Participation

in your PTA

Facilitator: Karen Bantuveris

Founder & CEO SignUp.com


AGENDA

2

•  ParentPar6cipa6onPainPoints•  WhatisSignUp.com•  JourneyofaParentVolunteer•  SuccessStrategies•  Trust-BreakingTraps•  Recogni6on&Feedback•  BacktoSchoolBonusTips


What are your biggest Parent Participation

pain points?

OUCH!


Q: WHY PARENT PARTICIPATION?


InvolvementImprovesStudentPerformance&BuildsCommitment…

toourSchools,toourCommuni6esandtoALLourChildren!

A: WHY PARENT PARTICIPATION?


Thanks to Chris Jarvis, @RealizedWorth

JOURNEY OF A PARENT VOLUNTEER


Please select the following reasons that describe why you do not volunteer more at school. Please select all that apply.

73%

21%

14%

13%

4%

3%

3%

2%

1%

Workscheduleconflicts

Toobusy

Neveraskedtovolunteer

Caringforothersduringtheday

Poorcommunica6on-toomanyemails,etc.

Teacherdoesn'twelcomevolunteers

Schooldoesn'twelcomevolunteers

Schoolastoomanyvolunteers

Conflictswithparentgrouporroomparent

n=188

WORK IS THE MOST COMMON BARRIER


TEACHERS FIND PARENTS UNRELIABLE

58%

48%

45%

36%

32%

9%

9%

Parentsnotshowingupforvolunteerac6vi6es

The6metoprepareinforma6on/ac6vi6esforvolunteers

Concernforstudents/classroomconfiden6ality

Organizing/managingvolunteers

Disrup6onofregularclassroomrou6nes

Other

Noneoftheabove

n=646

What are areas of concern or difficulty using parent volunteers? Please select all that apply.


n=475 n=601 Parents: Do you wish you could volunteer more at school, less, or are you volunteering just the right amount for you?

VolunteerMore43%Right

Amount

Less2%

Donotwishtovolunteer

2%TooFew

Volunteers45%Right

amount

Toomany1%

Educators: Do you feel there were too few, just the right amount, or too many volunteers in the 2012-13 school year?

BOTH GROUPS WANT MORE PARTICIPATION


SignUp.com − THE EASIEST WAY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER


SAVING TIME = BIG TRACTION

THEY SIGN UP

YOUR PLAN

WE REMIND

EASY!

12 Million People Organized 37 Million Spots Filled


WHY LEADERS & VOLUNTEERS LOVE US

SAVE TIME

BOOST Volunteer Turnout

REDUCE Leader Burnout

BUILD Loyalty & Donors

99% of Organizers & 95% of Volunteers

would refer SignUp.com to a friend or colleague.


SIGNUPS MADE SIMPLE

13

•  VolunteerInterestForms•  Cafeteria•  Carnivals•  Concessions•  Classroom•  Hospitality•  Library•  Office•  Trips•  Fees•  PickUp/DropOff•  BookFairs•  Tailgates•  TalentShows•  Walkathons


GROUP PAGES

Post all your SignUps on one shared Group Page. Parents can sync commitments to eCalendars, swap spots, and more!

@SignUp.com SignUp.com/TXPTA015

FRESH & FUN THEMES

Over 1500 themes, badges and logo combinations for your SignUps.


ORGANIZE ON THE GO!

Manage SignUps, invite participants, make assignments and more – from any device!

@SignUp.com SignUp.com/TXPTA17

GET STARTED NOW FOR EVERYTHING YOU ORGANIZE

Field Day & Festivals

Back to School

Teacher Appreciation

Library & Bookfair

Concessions

Walkathons & Races

Parties & Potlucks

Class Helpers


1.   GoWide2.   ThinkFlexible3.   TuneIn4.   JustASK5.   GetSpecific

SUCCESS STRATEGIES


•  Focusonbroadpar6cipa6on

•  ALLinvolvementisimportant

•  Cul6va6ngfutureleaders,champions&donors

1. GO WIDE


SomethingforEveryone•  Ongoing•  Specialevents•  On-the-Go•  Athome•  Weekend•  On-line•  SpecialSkills&Interests

2. THINK FLEXIBLE


FamilyNeeds?•  Working•  Immigrant•  Military•  Grandparents•  Smallkids•  Dads

3. TUNE IN


SeveralAWESOMEPrograms…

A SHOUT FOR DADS!


•  CustomizeEngagementandOpportuni6estomeetdiverseneedsofYOURCommunity!

•  Whichflexiblesolu6onsapplytoyourcommunity?

ACTIVITY: 10 Min. Small Groups


1.  GoWide2.  ThinkFlexible3.  TuneIn4.  JustASK5.  GetSpecific

SUCCESS STRATEGIES


"Haveyouthoughtabouthowyouwouldliketogetinvolvedthisyear?"

4. JUST ASK – MAGIC SENTENCE


! Overuse of

any channel

gets ignored/ avoided

4. JUST ASK – MIX IT UP


1.  (Newsle)er)CafeteriaLunchVolunteersneeded–[email protected].(orjustshowup,THANKS!)

2.  (ReminderText)Urgent:5VolunteersneededintheCafeterianextweekonMon.at11amorTues.atnoon.Pleaseletmeknowifyoucanhelp–thanks!

3.  Urgent:Weneedyourhelpinthecafeterianextweektogiveourteachersawell-deservedbreak(andyourkidswillLOVEseeingyoubyday).Pleaseclickheretochooseafun50min.shiY.THX!SignUp.com/go/LunchVolunteers

5. GET SPECIFIC


1.  GoWide2.  ThinkFlexible3.  TuneIn4.   JustASK5.  GetSpecific

SUCCESS STRATEGIES


1.  Onlyreachingoutwhenyouneedsomething

2.  Notcallingback/confirminginterest

3.  Notremindingpeople

4.  Notneeding‘emwhentheyshowup

5.  Keeping‘emtoolong

6.  Callingonsame10people/clique

7.  Notsharingresults

8.  Notthanking‘em

TRUST-BREAKING TRAPS


RECOGNITION & FEEDBACK

Thanks to Chris Jarvis, @RealizedWorth

ACCELERATE THE JOURNEY


•  Face-to-Face•  PhotoWalls•  PersonalLeoers•  NewsleoerShouts•  HoursAwards•  SocialMedia•  Stats&Thermometers

RECOGNITION


ASK FOR FEEDBACK

•  Howcanweimprove?• Whatareyourmost/leastfavoriteac6vi6es&events?

•  Ifeel…–  welcomed–  valued–  thatmyopinionsandsugges6onsmaoer


Committee Picker/ Volunteer Interest

1.  WelcomeLeoers2.  ShareHow

VolunteersMakeADifference

3.  SocialEvents4.  NewParentCoffee5.  ASKvisiblyandopen6.   CaptureALLinterest

&ACTonit!

BACK 2 SCHOOL BONUS TIPS


BOOST PARENT PARTICIPATION

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Education

Success Tips & Traps for Boosting Parent Participation in your PTA