School may be out for the summer, but the Tyler Independent School District Council of PTAs is still hard at work.
The group, which encompasses all 24 Tyler ISD campus PTAs, helps individual campuses organize, prepare and get involved.
“Our mission is to make every child’s potential a reality,” outgoing Council of PTAs President Maureen Kaiser said.
In June, members from each PTA came together at Kaiser’s home to help each other with book keeping. Each campus PTA has leadership that works with the council and the state level PTA organization.
While doing finances might be the least glamorous part of the job, having a district level organization to help makes a big difference in the lives of members.
“When people want to get involved it's because they love the students,” Kaiser said. “We help with training and support to bring them together to share ideas.”
Kaiser is a member of every Tyler ISD PTA and has children in school at Three Lakes Middle School and Robert E. Lee High School. The council leadership cycles every two years. Kaiser currently is helping incoming president Kara Grace prepare to take over the title.
“I want to equip the leaders with tools, whether that’s knowledge, resources or something else,” Grace said. “The most important thing we can do is give effective and detailed training. It really is a daunting task.”
Sally Felix, president of the district’s newest PTA at Douglass Elementary School, is especially grateful for that training.
“Maureen reached out to us,” Felix said. “They’ve been awesome. They’ve been my right hand.”
The Douglass PTA rechartered, after several years of inactivity, in March after nearly a year’s worth of preparation.
Felix said the council helped them every step of the way, from their initial meeting with representatives from the state PTA organization to tips on how to recruit new parents.
The new Douglass PTA will begin its first year with more than 60 parents involved.
Kaiser said the goal is to create opportunities for parents to advocate for their children, whether it is through supporting a bond package, helping with STAAR preparation or spending time in the classroom.
Kaiser said each PTA starts off with a zero balance and raises funds through membership fees or events, but money isn’t a priority.
“One of the things we do talk about very specifically is that nowhere does it say to fund raise,” Kaiser said. “We want parents involved and using their voice for students on campus. We want them to know what’s going on in their schools.”
The council meets quarterly with PTA leadership, delegates and their principals.
For more information, visit tylerisdcouncilpta.wordpress.com
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