niles elementary pta

Committee Chair

Open

Event Date

Year Round

Committee Responsibilities

1. Recruit and Assign Room Parents

• Recruit Volunteers: Actively recruit parent volunteers to serve as Room Parents for each classroom, either through PTA meetings, newsletters, or sign-up sheets at the beginning of the school year.

• Assign Room Parents: Match interested parents with specific classrooms, ensuring each class has at least one Room Parent (or more, if needed), and work to balance responsibilities across volunteers.

• Communicate Roles and Expectations: Clearly define the responsibilities of Room Parents, including assisting with classroom events, organizing volunteers, and facilitating communication between the teacher and other parents.

2. Liaison Between Teachers and Room Parents

• Communicate Teacher Needs: Regularly check in with teachers to understand their classroom needs for events, supplies, or additional support, and relay this information to the Room Parents.

• Support Classroom Requests: Coordinate with Room Parents to organize volunteers or resources when teachers request help with activities like field trips, classroom parties, or special projects.

• Ensure Consistent Communication: Act as a bridge between teachers and Room Parents to ensure smooth communication, preventing misunderstandings and ensuring everyone is on the same page regarding classroom goals and needs.

3. Organize Classroom Events and Activities

• Event Planning: Help Room Parents organize and manage classroom events such as holiday parties, teacher appreciation celebrations, or classroom projects.

• Coordinate Supplies and Donations: Work with Room Parents to collect supplies or donations needed for classroom events, ensuring all students have what they need for successful participation.

• Manage Volunteers: Assist Room Parents in coordinating additional parent volunteers for events such as field trips, school performances, or in-class assistance.

4. Facilitate Parent Communication

• Create Contact Lists: Develop and maintain a contact list of all Room Parents and classroom parents, ensuring that communication is seamless when requests or information need to be shared.

• Distribute Information: Help Room Parents disseminate important information to classroom parents, including reminders for school events, deadlines for classroom contributions, or teacher requests.

• Encourage Parent Involvement: Promote opportunities for parents to get involved in the classroom, whether through volunteering for events, donating supplies, or participating in activities like reading to students.

5. Support Classroom Fundraising Efforts

• Classroom Contributions: Coordinate with Room Parents to help teachers organize classroom fundraisers or collect donations for specific needs (e.g., special supplies, field trips, or classroom enhancements).

• Promote PTA Fundraisers: Work with Room Parents to encourage classroom participation in school-wide or PTA fundraisers, ensuring that parents are informed and motivated to support the cause.

6. Room Parent Orientation and Training

• Conduct Room Parent Meetings: Host an orientation or training session for Room Parents at the start of the school year to review expectations, roles, and tips for success.

• Provide Resources: Offer resources such as templates for emails, volunteer sign-up sheets, and event checklists to help Room Parents manage their responsibilities efficiently.

• Ongoing Support: Be available throughout the year to answer questions, provide guidance, and troubleshoot any challenges Room Parents encounter in their roles.

7. Teacher Appreciation and Recognition

• Coordinate Teacher Appreciation Efforts: Help Room Parents plan and organize classroom-level activities for Teacher Appreciation Week or other recognition events, such as organizing group gifts, notes of appreciation, or special celebrations.

• Encourage Year-Round Recognition: Support Room Parents in finding ways to recognize and appreciate teachers throughout the school year, not just during designated appreciation events.

8. Assist with Classroom Supply Coordination

• Monitor Supply Needs: Work with Room Parents to regularly check with teachers about classroom supply needs (e.g., tissues, pencils, art supplies) and help organize supply drives or donations to fill these gaps.

• Coordinate Contributions: Help Room Parents organize contributions from parents, ensuring that supplies are collected and distributed evenly across all students, avoiding placing too much burden on any one family.

9. Promote Positive Parent-Teacher Relationships

• Foster Communication: Encourage open and positive communication between parents and teachers, helping to resolve any misunderstandings and maintain a supportive, cooperative relationship.

• Encourage Parental Support: Motivate parents to be engaged in their children’s education by participating in classroom activities, supporting teachers, and attending school events.

10. Provide Feedback to the PTA

• Report on Room Parent Activities: Provide regular updates to the PTA about Room Parent activities, classroom needs, and any challenges that arise, ensuring that the PTA can support both Room Parents and teachers effectively.

• Collaborate with PTA Committees: Work with other PTA committees (such as Hospitality or Fundraising) to align classroom-level activities with school-wide initiatives or events, ensuring cohesive planning and execution.

11. End-of-Year Review and Transition

• Review the Year’s Successes: At the end of the school year, review how well the Room Parent program worked, gather feedback from teachers and parents, and identify areas for improvement.

• Prepare for Next Year: Help with the transition of Room Parents for the next school year by ensuring that new volunteers are recruited and provided with helpful materials to start planning for the upcoming year.

These responsibilities ensure that the Room Parent Coordinator effectively manages parent volunteers, facilitates communication between teachers and parents, and supports the classroom in ways that enhance student experiences and teacher success.

Volunteer Opportunities