My school is blessed with an extremely active Parent Teacher Union. Our PTU is active in fundraising, providing homeroom parents, social outreach programs, collaborating with teachers to provide academic/social activities for students, offering grants for teachers meet the needs of their classrooms, and assisting teachers through access to professional development opportunities. It is through their commitment to Catholic education that we are best able to serve our students. The PTU is aware of the ever-changing world of education and they ensure that we, as teachers, are able to provide their students with the most up-to-date classrooms and preparation for teaching.
While the PTU provides teachers with access to professional development and resources for our classrooms, they also provide us with resources that better engage us as Catholic school educators. PTU shows us what it means to be servant leaders. They generously donate their time to come into the classroom and share holiday celebrations with the classes, plan events that connect the school to the community, and organize events that gather students together in faith and in sharing.
One large undertaking that PTU recently started in connection with the teachers is a hot dog lunch/celebration. PTU provides all students the opportunity to receive a hot dog, snack, drink, and condiments at the beginning of the school year with an extended recess. All the students play together under the supervision of parent volunteers and teachers. It is a great experience seeing all of the students playing together at the same time. The PTU’s leadership shows the students and teachers that socialization and friendship is important part of growing in the Catholic faith.
I have been blessed with PTU’s kindness several times. I was able to purchase some flexible seating options through the support of PTU and I will be attending a conference through PTU’s generosity. I would not be able to enrich my own life and the lives of my students without the commitment to Catholic education that PTU provides.
I am also thankful for PTU’s support of me throughout my Social Media Influencer participation. They have been following along since day one and I am very happy that I was able to address the PTU to share my experience at one of their meetings. I feel I have grown as a teacher because of the members of PTU.
We need to recognize that parents and the parent groups of our schools are amazing guides and leaders for Catholic education and the Catholic faith. We need to work with the parents by making them aware of the great things that we do as teachers, but also by connecting with parents to share the resources and commitment they have to Catholic education.
Cottos Corner for Education 