To wonder if you can be the PTA coordinator and hold down a full time job?

[KenAdams]

DD has just started primary school and they are looking for a new Co-ordinator/Head of the PTA. I've obviously never been involved with the PTA before. Is it ridiculous to think I could do that and hold down a full time job at the same time? Or is it not that much work?

of course you can - did it for 6 years at primary and 6 at secondary no sweat

Yes, as long as you have a good committee around you and are prepared to delegate. Every event we run as a PTA we have someone different take the lead on to spread the load a little.

IMO not if you want to keep your sanity

Echo previous comments.
You really need a decent and active committee. If you need to hand hold you'll run yourself ragged.
If you can delegate without checking every five minutes you are all on the same page you'll be fine.

Is it a long standing committee or has it a least got a few long serving members?

Well they are recruiting for a Co-ordinator, Vice Co-ordinator, Treasurer and Trustees so it doesn't sound like there's anyone still there. Although they apparently recruit every year.

Yes it is. I did it for three years. The PTA chair before me also worked full-time ( a man, as it happens). The one after me also worked more than half time as a GP. You just have to do things a bit differently from how you might if you didn't work.

You can't do everything little thing yourself - but that's a bad idea anyway. I had brilliant sub-committees/groups for each event and only chose occasional events to be heavily involved in organising myself. (And I never ever baked a cake for a PTA event while I was chair! ). Choose a few really worthwhile events rather than an endless stream of stuff that no-one really enjoys and don't make much money.

Meetings were all in the evenings. Communication was more by e-mail than by school gate chat. Though it is helpful if you can be there sometimes to catch people, as I was. Good to talk to the school secretary/head from time to time too.

I don't think it would be a good idea if you had a really full on, long hours, long commute, high stress job. But for an average sort of job, preferably with a little bit of flexibility built it, then it is perfectly possible if you want to do it.

We raised 30K a year as a small state primary while I was PTA chair and we had some really fun events.

Hi, yes it is, I've Chaired on 2 different PTFAs and on both of them most of the committee members have been in full time employment.
They could well be organising for lots of different people as committees should be re-elected each year.
Fresh meat is always a good thing, stops things getting stale.
Go for it, it's a brilliant way to get to know the staff better and most PTFAs are a valuable asset for a school.

Oh and don't be afraid to challenge the status quo, I don't mean ride rough shot over people but sometimes a long standing committee can get very set in its ways and view change as a bad thing, just because something has been done a certain way for the last 5 years doesn't mean it can't be changed.

Lol but be prepared for a lot of people to tell you what you're doing wrong whilst never actually doing anything themselves x

You could; I would suggest a newcomer to the school shouldn't volunteer. You don't know why they are all being replaced - could be because the head is unsupportive or the parents have taken against the committee and forced them to resign.

Get a feel for the school and the events by volunteering this year and making helpful suggestions at the AGM and other open meetings. Then stand for a position next time.

I don't think the FT job is a problem.

The problem IMO is that you haven't been on the committee, so how do you expect to head something when you don'y fully know what it does?

Go for the vice-coordinator this year so you can get a feel for it. Or just join the committee.

If you want something done, ask a busy person....

Definitely possible but I would echo other posters that having a good committee is the most important. It is a really easy role to share so suggest that you will do it if you get a co-chair. Once one person steps forward, other people are often willing to volunteer.

I joined our PTA last year just after DD started in reception and 70% of the committee was brand new. We came up with lots of new ways to recruit members and have been successful in getting lots of new volunteers.