What kind of person becomes head of PTA

[Ohwerewatchingfrozenagainarewe]

Would you say, in general?

I was surprised about someone I loosely know, when they told me they were, I really wouldn’t have them down as being that type, but maybe I being far too judgemental!

I am the chair of our PTA. I was the only person who turned up to the meeting where the previous chair stood down. I am not the stereotype and tbh I barely do anything as the secretary is very efficient. I mostly just approve money spending.

I've been teaching for 30+ years so have known several PTA Chairs.

Without exception, they have been motivated by wanting to provide more for the children than could be done without the PTA, whether that's organising events that the children love or raising money for things that couldn't be afforded from the school budget.

They are hard working, organised and have great people skills - they motivate others and are good at networking.

They usually only last a few years because they get burned out but may still support the PTA in a less full-on role.

Amanda from Motherland

In my experience offline: someone who generally volunteers, or has volunteered, in many other areas of their life. They're very organised, generally very personable, have a lot of get up and go about them. They're usually working mothers, full or part time, and have other commitments in life. They try really hard to do nice things for the benefit of the school and children.

Based on what I've read on Mumsnet: someone who is a mean bitch with too much time on her hands, cackles as she walks into the playground, is a queen bee who is followed around by her clique of followers who worship everything she says. She's definitely a stay at home parent who only has time for the PTA because her children are in school and she's got a cleaner, a housekeeper, and a lady who does her ironing. She's not interested in the children or the school and is only on the PTA to ensure she is best friends with the head and her child gets Mary in the nativity.

I chair our PTA. I only joined for one disco...

I really really enjoy putting on events that the children enjoy and also seeing the children love the product of the fundraising. I also have two disabled children so.i enjoy being a voice for inclusion.

Not sure what type of person I am!

Someone who knows how to fund-raise, has time on their hands for whatever reason, and is determined to provide the children in the school with more than the basics.

The PTA chair at our primary school was a former marketing director who had married well, and taking her dcs' primary years as a sahm. It wasn't enough for her so she filled her time raising an extra £75k a year for the school. And cajouling the dads into painting, repairing, mowing, gardening, coaching etc.

The school was very well kept. The teachers loved her 🙂

I've only known a few in RL but they're all very different people. I suppose the only similarity is that they're all likeable with good communication skills.

The PTA 'type' they portray in the media is absolutely horrendous for school fundraising though. I'm sure there are a few of them but quite frankly the position isn't one of power, as people soon find out when they give it a try. It's mainly completely thankless drudgery combined with copious amounts of pleading.

My friend did because no one else would and someone had to. I was surprised simply because she works full time in a senior role so I didn’t know how she had the time. She is very motivated and driven though which probably helped. In the end it was too much and she stepped down after a year.
PTA is really important in the school and in getting funding. If no one did it our school would have half the facilities it has. Sadly it is depicted as a negative thing on tv, probably due to women doing it and sexism. I’m not in the PTA but appreciate those that are.

Be grateful someone is willing to step up

'not running a county-lines network.'
😂

Ours is focussed on fundraising & focused on sticking to the brief.
Previous one got distracted & started focusing on doing nice stuff for pupils but sadly that doesn't make money, so thank god we're back to quiz nights with a bar 👍

I think you need confidence & to be a bit no nonsense.

Actually I wouldn't say that any of the PTA heads I know have time on their hands. They tend to be busy but effective people who are not reluctant to take on a task.

Nailed it- of course the TV depictions are down to sexism and a general contempt for women.
So glad to read these responses. I'm so grateful that people put time into our schools PTA.

Someone active, who likes to keep busy and be involved in things and has a lot of initiative.

It must depend on the school and the area. A friend used to complain about her PTA chair being up herself, acting as if it was an achievement on a par with heading up NASA. I live in a much more deprived area, where anyone faintly literate will be roped in, however hard they try to look at their feet and pretend they're not there.
Those days are long gone for me, but I still resent the Queen Bee tropes that float around. Most people on the committee are giving up their free time to help out the school and the pupils, however they might come across. That's all you need to know.

It seems like there's a specific answer you're wanting us to suggest that is a negative about her character/motivation. Is that so you can agree that's probably it without feeling like you're being gossipy, judgemental or horrible about her?

I think you should check your misogyny here op. Bitchy PTA heads indeed. Grow up

Our chair is lovely .
It’s the helpers who are up themselves.

I don’t really care. I do my bit but I wouldn’t want to be on the PTA so good for those who are.

Someone willing to give up their own time and put huge amounts of effort into raising additional money to help the school ...and all the children ...for no thanks.
Someone who cares more about doing the right thing than how much they are liked or being "cool"

The person who looked around the room last and who is unable to say no.

Someone who is thick skinned enough to know nothing will ever satisfy everyone. It's either "it's too expensive for me" or "why does everything have to be so cheap, why can't we go back to having naice events".

I've been on the PTA with two chairs.
One was a demon and a control freak. Everything was planned meticulously and events were run with military precision.

The other is more relaxed and we've got rid of e.g. whole weekend day events and do on a Wednesday after school instead. They raise the same money incidentally. People will have a budget of £10 or whatever to spend. They'll spend it whether it's all singing and dancing or just cheap and cheerful and quick and painless.

long time since I had DC at school I liked being on the PTA although I.was never interested in chair; but ours were never bitchy or whatever else you said but usually really organised and motivated women,it was always women the men liked to be on the school board I think they liked to feel incharge

Ours is run by a FT working Dad, who seems to be doing a good job. Whenever I talk to him he seems very on the ball, enthusiastic and a bit overwhelmed! I think he was the only person who’d agree to do it, ours is not the kind of school with a surplus of parents who want to be heavily involved, especially beyond things that directly involve their own child.

This.

It's the person who puts their hand up when the committee is going to fold unless they do.

If that was a criterion, you'd be a good candidate given the nature of your post.

People are so judgmental of 'PTA' types, yet have no idea how much work they do to raise much needed funds, which all children benefit from.

I am very grateful for the chair of our PTA and how much time and effort she puts in to making the school a better place. She's kind, friendly, organised and efficient. I am not on the PTA bht try to volunteer to help at most events.

Utterly convinced that the depictions of PTAs in the media etc are pure and simple misogyny.

anyway I’m a PTA chair because nobody else would volunteer. I am actually fairly disorganised but I have a can do attitude and really value the contribution a PTA brings to a school community. I have 3 kids and work 30 hours a week. I would love to hand it over to someone else but I committed for 3 years as a constant turnover of committee isn’t helpful…