What will you do?

A parent volunteer is someone who can be available when the room parent, PTO, and/or classroom teacher reaches out for help. This help can be given in a variety of ways, but usually. involves coming into the classroom to help with parties, fundraising events, and attending field trips, when possible. Sometimes, the teacher may ask for volunteers to come in to read to students or volunteer with a classroom project or an experiment. Parent volunteers will not be a part of organizing events or contacting other parents. They are solely available, when possible, to help out in the classroom or as chaperones on field trips.

What will you do?

A room parent’s main task is to facilitate communication between the teacher, other parents, and the PTO. This can vary widely from class to class and teacher to teacher, but for the most part, as the room parent, you’ll solicit donations (food, paper goods, decorations, etc.) from parents for the classroom parties and events (usually based on a list from the teacher), collect money (for teacher gifts during holidays, Teacher Appreciation week in May, and birthdays), organize volunteers for classroom events or enrichment, and other tasks as decided by the teacher.

The room parent will act as a go-between to the teacher, other parents, and the school’s PTO. Home Room Parent Liaison, attending parent group. meetings, and helping to generate support or interest in parent group efforts (for example, room parents can help the PTO promote an event by reminding their parents of an upcoming program or fundraiser).

Meet with the teacher

Teachers’ expectations of their room parents vary widely. Some rely heavily on parent volunteers to pull together all events, parties, and field trips while others have specific ideas and will. ask parents to coordinate based on a list or only for certain parts. Either way, it is critical for the room parent. to find out your teacher’s preferred way of doing things right away and stick to it. The room parent is not given responsibility to their class in order to take charge, but instead, to be the reliable support that the teacher needs and asks for.

The room parent should communicate with their teacher using a variety of methods. Find out how your teacher prefers to be contacted (via email, texts, and/or phone calls). Check-in periodically to ask whether your teacher needs anything. Often, a teacher intends to contact you, as the room parent, regarding an upcoming event or class need, and the business of school life kept them from doing so. Being proactive is a great way to support your classroom teacher.

Get a List

The best resource you can have as a room parent is an up-to-date parent email list. Your PTO and/or classroom teacher will be able to provide this for you. When new students join your class during the year, make sure to ask the teacher for their parents’ contact information.

Provide a Variety of Platforms for Monetary Donations

As the room parent, you will have multiple instances throughout the year where you need to collect money from other parents. Provide multiple ways to do so securely. Some parents prefer to send money to school in an envelope marked with your name, but many parents do not like this method. Having several apps on your phone that allow for parents to transfer money quickly and securely can be very helpful. Some of these helpful apps include Apple Pay, Cash App, Venmo, and PayPal. Consider providing a variety of choices, as your parents may not all be familiar with the same payment app.

Get to Know Your Co-Room Parent (If applicable)

Some classrooms may need to have two rom parents. In this case, establishing a warm connection early on with your co-room parent is an important part of how successful your year will be. Sometimes, you get lucky and are paired with someone whose personality and leadership style meshes with yours. But even in situations where personality types differ, it’s important to learn to work together. You may want to appoint a lead room parent and a support rom parent or split up responsibilities so that each person is allowed to be the lead room. parent at different times of the year. You may find that one parent is better with the communication where the other is better at organizing classroom needs. Remember that you both checked “yes” to being the room parent because you both care about the school, your classroom teacher, and your kids’ experience, and you want to help in the best way that you can.

Being a room parent at North Tampa Christian Academy will allow you some perspectives and opportunities you wouldn’t otherwise have. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you helped a busy. teacher organize a fun event. or gathered volunteers for a field trip. You will establish yourself as a reliable member of your school community, and best of all, you will have the opportunity to participate in your child’s school life in a unique and special way.