Passive aggressive PTA leaders

[Anonymous]

Just a vent!

Why is it that the very people who want to be PTSA presidents are the very people who alienate volunteers? I’ve been a loyal, low-maintenance volunteer on a range of very time-intensive activities from grades K-12 over the years of three DSs in FCPS. Having gone through many PTSA presidents, I’m surprised at how few have had the backs of the volunteers, despite their faux praise at the end-of-year thank you’s. I thought I was alone, until dining over the weekend with other volunteers who are also “graduating” out. Good luck to the new recruits!

[Anonymous]

I dont get it either.

[Anonymous]

Oh Lordy. It attracts a certain type for sure. Glad you’re getting out, OP. I never drank the Kool-Aid.

[Anonymous]

They'll get a new batch of wide-eyed, excited kindergarten moms in August who are looking to "get involved".

The PTA will chew them up and spit them out.

These moms won't go near the PTA with a 10-foot pole for the next 11 years.

The PTA will keep complaining how it never has enough help.

It's the cycle of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They'll get a new batch of wide-eyed, excited kindergarten moms in August who are looking to "get involved".

The PTA will chew them up and spit them out.

These moms won't go near the PTA with a 10-foot pole for the next 11 years.

The PTA will keep complaining how it never has enough help.

It's the cycle of life.

This 100%. Our PTA did that this year and ran off some really good people who did a lot last year and this year was not only a joke but their friends they put in the board positions aren't willing to step up and now be president.

[Anonymous]

In my corner of the world, a kindergarten mom gets heavily involved in the PTA, then quickly gets onto the board and then by 4th grade, is VP of not President. Then becomes MS PTA liaison and then MS and HS PTA President, repeat if multiple DC.

We need term limits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a vent!

Why is it that the very people who want to be PTSA presidents are the very people who alienate volunteers? I’ve been a loyal, low-maintenance volunteer on a range of very time-intensive activities from grades K-12 over the years of three DSs in FCPS. Having gone through many PTSA presidents, I’m surprised at how few have had the backs of the volunteers, despite their faux praise at the end-of-year thank you’s. I thought I was alone, until dining over the weekend with other volunteers who are also “graduating” out. Good luck to the new recruits!

In my kiddo’s high school, the presidents of the parent organizations are Debbie downers or control freaks. They probably think others are apathetic, but they make it hard to get involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a vent!

Why is it that the very people who want to be PTSA presidents are the very people who alienate volunteers? I’ve been a loyal, low-maintenance volunteer on a range of very time-intensive activities from grades K-12 over the years of three DSs in FCPS. Having gone through many PTSA presidents, I’m surprised at how few have had the backs of the volunteers, despite their faux praise at the end-of-year thank you’s. I thought I was alone, until dining over the weekend with other volunteers who are also “graduating” out. Good luck to the new recruits!

I wonder if we are at the same school...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a vent!

Why is it that the very people who want to be PTSA presidents are the very people who alienate volunteers? I’ve been a loyal, low-maintenance volunteer on a range of very time-intensive activities from grades K-12 over the years of three DSs in FCPS. Having gone through many PTSA presidents, I’m surprised at how few have had the backs of the volunteers, despite their faux praise at the end-of-year thank you’s. I thought I was alone, until dining over the weekend with other volunteers who are also “graduating” out. Good luck to the new recruits!

In my kiddo’s high school, the presidents of the parent organizations are Debbie downers or control freaks. They probably think others are apathetic, but they make it hard to get involved.

There is a reason that these people are available to take on this extra work!! They are not essential anywhere else in their lives and join these groups to make themselves "feel" important and powerful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my corner of the world, a kindergarten mom gets heavily involved in the PTA, then quickly gets onto the board and then by 4th grade, is VP of not President. Then becomes MS PTA liaison and then MS and HS PTA President, repeat if multiple DC.

We need term limits.

Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a vent!

Why is it that the very people who want to be PTSA presidents are the very people who alienate volunteers? I’ve been a loyal, low-maintenance volunteer on a range of very time-intensive activities from grades K-12 over the years of three DSs in FCPS. Having gone through many PTSA presidents, I’m surprised at how few have had the backs of the volunteers, despite their faux praise at the end-of-year thank you’s. I thought I was alone, until dining over the weekend with other volunteers who are also “graduating” out. Good luck to the new recruits!

In my kiddo’s high school, the presidents of the parent organizations are Debbie downers or control freaks. They probably think others are apathetic, but they make it hard to get involved.

There is a reason that these people are available to take on this extra work!! They are not essential anywhere else in their lives and join these groups to make themselves "feel" important and powerful.

I agree. Uneducated folks who are finally the "CEO" of something.

[Anonymous]

Ahahaha soooo funny

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of people who become PTA president become overwhelmed by the logistics of the job and it diminishes their soft skills (which might not have been very developed to begin with).

I am one of those over-eager Kinder moms this year, and I wound up kind of giving up on volunteering or even attending meetings 3/4 of the way through the year because all my efforts to volunteer were thwarted. On more than one occasion, I signed up for volunteer duty only to have something cancelled or moved and not to be told. I showed up to the school the weekend before Valentines Day on a freezing, snowy day to help decorate for a teacher appreciation thing and no one was there. I texted the PTA president and she got back to me 2 hours later to let me know they'd moved the event to her house. It was so rude! I'd organized my family's whole schedule around me being at the school for 4 hours that day. I'd even walked through the snow because we only have one car and I wanted my DH to have it since he was with the kids.

It's frustrating because I really do want to help out the school but I don't want to deal with this stuff. I decided I'm going to see if I can volunteer for a more direct support job (tutoring or something) and then focus on stuff specific to my kids classroom. I'll give money to the PTA during drives but otherwise I think I might just bow out. Seems like more trouble than it's worth.

[Anonymous]

The PTA is filled with means girls who get their thrills from excluding others, engaging in self-congratulating and using their positions as social currency for their mean-girl kids.

[Anonymous]

Happy to be at a school with a great PTA that is accepting of WOHMs with little time but lots of money to donate.