I don't like the Parent Association leaders at our school (big 3)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you should change schools? I’m noticing parent class reps are often new parents at our school (suckers!) and I’m super uncool and unengaged and i still get asked to do things all the time. I try to say no as often as possible, but i still get asked. I think it’s a culture issue because at our school there’s no situation in which help offered would be turned down.

Same. This sounds like the school we are at too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

This checks out

[Anonymous]

And if you are not a lawyer they don't want to do anything with you

[Anonymous]

I was a PA head at a big 3 several years ago. I ended up in that role because no one else wanted to or was available to do it even though I have a rigorous full-time job (plus obviously kids at said school)

Maybe these people are getting burnt out because more volunteers are needed to take on these thankless jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a PA head at a big 3 several years ago. I ended up in that role because no one else wanted to or was available to do it even though I have a rigorous full-time job (plus obviously kids at said school)

Maybe these people are getting burnt out because more volunteers are needed to take on these thankless jobs.

I’m not a big 3 parent, but our DC Catholic school PA is lousy and pretty inactive. Leadership and school want money and volunteer but offered zero help. Of course school board doesn’t have a single current student parent on it, so admin really doesn’t care about parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

Yes, duh. Here in dc there isn’t the tech industry there is in the Bay Area, the finance money there is in nyc, the industry money in la. Lawyers are top money makers here so whole rung is lower. How is this surprising?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

Yes, duh. Here in dc there isn’t the tech industry there is in the Bay Area, the finance money there is in nyc, the industry money in la. Lawyers are top money makers here so whole rung is lower. How is this surprising?

Is the influx of tech talent changing this some yet? Amazon's HQ2 and Google prioritizing growth in DC should bring more new $$ and high achieving STEM families to the region. The academic pressure was significantly higher on the peninsula in the Bay Area where it seemed like everyone had a parent in big tech, at a VC, or who taught at Stanford (sadly, there were even suicide issues). I wonder how more of those families arriving will impact things locally. It might take a few years but I doubt the status quo will continue for too long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

Yes, duh. Here in dc there isn’t the tech industry there is in the Bay Area, the finance money there is in nyc, the industry money in la. Lawyers are top money makers here so whole rung is lower. How is this surprising?

Is the influx of tech talent changing this some yet? Amazon's HQ2 and Google prioritizing growth in DC should bring more new $$ and high achieving STEM families to the region. The academic pressure was significantly higher on the peninsula in the Bay Area where it seemed like everyone had a parent in big tech, at a VC, or who taught at Stanford (sadly, there were even suicide issues). I wonder how more of those families arriving will impact things locally. It might take a few years but I doubt the status quo will continue for too long.

No. And there are plenty of high achievers here. Goodness. Including in STEM. Like the entire governmental force of workers? They often value different things than those that opt to make $$$$. There is also plenty of academic pressure here. Maybe learn about Thomas Jefferson etc.

Also, my husband went to law school and OMG Stanford and so did many of his law school friends who also decided to work for the gov in various capacities. It’s a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

Yes, duh. Here in dc there isn’t the tech industry there is in the Bay Area, the finance money there is in nyc, the industry money in la. Lawyers are top money makers here so whole rung is lower. How is this surprising?

Is the influx of tech talent changing this some yet? Amazon's HQ2 and Google prioritizing growth in DC should bring more new $$ and high achieving STEM families to the region. The academic pressure was significantly higher on the peninsula in the Bay Area where it seemed like everyone had a parent in big tech, at a VC, or who taught at Stanford (sadly, there were even suicide issues). I wonder how more of those families arriving will impact things locally. It might take a few years but I doubt the status quo will continue for too long.

No. And there are plenty of high achievers here. Goodness. Including in STEM. Like the entire governmental force of workers? They often value different things than those that opt to make $$$$. There is also plenty of academic pressure here. Maybe learn about Thomas Jefferson etc.

Also, my husband went to law school and OMG Stanford and so did many of his law school friends who also decided to work for the gov in various capacities. It’s a thing.

Seriously, PP, it’s insulting and ignorant to state that there are not high achieving STEM families here because … there’s less tech and VC money? I’m from the west coast and know plenty of people in big tech and VC who have far less impressive educational credentials than the NIH professors and scientists that live in my neighborhood, the policy people who have degrees in all kinds of areas from finance to technology, the lawyers who work for DOJ, the military, the pentagon… I mean, come on. There is also plenty of academic pressure to be found here, I assure you.

[Anonymous]

Honest question from someone who has left the region -- who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

Yes, duh. Here in dc there isn’t the tech industry there is in the Bay Area, the finance money there is in nyc, the industry money in la. Lawyers are top money makers here so whole rung is lower. How is this surprising?

Is the influx of tech talent changing this some yet? Amazon's HQ2 and Google prioritizing growth in DC should bring more new $$ and high achieving STEM families to the region. The academic pressure was significantly higher on the peninsula in the Bay Area where it seemed like everyone had a parent in big tech, at a VC, or who taught at Stanford (sadly, there were even suicide issues). I wonder how more of those families arriving will impact things locally. It might take a few years but I doubt the status quo will continue for too long.

Lots of high achievers here without the Bay Area but thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people they choose are the people who actually show-up to meetings and take an interest in the school. Truthfully, most parents rarely show their face around their DC’s school.

I attend many events and most parents, particularly fathers, are complete strangers. Many parents are extreme Type A and cannot fathom serving on any committee unless they’re in complete control. Lawyers are the absolute worst.

I'm a little surprised by how many lawyer parents there are honestly. Biglaw partners make good money but are not like execs or old money on the donor front and there are many other (not as well compensated) lawyer roles represented too. As a lawyer myself, I know we can be higher maintenance than others in a service industry so it is a little surprising the schools put up with it. I guess with so many in DC, they don't have as much of a choice. The lawyer parent population is much bigger here than where we came from in the Bay Area.

Yes, duh. Here in dc there isn’t the tech industry there is in the Bay Area, the finance money there is in nyc, the industry money in la. Lawyers are top money makers here so whole rung is lower. How is this surprising?

Is the influx of tech talent changing this some yet? Amazon's HQ2 and Google prioritizing growth in DC should bring more new $$ and high achieving STEM families to the region. The academic pressure was significantly higher on the peninsula in the Bay Area where it seemed like everyone had a parent in big tech, at a VC, or who taught at Stanford (sadly, there were even suicide issues). I wonder how more of those families arriving will impact things locally. It might take a few years but I doubt the status quo will continue for too long.

You are hijacking ops thread. No one here cares about the tech world or whether they are coming to invade dc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a PA head at a big 3 several years ago. I ended up in that role because no one else wanted to or was available to do it even though I have a rigorous full-time job (plus obviously kids at said school)

Maybe these people are getting burnt out because more volunteers are needed to take on these thankless jobs.

I’m not a big 3 parent, but our DC Catholic school PA is lousy and pretty inactive. Leadership and school want money and volunteer but offered zero help. Of course school board doesn’t have a single current student parent on it, so admin really doesn’t care about parents.

You probably just misunderstood what they were there to do; some schools are really just about educating the students. When we switched schools, it was a bit of a culture shock that the parents really weren't
expected to do much, and then I realized how wonderful that actually is.

[Anonymous]

Generally the board focuses on welcoming in new families to help with their transition to the school. You've been there four years which is plenty of time for you to get involved in school/make other friends on your own. Start volunteering for events where you get to chat with other parents (fall fair, book fair, event planning, etc.).