Anonymous wrote:No one but a PTA president who wants to seem more important - which is practically a prerequisite for the job -could ask such a ridiculous question.

Requirements for principal: Advanced degree. Extensive experience in education. Stellar recommendations.

Requirement for PTA president: stays home and enjoys helicoptering her children and bossing other women around.

This is too good!! ?

No one but a PTA president who wants to seem more important - which is practically a prerequisite for the job -could ask such a ridiculous question.

Requirements for principal: Advanced degree. Extensive experience in education. Stellar recommendations.

Requirement for PTA president: stays home and enjoys helicoptering her children and bossing other women around.

There is absolutely no comparison. The principal is far more important and influential. It's difficult to understand how anyone could possibly think a PTA president would have such clout.

Anonymous wrote:What the heck? Principal. The PTA president just manages fundraising and social events -- extras, not the fundamental mission of the school. Also we always have to beg someone to take the PTA president job so it's not like it's competitive.

Yeah I don't get this. Our sought-after elementary school is literally begging to find a PTA president. If the Principal left there would be a line out the door.

This is a trick question, right?

I'd be scared to have my kid at a school where the PTA president wields more power than the principal.

You're kidding right? How is this even a debate? School principal by far.

Those who say PTA president have NO idea what they're talking about or what the school actually does for their children. And my children go to a school with a very involved PTA.

I'm on the board of a Bethesda area PTA.

Is this a real question????
The Principal RUNS the school, OP, and has sole authority over the daily and long-term operations.
The PTA president is responsible for a 40K annual budget, and our PTA manages many events at school, helps teachers and students, but it doesn't come close to the critical stuff the Principal oversees...
We work together as a team.

Principal. Our PTA is useless except for wasting money on their agenda's.

What the heck? Principal. The PTA president just manages fundraising and social events -- extras, not the fundamental mission of the school. Also we always have to beg someone to take the PTA president job so it's not like it's competitive.

Principal..s/he is involved in hiring/discipline/money. Has authority to accomplish things.

At our school (Beverly Farms), its the PTA President, who doles out favors and rules with an iron fist. She is a like an old-fashioned party boss.

Principal. He/she can make real change and set the right tone for the teachers.

We have a little internal debate going on. Which role do you think carries the most importance: The PTA President or School Principal?