Anonymous wrote:Ooooh, someone tattled on the posts that discussed the helicopter / control freak, wannabe PTA president contender in Bethesda & they had the posts removed.

Seriously?

My, my, my... so sensitive, yet wants to be PTA president?
You'd better thicken up that skin ponytail, or you'll get eaten alive.

This post makes me so glad I don't live in Bethesda.

Ooooh, someone tattled on the posts that discussed the helicopter / control freak, wannabe PTA president contender in Bethesda & they had the posts removed.

Seriously?

My, my, my... so sensitive, yet wants to be PTA president?
You'd better thicken up that skin ponytail, or you'll get eaten alive.

I think this question is really more geared towards non-W schools, where the PTAs may be weaker. In W cluster schools, they usually have strong principals and intense, highly dedicated PTA presidents that do quite a bit for the school - fundraising for their foundations, community outreach and coordinating clubs, donors and speakers.

Principal is a professional with extensive training and experience.

PTA president is a valued volunteer who works tirelessly to support the community.

There shouldn't be a conversation over who is "more important." If there is, then your community has some issues.

Having been both... I'm in complete hysterics imagining a debate. Oh, never mind... I know the kind of people who would think this was a realistic question.

Anonymous wrote:Which is more important for a company: the CEO or the annual events planner?

By far the events planner

Which is more important for a company: the CEO or the annual events planner?

I am a PTA President at a Rockville / Bethesda area school. I volunteered for the role to take a more active role in my son's school since my work schedule prevents me from much of the "during the day" stuff. It's hard for a working Dad, and I would be embarrassed if anyone said the PTA President, or the PTA even, was more important than a Principal.

Our school has had an acting Principal this year and watching much of what this gentleman has navigated exemplifies exactly why I volunteered. The school, community, and the related need every bit of support they can muster to ensure the results we as parents expect.

A good PTA, inclusive of the President, leads an agenda dictated by the community and is inclusive to ensure every voice is heard. The inclination that a President is more important contradicts the entire notion.

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

And I'd also be scared to have my kid at a school where the PTA president was delusional enough to think that he/she was more important than the principal.

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Like Al Swearengen & Cy Rollover in Deadwood??

Cy Tolliver.. damn you autocorrect!

Anonymous wrote: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.

Like Al Swearengen & Cy Rollover in Deadwood??

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.

+1

Is this even a real question?

I am the PTA president in an MCPS school. No one wants this volunteer position. We have no parent engagement. Hardly able to raise a few thousand per year. The Principal has a paid position and he is responsible for the school performance in the end. It is his career on the line. I am a parent who will move on to a new school next year.

"Bad Mom" kind of movies makes me laugh. PTA presidents and board members cannot dole out any favors or anything else to anyone. Perhaps if you have thousands of dollars in funds.

My school's PTSA president is a dad with a home-based business. He's fantastic!