When Did We Stop Showing Up? Rethinking the Heart of Our PTO

For generations, a Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) has been one of the cornerstones of a thriving school community. At its best, it’s a collaborative space where parents, teachers, and administrators come together with a shared purpose: to support our students and enrich their educational experience.

Traditionally, PTOs have served as far more than a fundraising arm. They build bridges between home and school, host events that bring families together, and support teachers and classrooms with both resources and encouragement. They fund field trips, organize enrichment programs, sponsor special events, and show appreciation for the people who work so hard every day to educate our children.

Here in Pomfret, our PTO still fulfills all of those roles — and more. We work tirelessly behind the scenes to plan teacher appreciation events, organize enriching experiences for our students, provide funding for field day and field trips, and help supply classrooms with the materials they need. We do it because we believe in the power of a strong school community.

Recently, a troubling shift has occurred: our meetings have become quieter. Teacher and administrator attendance — once a vital and expected part of the conversation — has dwindled to nearly nothing. Requests for support still arrive in our inboxes, but the seats around our table remain empty. And it leaves many of us wondering:

• When did it become the norm to ask, but not to participate?

• When did collaboration turn into a one-way street?

• And most importantly, what could we achieve if we all showed up again — together?

It was also disappointing to see that our current Board of Education chairperson was not present at our recent PTO Open House Night — despite an invitation extended to the entire board. While a few members did make the effort to attend, the absence of our board’s leader was noticeable. Leadership is not only about casting votes or signing budgets; it’s about showing up for the school community you represent. And the truth is, before this election season, I had not seen our board members actively engaging in or volunteering at PTO events — something that absolutely needs to change. Board members should be visible partners in the life of the school, not just names on a meeting agenda. If I am elected to the board, you better believe I will continue showing up at everything I can, just as I always have, because being present is the first step toward building the trust, collaboration, and shared purpose our students deserve.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about opportunity.

I truly believe the future of our school depends on restoring that sense of shared purpose. Imagine a PTO meeting where parents bring ideas from home, teachers share what’s working in the classroom, and administrators help align our volunteer energy with school-wide goals. Imagine the creativity, the problem-solving, the impact we could make if we stopped working in separate silos and started building together again.

The best schools are built on partnerships — and that means showing up. It means sharing time, ideas, and perspectives. It means recognizing that we are all part of the same team, working toward the same mission: giving our children the strongest, most supportive learning environment possible.

So here’s my vision: a renewed PTO where teachers, administrators, and parents are all present, all engaged, and all invested. A PTO that doesn’t just write checks, but builds relationships. A PTO that reflects the strength and care of our entire school community.

Let’s find our way back to that.