Diversity and Inclusion and other PTA Officers

Diversity and inclusion cannot be the stand-alone work of one committee or even a small group of individuals. It is the work of every PTA member who decides to serve the families and children in their community. PTA’s mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. Our mission requires that diversity and inclusion be central to our work and used in our day-to-day decisions and actions.

How a Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman can work with other PTA positions

The PTA Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman is a multifaceted position. It is helpful to consider the relationship with the Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman to the entire PTA board. Here are some ways that they can assist current positions in PTA with cultural awareness, sensitivity and diversity.

 

PTA PRESIDENT

  • The Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman may work with the PTA President to increase diversity and awareness in all aspects of the PTA. Œ
  • The Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman may look at events and literature to incorporate diversity and cultural sensitivity when needed Œ
  • It is important to consider asking bilingual parents to volunteer and interpret meetings/literature when needed. Some events where this may be needed are parent/teacher conferences and/or back-to-school night.

 

PTA MEMBERSHIP CHAIR/VP

  • The Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman may work with the Membership Chairman to create literature that is inviting and welcoming to people of all cultures and races. Œ
  • Depending on the demographics of the school, translation of membership forms may be needed. Please be aware that sensitivity in this area is of the utmost importance. Œ
  • It may be necessary to keep membership forms’ terminology basic, being respectful and sensitive to all educational levels. This includes information such as what PTA is, and why a parent should join PTA. Explaining PTA benefits, for all children, is fundamental in increasing minority engagement.

 

PTA VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

  • The Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman may work with the Volunteer Coordinator to help increase minority engagement in the schools. This relationship is imperative to the success of increasing diversity and minority engagement in school activities. Œ
  • Volunteer sign-ups: minority parents may be intimidated by leadership roles or positions that require interaction where language or other factors may be barriers. Include in the sign-up list, various tasks such as photocopying, cutting, pasting, stapling, and/or organizing, where volunteers may be self-directed and language is not an issue. This will allow for more minority parents to be involved. Translation of volunteer fliers may be necessary.

 

PTA LEGISLATIVE VP

  • Assist the Legislative VP in bringing minority awareness on issues that affect minorities in the school and the community. Follow the same rules that apply to the Legislative VP and only represent PTA on items that Utah PTA has taken a position based upon their resolutions.
  • If legislative action is being taken in certain areas that affect children from minority families, the Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman can assist in letting parents know. For example, if budget/funding is changing for the local Head Start program in a community, and the Head Start program has a large number of minority families, the Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman can help communicate the information to families. This aids parents in becoming aware and involved in decisions that involve their children.

  • Utah PTA Resolutions to be aware of:

    • Support the expansion of optional full-day kindergarten programs for students in need of support to achieve minimal learning standards and request increased funding to support such expansion (EDU2007-1)

    • Support continued state and local funding to sustain present programs to educate students with disabilities; support the right of each student with a disability to have access to an equal education via such means as Individual Education Plans (IEP) and 504 Accommodation Plans; and, support education policies and legislation that will improve advocacy and parental education within the public system to benefit children with special needs (EDU2005-1)

    • Lobby for legislative funding designated to reimburse school districts for a percentage of their fee waiver costs (EDU2001-1)

 

HEALTH/SAFEY COMMISSIONER

  • Ribbon Weeks – the Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman should assist in knowing how the topic affects minorities in their area and any history of the topic pertaining to minorities (i.e., the origin for Red Ribbon Week was a community response to the death of a Hispanic police officer who had worked undercover to stem the flow of drugs into America).
  • As with legislative issues, the Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman may know of particular health/safety concerns that affect a minority population that do not affect the whole of the school.

 

REFLECTIONS

  • The Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman should look for ways to tie the theme into diversity/inclusivity issues.
  • The Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman may want to assure that students of all economic backgrounds have resources available to them to participate in Reflections.

 

PTSA STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES

  • Assure minority students are aware of the opportunities to serve as a PTSA student representative.
  • Assist adult leadership in coordinating ways for student representatives to support diversity and inclusivity in your school.

 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • The Diversity and Inclusivity Chairman should assist in establishing support and relationships with diverse businesses, Chambers of Commerce, and other entities.
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