15 Do's and Don'ts for Parent Council Chairs

Here are some dos and don’ts to help you get off to a rapid start and keep the momentum going all school year long.

Do learn people’s names, and use them often.
Don’t assume everyone knows who you are. Make an effort to introduce yourself.
Do set a good example by following school policies and procedures.
Don’t take advantage of your role. You still need to follow the rules. Don’t park in places where you are not supposed to. Always sign into the office and wear the proper identification where needed. Don’t assume everyone knows who you are.
Do say thank you.
Don’t group every thank you info one blanket statement at the end of the school year. Try to work hard throughout the school year to thank individuals by name for their contribution to the parent council.
Do respect the principal’s role as the head of the school.
Don’t surrender the parent council’s authority to the principal. Remember to work together as partners.
Do get to know the school secretaries, custodians and other support staff.
Don’t take advantage of this group. Remember they for work for the school and your children. Learn to appreciate them and treat them with respect and they can help parent council in many ways.
Do repeat traditional, successful events.
Don’t ignore the value of tradition. Remember it gives your parent council an identity.
Do run efficient meetings.
Don’t take advantage of people’s time. Remember to have an agenda ready, prepare minutes and start on time.
Do familiarize yourself with Robert’s Rule of Order.
Don’t get knocked out by layers and layers of procedure. Use Robert’s Rule of Order to keep your meetings running smoothly and efficiently.
Do read your parent council’s by-laws.
Don’t give up if there are no by-laws in place. Creating them can be one of the most important and rewarding things you accomplish for your parent council.
Don’t disregard the knowledge of your past chair.
Do approach them as your mentor. They will know better than anyone the challenges you are about to face. Listen to what they have to say and don’t be afraid to ask for advice.
Do seek out information. Go to parent council seminars. Reach out and network with other parent council members.
Don’t assume you know it all. There are other parent councils and parent engagement groups that have a ton of great ideas and experiences you can share with your group.
Don’t put all the emphasis on fundraising.
Do focus on parent engagement and involvement first. A school community that feels connected will step up to support school fundraisers when asked.
Don’t be afraid to make the tough decisions.
Do accept responsibility for unpopular but wise decisions, such as cancelling an event due to lack of volunteer support.
Don’t reinvent the wheel.
Do learn from the past. Go through old parent council meeting minutes. Talk to previous parent council members. Talk to teachers who have been on staff for a while.
Don’t let the stress level get too high. It is OK to scale back to avoid burnout.
Do have fun! Being a parent council chair can be a very rewarding experience. No matter how big or small remember your work makes a positive difference for the school community.

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