Liasons at the OPRF PTO
Liaison Job Description
Thank you for volunteering to be a liaison! Outlined below are general job responsibilities categorized by in-school versus external liaisons. Many liaisons are paired with a partner. Co-ordinate your efforts to make the job easier for you and work in a unified manner with your liaison partner(s).
In-School Liaisons
Contact your division head to introduce yourself and your co-liaison. Inquire about attending a division meeting so that you can be introduced to everyone and review the Liaison Program’s goals. You will not be able to attend a full meeting, but should be able to attend 15 to 20 minutes of the meeting and hear some of the issues that the division is discussing.
- Attend two to three division meetings during the year.
- Introduce yourself to teachers in the division through e-mail and at follow-up meetings.
- Continue to make e-mail or phone contact with the division head every few months.
- Ask whether there are any special projects or events that either the division or individual teachers undertake with which parents could provide assistance.
- Discuss new ideas that you could work on developing with the division.
- Offer to help provide parent volunteers for special needs. The PTO has a list of parent volunteers from the summer PTO survey. Liaisons can work from the current list and also make requests for specific volunteers in next summer’s survey form.
- Be aware of the PTO/Boosters allocation process and become familiar with your division’s requests so that you can answer questions that arise as funding decisions are made.
External Liaisons (Community Organizations and Groups)
Contact your committee/community organization head to introduce yourself and your co-liaison. Inquire about attending a committee/group meeting so that you can be introduced to everyone and review the Liaison Program’s goals..
- Attend an initial meeting. Introduce yourself as a member of the PTO and explain your role as a liaison
- Attend organization meetings on a regular basis.
- Report back to the PTO a brief description of the function of the group and any particular activities the group is pursuing this year.
- Discuss new ideas that you could work on developing with the division
- Ask whether there are any special projects or events that the committee or community group plans to undertake where parents could provide assistance.
- Offer to help provide parent volunteers for special needs. The PTO has a list of parent volunteers from the summer PTO survey. Liaisons can work from the current list and also make requests for specific volunteers in next summer’s survey form.
- Continue to make e-mail or phone contact with the committee chair on a regular basis.
All Liaisons (In-School and External)
Provide feedback to the PTO Liaison Committee using the feedback form. Committee Co-chairs will also call or e-mail Liaisons regularly to see how things are going and answer any questions
- Make an effort to attend two to three PTO meetings during the year to become familiar with the activities of the PTO and to contribute your insights and perspective to the PTO.
- Be responsive to requests for information from your liaison group or PTO.
- Complete the end-of-year Liaison Program evaluation.
Notify Your Liaison Committee Contact (your contact person is listed on a separate sheet in this packet):
- If you need help establishing a relationship with your division head,organization, or community group.
- Whenever there is an urgent matter that should be brought to the PTO’s attention.
- When you have great news to share and deserve a pat on the back.
- If you can no longer fulfill the position’s responsibilities.
