In this episode of the Utah PTA Pulse Podcast, hosts Mike, Angelee, and Cammy share personal stories and insights about their involvement in PTA. They discuss their journeys from local PTA leadership to their current roles as Utah State PTA Board Members

This episode of the Utah PTA Pulse Podcast discusses the upcoming Advocacy Conference, scheduled for September 27, 2024. The conference aims to empower parents and community members to advocate for children's education and well-being.

Key Points:

• Who should attend: The conference is open to all PTA members and community members interested in education advocacy. Local PTA presidents are particularly encouraged to attend.
• Theme: "Uniting Voices, Empowering Change: We're All in This Together" reflects the collaborative spirit of PTA and the importance of advocacy.
• Agenda: The conference will include:
  • Keynote speaker
  • Breakout sessions on various advocacy topics, including:
    • Building trust with teachers, administrators, and legislators
    • Advocating for individual students
    • PTA resolutions and their impact
    • Trauma-informed schools
    • Resources for Title I, refugee, and English Language Learner families
• Registration: Registration is now open on the Utah PTA website. Early bird registration is available for PTA members at a discounted rate.
• Location: The conference will be held at Midvale Middle School.
• Importance of attending: The conference provides valuable training and networking opportunities for parents and community members who want to make a difference in their schools and communities.

Additional points discussed:

• The importance of PTA membership and its benefits
• The role of PTA in advocating for children's education at the local, state, and national levels
• The challenges faced by Title I schools and refugee families
• The need for collaboration between schools, families, and communities to support all children

This episode highlights the crucial role of PTA in advocating for children's education and encourages listeners to attend the upcoming Advocacy Conference to learn more and get involved.

This episode discusses the beginning of the school year and the role of PTAs (Parent Teacher Associations). Here are the key points:

• School's Back (and Maybe a Little Early): The conversation starts with the hosts acknowledging the school year has begun and expressing mixed feelings about the earlier start dates.
• PTA Membership : A significant portion of the episode focuses on the importance of PTA membership. Key points include:
  • Joining the PTA is crucial for supporting schools and advocating for children.
  • Membership fees help fund programs and initiatives.
  • Membership doesn't require extensive volunteering, but every bit helps.
  • There's a "Beehive" membership option for those who don't want to be associated with a specific school.
• The Value Beyond Volunteering : The discussion emphasizes that PTA membership is valuable beyond just volunteering. It allows parents to:
  • Stay informed about what's happening in their children's schools.
  • Advocate for positive changes and legislation affecting children's education.
  • Develop leadership skills through involvement in PTA activities.
• Spreading the Word : The hosts encourage listeners to:
  • Join their local PTA and encourage others to do the same.
  • Develop a persuasive "elevator speech" explaining the benefits of PTA membership.
• Other Back-to-School Topics : The episode briefly touches on:
  • Reflections program theme: "Accepting Imperfections"
  • Importance of attending fall school events
  • PTA representatives on School Community Councils
  • Finding school supply deals (with a humorous caution about teacher preferences)