Pardon me, but may I interrupt your summer planning for just a moment?  I know you're probably fantasizing about beach sand, lawn chairs, sunscreen, and refreshments.  You can almost hear the sounds of children playing in the water, smell the salt water in the waves, feel the sun on your face, watch that pesky seagull keep diving for those chips you just dropped...oh, wow.  I totally got lost in my own fantasy for a moment!  That's scary!

Anyway, now that I've gotten your full attention, I'd like to talk about something else that is super important this summer.  It's our annual Leadership Convention, which is held July 14-16 at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, FL.  Each year we gather to learn, to share, and to bond.  Seriously bond.  I know you hear that time and time again, but it couldn't be more accurate.  I remember vividly my first time attending and the plethora of feelings that I experienced.  From starting out quite nervous, to becoming slightly overwhelmed and finally, totally excited and energized; I knew that I'd finally found the secret. 

Wait.  There's a secret, you ask?!  Well, I actually feel that sometimes it must be a well-kept secret because every single volunteer isn't there each summer!  The secret is this:  the training you receive, the ideas and creative programs that you hear about, the dynamic speakers that will inspire you, the chance to be a part of shaping the way our association moves forward, all of those things are just the icing on the cake.  The secret is that you will have the chance to connect with other nervous, overwhelmed, excited, and energized folks just like yourself, from all corners of our state.  You will make lasting relationships that will carry across years and city boundaries.  You will find yourself mentoring someone when you only expected to be mentored.  You will find that person who sparks a conversation about a topic you were afraid to speak up about.  You will find that all of the reasons you thought you were attending were merely secondary to the experience itself. 

So, here's the deal.  Between the downtime and the kidtime, make time for Leadership Convention.  Work with your local unit or county council to see if there are ways to ensure that you can be there.  We have started a journey that will require each of us to stay inspired and passionate.  This is where we refuel that tank.  This is where we discover our talents and abilities.  This is where leaders are born.

Well, I guess I'll see you soon, right?!

Cindy Gerhardt

Individuals with disabilities often are stigmatized, encountering attitudinal and physical barriers both in school and in daily life. Although federal legislation protects the rights of individuals with disabilities, the legislations cannot always protect them from subtle forms of discrimination and prejudice. School-age students with disabilities often have negative school experiences related to their having a disability, and school counselors, administrators, and teachers can help to create more positive school experiences that promote their academic career and personal/social growth. By examining the attitudes and behaviors of school staff and students as well as systemic factors related to the school, school counselors in collaboration with other school personnel can determine areas for intervention and respond accordingly.

Here are simple programs/ projects your PTA can do to make your ESE families feel more welcomed: 

ESE Talent Night	Family Reading Night
Parents as Partners	School-wide Olympics
ESE/ESOL International Night	ESE Committee

For more ideas, check out National PTA's Special Education Toolkit. 

Suhailly Morales

Diversity & Inclusion Chair

How well does your school make families feel welcome? 

National PTA School of Excellence  is a recognition program that supports and celebrates partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students. What can you do now to begin the process of becoming a School of Excellence? 

The 2017-2018 National School of Excellence Program is now OPEN!   Enroll Now.

Build a team of PTA, school, and community leaders who will work together to set goals for school improvement. Your team can begin to look at current family engagement methods used by your school and discuss ways families can be further empowered to take part in education. 

What resources are available for help?

Once you apply for the National PTA School of Excellence program, National PTA will begin to provide you with ongoing support and resources to help your PTA achieve a stronger family-school partnership. Your Roadmap to Excellence will be tailored to fit the goals you've chosen to make improvements to your school.

Visit National PTA's website for more information!