2019 Massachusetts PTA Legislative Day

May 1, 2019 by Stephanie Gray

JOIN US, meet with legislators and their staff who sponsored the bills that affect our children!

Massachusetts State PTA speaks up for children across the state and you can, too! Whether you are an experienced advocate or have never participated before, join us for Massachusetts PTA’s Day on the Hill on May 11, 2019, in Boston and learn more about all the key issues and legislation impacting your child, school and community.

Join other PTA volunteers at the Day on the Hill and:

Be a part of the statewide effort to strengthen education, health, and safety for all children by engaging in PTA’s advocacy goals and legislative priorities
Get the latest information from legislators and key officials about important issues for children and families
Visit directly with the legislators and their staff who represent your community– and if you’re new to the process, we’ll connect you with others so you can learn how to have more productive visits with your legislator.

This is a FREE program! Don’t wait – registration is now open!

Download the Legislative Day flyer to share with your members.

Massachusetts PTA is proud and thankful for the assistance from Senator Feeney and his staff in cosponsoring this event.

If you have any questions about this event please contact Susan Bogosian, Massachusetts PTA Advocacy Chair at advocacy@masspta.org.

2019 Local Unit Membership Recognition and Awards

April 10, 2019 by Stephanie Gray

Awards Presented

at the Massachusetts PTA Annual Convention,

March 30, 2019

Massachusetts PTA Champion of Children Award – awarded to: Kathleen (Kate) Millett

The Massachusetts PTA Champion of Children Award recognizes those who exemplify the mission of PTA – “To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.”

The Barbara Bailey Membership Award – awarded to Wendy Quinn; Pine Grove PTA President, Rowley, MA

Barbara Bailey was president of Massachusetts PTA in the early 1990’s. During her term (and beyond!), she was able to help units manage memberships, bylaws, and conflicts. To recognize her continued dedication to units across the state, we are honored to name this award after her. Describe a successful membership drive that your unit completed during the past year.

Spirit of PTA Award – 3 awards presented this year to:

Newbury Elementary PTA
Salisbury Elementary PTA
Pine Grove PTA

This award recognizes volunteers who promote and encourage the essence of PTA in their communities…every Child. one Voice. Write a short essay describing someone you feel portrays the true essence of PTA. Members must be registered to accept the award. This award is open to a variety of leadership roles that your unit feels a member is deserving of recognition: newsletter, event planning, public relations, fundraising, etc. Your local dues can cover any convention expenses, as well.

Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award – awarded to Lillian Chalifour; Salisbury Elementary PTA, Salisbury, MA

This award is to recognize a school teacher who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA.

Outstanding Councelor of the Year Award – awarded to Melissa DiFillipo; Rehoboth, PTA

This award is to recognize a school counselor who is supportive, helpful, and embodies the mission of PTA.

Outstanding Superintendent of the Year Award – awarded to Brian Forget; Triton Regional School District

This award is to recognize a school district superintendent who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA.

Outstanding Local Unit Communications Award – awarded to Salisbury PTA; Salisbury PTA

Do you have a great way of keeping your PTA community informed? Whether it is newsletters that are sent home in a backpack, emails or a website that helps members keep up-to-date with your PTA happenings, show us how you communicate. Submit an example of your communication.

Literacy Award – awarded to Shauna Magee; Pine Grove PTA, Rowley, MA

This Award is given to PTA units that promote literacy among students, families and the community; support the Media Center with activities that help make students better readers, writers and thinkers; and advance the ideals of learning through the written word.

General Membership Awards – No application needed:

Golden Apple Award, presented to units with 100% membership of full-time certified teachers.– awarded to:
- Pine Grove PTA; Rowley, MA
- New Marlborough-Monterey PTA, New Marlborough, MA
One Voice for Every Child Award present to units whose membership is equal to or greater than number of students enrolled in the school. – awarded to:
- Provincetown PTA; Provincetown, MA

Additional Membership Awards – 2 units were randomly chosen for a $50.00 gift card if they submitted dues by 11/15/18; the winners were:
- Federal Furnace Elementary School PTA; Plymouth, MA
- Bourne PTA Inc.; Monument Beach, MA
First unit to submit membership increase specified number (by 12/15/18):
- 15 member increase over last year’s total membership will receive a $25 gift card
  - 20 member increase: South Elementary School PTA; Plymouth, MA
- 25 member increase over last year’s total membership will receive a $50 gift card
  - 26 member increase: Benjamin G. Brown School PTA; Somerville MA
- 30 member increase over last year’s total membership will receive a $75 gift card
  - 64 member increase: Pine Grove PTA; Rowley, MA

Challenge Award – Units with 5% membership increase over the previous year’s membership total.

Local Unit	% Change
Indian Brook Elementary PTA- Plymouth	5%
Mary Lee Burbank School PTA -Belmont	5.2%
Albert F. Argenziano @Lincoln Park PTA -Somerville	5.8%
Muddy Brook PTA –Great Barrington	5.9%
Clinton PTA– Clinton	9.1%
Centerville Elementary/Bay Lane PTA – Centerville	11%

Making a Difference Award – Units with at least a 15% member increase over the previous year’s membership total.

Local Unit	% Change
Farmington River Elementary School PTA, Inc.- Otis	23.5%
Benjamin G. Brown School PTA – Somerville	29.2%
Bentley Academy Charter School PTA- Salem	40%
West Boylston Middle/High School PTA -West Boylston	59%
Cold Spring PTA -Plymouth	59.1%
Mattapoisett PTA- Mattapoisett	67.2%
Georgetown PTA – Georgetown	96.4%
Pine Grove PTA – Rowley	*109.1%*
South Elementary School PTA – Plymouth	*113.9%*
Henry B. Burkland PTA – Middleborough	*123.1%*
Hatfield Elementary School PTA – Hatfield	*180%*
Arthur D. Healey School PTA- Somerville	*338.9%*

Additional Membership Increases; Dues received after 12/31/18

Local Unit	% Change
Joseph H. Gibbons Elementary School PTA – Stoughton	1.3 %
Lexington Special Education PTA – Lexington	3.9%
Somerville High School PTSA – Somerville	5.1%
Mary K. Goode PTA – Middleborough	6.1%
New Marlborough/Monterey PTA – Mill River	7%
Diamond Middle School PTA -Lexington	9.5%
Hedge Elementary School PTA -Plymouth	9.8%
Gordon W. Mitchell Middle School PTA -East Bridgewater	11.1%
West Boylston PTA -West Boylston	13.6%
Wellfleet Elementary School PTA -Wellfleet	16%
Wareham Elementary PTA -Wareham	22.2%
Dr. Leroy E. Mayo Elementary School PTA -Holden	33.3%
Mary E Baker School PTA -Brockton	36.4%
East Somerville Community School PTA -Somerville	39.3%
Winter Hill Community Innovation School PTA -Somerville	78.1%
Plymouth South Middle School PTA—Plymouth	113.9%
Newbury Elementary School PTA – Newbury	130.1%

2020 Convention Sponsors

February 1, 2019 by Stephanie Gray

Sponsors – 2020 MA PTA Convention

Dear Prospective Exhibitors and Sponsors,

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the 110th Annual Massachusetts PTA Convention, Heroes Around Me, Celebrating our Communities and Members! No matter who you are, a member, friend, sponsor, supporter or volunteer, you are guaranteed to find this event, and its topics so enlightening that you will want to not only get involved with, but most importantly, will want to share with others!

The Massachusetts Parent Teacher Association (Mass PTA) is truly excited about inviting you to partner with us on this event that will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at the Wylie Inn and Conference Center in Beverly, MA. To Register as a Sponsor or Exhibitor Click Here.

Massachusetts PTA represents hundreds of PTA Local units and members across this Commonwealth. We are dedicated to promoting effective health education programs and services in schools, families and communities in order to offer children, youth and families the skills, tools and abilities they need to make healthy choices.

We know that you can enrich this opportunity as well as learn from it. Again this year, we will be having participants and guests from National PTA. Your exhibits, presentations, and support are all very valuable to the Massachusetts PTA. We hope you will join us at the Massachusetts PTA 110th Annual Convention, Look Within, Celebrating our Communities and Members!

In addition to our Vendors/Exhibitors, we are also welcoming you, your organization and/or your business to Sponsor this conference. This is a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate your encouragement and efforts to support the health and well-being of our children, families and communities not only in Massachusetts but also across the greater New England States.

Your sponsorship of our 110th Massachusetts PTA Convention, Look Within, Celebrating our Communities and Members! will provide the critical funding needed to sustain our advocacy efforts and programs which will help us continue to promote effective health education programs and services in schools, families and communities in order to offer children, youth and families the skills, tools and abilities they need to make healthy choices. Enclosed please find more information about Massachusetts PTA and our multiple Sponsorship, Exhibitor and Advertising opportunities that we have available. Please feel free to contact us convention@masspta.org if you have any further questions. We look forward to continuing or developing a partnership with your organization and welcoming you into the Massachusetts PTA family!

Sincerely,

Madison Estes

MA PTA Convention Chair and President Elect

2020 Convention Speakers

January 24, 2019 by Stephanie Gray

Speakers – 2020 MA PTA Convention

Maryalice Foisy, Massachusetts PTA President

Maryalice Foisy, the mother of two grown boys and grandmother of three, has been active in her local unit, Monson PTSA, and Massachusetts PTA for over 20 years. She is currently employed by Southbridge Public Schools in the technology department. She served in many roles in Monson PTSA, including Reflections Chair and president, came onto the state board in 1998 as Reflections chair, and served as secretary and Vice President of Programs before leaving the board in 2006. She returned to the Mass PTA board 4 years ago and has been active in Communications, Reflections, and the -Health and Safety committees.

Jeff Riley, Massachusetts Commissioner of Education

Jeffrey C. Riley was appointed Massachusetts 24th commissioner of elementary and secondary education in early 2018 and began serving as commissioner on April 5, 2018. A Massachusetts native, Mr. Riley’s experience spans urban and suburban districts and includes teaching in Baltimore, Md., being principal of Tyngsboro Middle School, and being principal of Boston’s Edwards Middle School. In January 2012, Commissioner Riley was appointed superintendent/receiver of the Lawrence Public Schools. During his more than six years there, he led a team that brought major improvements by shifting more resources and autonomy to the school level, expanding the school day, increasing enrichment opportunities, and ensuring all schools had great leaders and teachers.

Commissioner Riley lives in Boston and holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Pomona College in California, a master’s degree in counseling from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and a master’s degree in school administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University.

Jean Rogers, M.S.Ed. Director: Children’s Screen Time Action Network at Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood

She leads the Children’s Screen Time Action Network, a coalition of practitioners, educators, advocates and parents working to reduce children’s excessive use of digital devices and restore a developmentally healthy childhood. Author of Kids Under Fire, she has been giving Kids Media Diet workshops, writing and speaking about children’s screen use since 2002. She holds a Masters’ in Education and a Certificate in Parenting Education from the Wheelock College. Previously, Jean worked as a writer and communications consultant both in high tech and nonprofit settings. She joined CCFC in 2016, inspired by the work of founder Susan Linn and the organization’s capacity to prevent commercialism from usurping children’s character, habits, and creativity.

2020 Convention Sessions

January 24, 2019 by Stephanie Gray

Sessions – 2020 MA PTA Convention

Join us for a “Look Within, Celebrating Our Communities and Members!”

March 28, 2020 – Whether you are looking for ways to diversify your PTA’s leadership, increase interest in local PTA events, find no-hassle fundraising ideas or increase and diversify your membership and volunteer leaders, the 2020 MA PTA Convention has opportunities for you to discover it all.

You will come to Convention knowing what you do at your school and PTA. But you will leave Convention thinking about the possibilities for your school and PTA, as well as your own leadership abilities.

Workshops will deliver proven ways to:

Communicate effectively with all stakeholders
Engage and empower parents to support student success and overall well-being
Advocate for the needs of every child in your school, community or state
Develop partnerships that support growth and mission implementation

Check out Sessions for the 2020 Convention

1:15 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. Session 1

Meet Your Board of Directors

MA PTA Board of Directors available to answer questions in round table discussions for: President/President Elect; Secretary/Treasurer; Advocacy; Reflections; Health; Special Education; Diversity/Inclusion; etc.

2:35 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. General Session

This is YOUR organization. Attend the annual meeting to vote on important issues and let your voice be heard! Meet with state, national, and other local PTA leaders to discuss any topics/issues that are important to you. Get answers to your questions. Feel free to send topics to info@masspta.org ahead of time, but we will tackle anything that comes up

Bylaws – Bylaws govern an organization’s operations and contain the basic rules relating principally to itself as an association.The MA PTA bylaws outline the basic purpose of PTA, lists basic policies of the MA PTA association and provides a structure for how the PTA association is set up.The bylaws also provide information on MA PTA committee structure, the annual convention and amendment process.
Business of the Association including Legislative Agenda
Election of PTA Officers for the 2020-2022 term
Afternoon Keynote Speaker- TBD

4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Session 2

Look Within PTA – Advocacy is at Our Core

Join us as we “Look Within” the history of PTA and how advocacy is at our core. We will be highlighting National, State and Local PTA advocacy efforts and discuss what we can do to work together to further the mission of PTA “to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

Awards Presented

at the Massachusetts PTA Annual Convention,

March 30, 2019

Check out Sessions for the 2020 Convention

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