Awards to be presented at the Massachusetts PTA Annual Convention, April 7, 2018

Leadership Awards – Application required

The Barbara Bailey Membership Award 

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.

The Carol Woodbury Leadership Award 

Carol Woodbury was the president of the Massachusetts PTA from 1999-2002.  During her term, she inspired units across the state to work together and form positive relationships with school administrations and the community.  Carol continues to work on behalf of students, parents and teachers in Massachusetts where she works as a superintendent.  Write a brief description of an inspiring leader in your local unit.  Tell us what makes that person inspiring and how it made a difference in your school/community.

Student Advocate Award

This award is given to a student on the Local Unit level who has made significant contributions through Leadership/Service. In a short essay, describe how this student exemplifies and stands out among others of his/her peers, how they adopted and carried out the mission of the PTA and volunteered their time to bring this to fruition.

Spirit of PTA Award 

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

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

Outstanding Vice Principal of the Year Award

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

Outstanding Principal of the Year Award

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

Outstanding Superintendent of the Year Award

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

Spotlight on Men Award

This award rewards those units who focus on ways to engage the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, mentors, business partners, etc. In a short essay, describe how your PTA has utilized or involved fathers in your school or community.  Attach fliers/news articles/screen shots that are related.

Newsletter/ Communications (Examples of Publication Required)

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.

Community Membership Award

In order to bring into closer relations the school and community, i.e., places of worship, businesses, community leaders, etc., this award will be given to those PTAs that recruit twenty-five members from the community in addition to parents who also serve in community leadership positions.

Literacy Award

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

• Early Bird Award – Initial membership dues submitted by October 1st.
• Chickadee Silver Award –submit an additional 10 members  by December 31st.
• Chickadee Gold Award –submit an additional 15 members by December 31st.
• Chickadee Platinum Award –submit an additional 25 members by December 31st.
• Golden Apple Award – Units with 100% membership of full-time certified staff.
• One Voice for Every Child Award – Membership equal to or greater than number of students enrolled in the school
• Massachusetts Honor Roll – Units with membership equal to or greater than 60% of their enrollment.
• Challenge Award – Units with 5% membership increase over the previous year’s membership total.
• Making a Difference Award – Units with at least a 15% member increase over the previous year’s membership total.
• Community Outreach Award – Units with at least 10 non-traditional member
• Grandparent Silver Star Award – Units with at least 10 members who are grandparents of students.
• Grandparent Gold Star Award – Units with at least 25 members who are grandparents of students

                  Awards Application

Win gift cards for your unit!

All units which submit their dues and membership lists by November 1, will be placed in a drawing for $100 gift card. Two units will be selected.  Winners were Rehoboth PTSA and Deerfield PTA! Congratulations!

The following will be determined and awarded based on dues/membership submissions received by December 1, 2017

First unit to submit:

a 10 member increase over last year’s total membership will receive a $25 gift card

a 15 member increase over last year’s total membership will receive a $50 gift card

a 20 member increase over last year’s total membership will receive a $75 gift card

a 25 member increase over last year’s total membership will receive a $100 gift card

Units may select gift cards from Amazon, Barnes&Noble or Dollar Days.

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How do I register multiple attendees at one time?

Go to register your group now!

Group Rate Discounts
Save on FULL CONFERENCE  registration rates when registering  2 PTA MEMBERS at the same time.

I am NOT A MEMBER. Can I still attend the convention? If so, how much will it cost to attend as a nonmember?

Massachusetts PTA welcomes participation in the conference by non-PTA members. If you are not a PTA member, you are entitled only to the Non-Member rates above.

Registration Confirmation Questions

I have registered for this year’s Convention. When and how will I receive my confirmation?

A registration confirmation email will be sent to you at the address provided immediately upon completion of your registration. Your confirmation email will include your registration receipt.

Cancellation Policy Questions

What is Massachusetts PTA’s cancellation policy for Convention registrations?

Cancellation Policy

If you register in advance and find you cannot attend the convention, you must cancel your registration and request a refund. Requests for refunds must be submitted by the cancellation deadline of March 17, 2018. Refunds will not be processed after March 17th. Please allow 4-6 weeks for the refund to be issued. Please send your cancellation notice via email to info@masspta.org

I can no longer attend this year’s Convention – Can I transfer my registration to another person?

Massachusetts PTA will allow transfer of a registration to another person with appropriate notification prior to the start of the convention.

Special Needs Questions

If I have special needs, who can I contact?

If you have a condition which requires accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and you require accommodations at the event, please contact Massachusetts PTA at info@masspta.org to describe the condition and the specific nature of the requested accommodations. Massachusetts PTA will provide accommodations in accordance with law.

Morning  Speakers

Jennifer Francioso, Massachusetts PTA President

Jennifer Francioso lives in Methuen with her husband, Joseph. They are the parents of a fourteen-year old daughter. Jennifer has served on the State Board since 1991 with a brief break during 2007. She has served as Newsletter Editor, Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and President-elect. Jennifer is a second Generation Massachusetts PTA president! Her mother, Margaret Olivieri, served from 1991-1993. 

Marques A. Ivey, VP of Advocacy

Marques Ivey is the VP of Advocacy, Chair of the Legislation Committee, and member of the board of directors for the National PTA. Currently, Marques is a trial attorney and owns a law firm, the Law Office of Marques A. Ivey, PLLC. He has been married to Stacey, an educator for almost 19 years and together have three children.

Marques has been involved in PTA for about twelve years. He has served as president of a local elementary school PTA in Aurora, Colo. and is a member of various other PTAs. Mr. Ivey has been on the board of directors for the Colorado PTA for about six years, serving as an at-large member and director of Region three. He is a life member of the Colorado PTA, Michigan PTA, and National PTA.

Outside of the PTA, Marques is very active in the community. He currently serves on several boards of directors and committees. He serves as the chair of the City of Aurora, Citizen Advisory Committee on Housing and Community Development and the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteers Award Committee.

Marques received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and minored in history from Indiana University, Bloomington. He received his juris doctorate at the University of Tulsa, College of Law.

Jon Mattleman, MS Counseling​

Afternoon Speakers

Anthony Marullo

Anthony Marullo is the Regional Admissions Director for the Norwood campus of Universal Technical Institute, the leading provider of post-secondary education and training for students seeking careers in the transportation industry. He conducts career workshops for high school students, teachers, and counselors across Massachusetts, highlighting relevant real-world context for STEM learning and careers. He is graduate of Saint Bonaventure University. READ HERE the letter from a group of employers about the lack of qualified technically trained employees that they are sending to high school principals across Massachusetts.

Rachel Poliner

Rachel Poliner consults widely on whole student approaches and constructive school communities for young people and adults. Her work focuses on school climate, instructional, and structural reforms: K-12 social and emotional learning, middle and high school advisory programs, teams and teacher leadership, and improving faculty climate. Her publications include Teaching the Whole Teen: Everyday Practices that Promote Success and Resilience in School and Life, The Advisory Guide, and curricula, chapters, and articles on SEL, resiliency, dialogue, and conflict resolution. Poliner has consulted with public and independent schools across the U.S.; has been a teacher, an educational organization director, and a faculty member for master’s degree candidates in conflict resolution education and peaceable schools. She is a Board member of the Social-Emotional Learning Alliance for Massachusetts.

Sessions – 2018 MA PTA Convention

Join us for “Celebrating the Past Shaping the Future!”

April 7, 2018 – 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 2018 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 healthier 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

Plan Your Workshop Sessions

Browse the catalog of workshop sessions below to plan your itinerary. All workshops will be open seating.

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Session 1 Choice

• Minding Your Mind Just Talk About It-Youth Mental Health Education
  This interactive, clinician-led training is an introduction to mental health, which is designed to train both adults​ and youth on how to recognize the warning signs of stress, anxiety, depression, and crisis. Just Talk About It will educate adolescents and the adults who support them to look beyond stigma and notice warning signs. Just Talk About​ It has been approved by the Best Practices National Registry, Section III: Adherence to Standards, which is​ required suicide prevention training in many states.

  About Minding Your Mind

  Minding Your Mind’s (MYM) primary objective is to reduce the stigma and destructive behaviors often associated with mental health issues by providing evidence-based mental health education to adolescents, teens and young adults, their parents, teachers, school administrators, and interested professionals and community organizations. By increasing help-seeking behavior, MYM moves away from crisis-based response to prevention. To learn how you can bring Minding Your Mind to your school or organization contact Jan Latorre-Stiller at 781-285-6696 or at jan@mindingyourmind.org www.mindingyourmind.org
• “21st Century Education: Opening Doors to Career Readiness”: Anthony Marullo, Regional Admissions Director for Universal Technical Institute 
  

  It’s important for students to weigh their passions and opportunities when evaluating the many education options and career paths available to them after they graduate from high school. This workshop will highlight the key factors to consider before deciding which direction to take, and will help parents assess which education options career opportunities best match their child’s interests and learning styles. Discussion will include an overview of today’s workforce needs and where it’s headed, and real-world applications of STEM in growth industries including the skilled trades. 

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Session 2

•  Social-Emotional Learning PreK-12 – What, How, and Why Now

  We’ll explore social-emotional learning (SEL) – what it is and what it looks like when implemented at all school levels. We’ll discuss how PTAs can support SEL at school and at home. Bring your questions about SEL! We’ll clarify, give examples, and share research. Whether you’re interested in SEL from a parent skill-building perspective, a school safety perspective, a mental health perspective, an academic achievement perspective, a diverse, democratic society perspective, or for lots of other relevant reasons, we’re at an important moment to advance SEL in our schools and communities.

  “Amplifying Your Voice through PTA’s Advocacy Priorities”: Marcus Ivey, National PTA Vice President for Advocacy
  Why, as a PTA member, should you continue to grow as an advocate? PTA members have an expertise unlike many others. You are on the ground level and PTA members know what works and what doesn’t work within their communities. PTA members know firsthand what students with disabilities, poor students and minority students experience everyday at school. You know what your teachers and school administrators need to be successful and whether they have all of the tools to ensure that every child is getting the education they deserve.As a PTA member, you are a part of an association that is unlike other advocacy associations. National PTA and your priorities are to work on behalf of all students, families and schools. You do not have an ulterior motive or hidden agenda. Rather, you know and advocate for what’s best for students and families in your community giving you credibility that many others cannot obtain.Finally, we need as many voices as possible to ensure our mission is heard loud and clear, to make sure every child reaches his or her full potential. As a PTA member, you have the opportunity to make a difference in your schools and communities to ensure that families’ and students’ voices are heard over noise.

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. General Session 

• 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.These are the current MAPTA Bylaws2015 (1) adopted 4/12/2015.
• Elections  
  MA PTA elections are held at our annual convention. The next elections will be in Westborough, April 7, 2018. View the 2018 Slate of Nominees. Candidates are selected based on their competencies as demonstrated in their Letter of Interest application, interview and reference feedback. The Nominating Committee developed Competencies and Criteria for MA PTA Leadership based on a needs assessment and leadership feedback.Four Officers are elected every two years defined in the MA PTA Bylaws. Elected Officers are President-Elect, Vice President of Membership, Treasurer, and Secretary.For a description of leadership responsibilities, please review the MAPTA Bylaws2015 (1).To learn about our election process and bylaws and policies, contact info@masspta.org..

Agenda – 2018 MA PTA Convention

Join us for “Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future!”

April 7, 2018 – 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 2018 MA PTA Convention has opportunities for you to discover it all.

2018 Convention Events

Saturday, April 7, 2018