President's Role and Responsibilities
Your PTA members look to you for leadership in creating partnerships within your community and fostering an environment where family engagement is encouraged and respected. You are the official contact, communicator. and representative of your Local PTA Unit. It takes heart, dedication, and patience to lead the PTA way, and LAPTA believes in you and the work you are doing!
Why are we here? Why do we "keep doing this?" PTA makes a difference in the lives of all children, which makes our community stronger and the future brighter. Be passionate and thoughtful about how to best impact your community through the use of PTA Programs and all that PTA has to offer. Familiarize yourself with the LAPTA Toolkits and reach out to LAPTA for support, encouragement, and guidance. LAPTA knows all that it takes behind the scenes and we are very grateful for your hard work and generosity!
Work with your feeder schools when planning your year and scheduling events. Feeder schools are those schools that the students attended before your school or will attend when they move on from your school. Consider hosting joint events, such as an End-of-Summer Picnic to buy uniforms, have a uniform swap, join PTA, pay for things ahead of time that will be offered later in the year, etc. Be very organized on tracking this information, especially payments. Give parents receipts or an email with details of what they purchased. Share decorating items rather than purchasing similar items twice. Try and spread out your events and when you’re asking for money. Get creative in supporting each other!
The LAPTA President for 2024 - 2026 is Beth Maillho who can be reached at President@LouisianaPTA.org.
Operating Guidance
Louisiana PTA issues Operating Guidance to advise and support Local PTA Units on PTA best practices. Email LAPTA President for further clarification.
Honorary Membership Pins
Volunteers are the heart of PTAs. Honor those volunteers who go above and beyond for others and contribute to the mission of PTA. Think about those who invested their time devoted PTA or to the service of children, such as a PTA volunteer, outstanding teachers and paraprofessionals, a community member who volunteers regularly at the school, school staff member, school superintendent, principal, school board member, police officer, or other professionals who work in support of students. The volunteer does not have to be a member of PTA and is not required to be well-known beyond their own area of service. These are items that a PTA can expense and include in its budget. Funds support the LAPTA Grants Program. Allow three weeks for delivery, or schedule pick up in Mandeville or Shreveport at check-out. Awards do not include voting privilege or actual membership in PTA. There are two levels of recognition for a one-time donation of $15 or $50.
LAPTA Honorary Life Member Award ($50)
This is the highest level of recognition by LAPTA for those who make distinguished contributions. It has special significance as an enduring symbol of outstanding and faithful service. Includes the LAPTA Honorary Life Member pin and a personalized certificate for a one-time donation of $50.
2025-26 LAPTA Toolkit
Download the 2024-25 LAPTA Toolkits as a PDF or Word file so that you can customize the forms. They contain everything PTA, such as the procedures, details, programs, sample forms, grants, contests, and other helpful information. The individual Toolkit sections are available to download below or scroll down to view individual sections.
Sec 1. LAPTA & National PTA PDF
Sec 2. President PDF
Sec 3. Treasurer Word File or PDF
Sec 4. Secretary Word File or PDF
Sec 5. Board of Directors PDF
Sec 6. Membership PDF
Sec 7. Advocacy PDF
Sec 8. Elections & Nominating Committee PDF
Sec 9. Awards, Grants, and Contests PDF
Toolkit Sec 2. President
Index:
10 Leadership Traits
11 Essential Knowledge
12 Getting Started
12 President’s Binder and Files
13 Building the Board of Directors (BOD)
14 Pick Your PTA Programs
14 Training (Required for Officers)
14 Membership Dues & Givebacks
15 Finances
15 Fundraising Strategies
16 New Givebacks.com
16 Meeting Types
17 Bylaws
18 Standing Rules
18 LA Secretary of State Annual Report
19 Active Affiliation Report Due October 31
19 Parliamentary Procedure
20 Roberts Rules of Order Simplified
21 Agendas
22 Motion Summary Chart
23 Problem Solving
24 Partnering with Administrators and Teachers
24 Icebreakers
25 Inclusion (DIO)
26 President’s Checklist
28 LAPTA Calendar
29 Year-End Checklist and Transition Guidance
30 Sample Agenda
31 Sample Meeting Script
33 Sample Passwords and Accounts Summary
34 Communications and Social Media Policy
35 Confidentiality, Ethics, & Conflict of Interest Policy