Florida PTA     1747 Orlando Central Parkway     Orlando, Florida     32809     407-855-7604     800-373-5782
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Can you feel it? Do you recognize the momentum? It always seems that at this time of year everything begins to speed up.  Testing has begun, nominating committees have been elected, proms are in full swing, and students are counting the days until summer.  Can you feel it?

It's like we've been climbing this mountain all year long...waiting to get to the top of that steep incline and breathe for just a moment. Hoping to spend a few minutes at the summit looking back over where we started and what we've accomplished, and then slowly turning our head back forward to see what lies ahead yet to do. I remember just a few months ago thinking that my two-year term was dragging so slowly, at a turtle's pace. Now, it seems that I've turned into the hare and Leadership Convention plans are steamrolling ahead fast and furious!  I can feel the halfway point approaching and when I pause to breathe, I will feel the weight shift from an upward climb to a downward fall.  Before I know it, my time as the coach of this team will be ending and I'll look back to see if I've accomplished everything I promised that I would, if we've made the impact that we dreamed of, if we've grown new leaders to carry the mission forward.

As you come to the end of the school year, you may need to decide if you accomplished everything you wanted or if your PTA still has things on their "We Can Do This" list.  It's time to decide if you will raise your hand to stay engaged and move forward, or if you'll run when the nominating committee comes knocking.  (They should have to wear bright yellow shirts, right?!)

The important lesson here is this:  Time is something precious. There's never enough of it to do everything we want.  However, with what precious time we have, we need to focus on doing all that we can, leaving things a little better than they were when they were placed in our care and hopefully finding the strength and energy to keep moving forward.  The climb may be ever so steep...but the view from the top cannot be equaled. 

Stay with me on this journey.  I promise you won't regret it.


Cindy Gerhardt
President
 Leadership Convention: July 13-16

Register now!  If your local unit has not attended Leadership Convention for the past two years, you will receive $10 off each registration. Come and learn all you need to know, whether you're a new officer, wanting to learn more about PTA leadership, you're a concerned parent...or all of the above!  To register, click here.
 In Memory of Brian Dassler
In Memory of Our Dear Friend
BRIAN DASSLER
 
It is with unbearable sadness we share the news that Florida PTA and the children of our state have lost an incredible advocate.   Brian  Dassler, Deputy Chancellor for Education Quality with the Florida Department of Education, passed March 20, 2017 at the young age of 38.  
 
Brian  was an inspiring young man, full of energy and enthusiasm.  His smile could light up any room. He began his journey into advocacy as the Florida PTA Student Representative from 1998-2000.  His drive and desire to make a positive change motivated him to continue on a path to creating better learning opportunities for all of the children in Florida.
 
Brian  never missed a chance to help Florida PTA in any way, whether facilitating meetings with decision makers in Tallahassee or speaking at events to teach our members how to become better advocates.  He will be greatly missed.
 
To memorialize this amazing advocate, the Florida PTA Board of Directors voted unanimously on March 25th to name a scholarship in Brian's honor.   For information about the Florida PTA Scholarship Award program, including how you may make a contribution in honor of Brian Dassler, please visit the Florida PTA website or contact the state office at 407.855.7604/info@floridapta.org.


FL PTA Student Representative

Deputy Chancellor for Education Quality

 Advocacy
SPRING BRINGS POSITIVE CHANGE
thanks to hard working legislators
 
People often say that spring is a time for renewal, a rebirth of all that went dormant in the winter.  Well on Monday, April 3rd, we witnessed a rebirth of Education bill SB 926 in Tallahassee and are pleased with many of the amendments that have been made.
 
As I sat in the Education Committee on that spring day I witnessed something that I hadn't seen in a very long time.  Legislators are coming together to do what was right for the children of Florida by providing much needed relief from the testing that has taken over our schools and giving back the flexibility that districts need to better educate our children and evaluate teachers.
 
I would like to thank Senator Flores for her hard work on SB926 and her willingness to listen to and work with those around her to create a bill that will absolutely generate fewer and better tests.  I would also like to thank Senator Simmons and Senator Lee for their diligence and willingness to amend the bill.  Much of the language in their amendments was drawn from Senator Montford's Education Accountability bill, SB964. Thank you Senator Montford for recognizing the challenges that students, teachers and districts are facing and initiating these positive changes.  A big thank you also goes to Senator Stewart for her contributions to improving the bill.
 
Now we need the House Education Committee to work together to amend HB77, by Representative Diaz and Representative Sprowls, to match the Senate language.
 
On another note...
 
Senator Flores also sponsored the recess bill SB78 which passed the Senate Floor on April 4th.  Senator Flores has been a champion of students this legislative session and we can't thank her enough for all that she's done on behalf of the students of Florida.
 
Angie Gallo
Legislation Chair
 Real Talk
#BeHeard
Florida PTA has been busy working to serve our underserved students!  To find out more about Real Talk and the Community Town Hall meetings you have seen around the state, please visit realtalkfl.org. Upcoming Town Hall meetings will be in Tampa on April 15th and Orlando on April 29th.  Visit the website to register!


Inequality in education prevents our state from fulfilling its potential.  We cannot afford discriminatory barriers that unfairly limit or deny educational access to students based on factors like race, national origin, gender, disability or living status.  Florida PTA, the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and other organizations have initiated a dialogue around how to improve our state public education system for underserved and vulnerable students, including those facing homelessness and those in the foster care or juvenile justice systems.  In 2 017, we plan to continue our work to increase access, equity and accountability in our state public education system by recruiting more parents, teachers, and community leaders to become involved and we look to you to help us with this task. 

As they are announced, please help spread the word about upcoming RealTalk events to other civil rights and education advocacy organizations and community leaders you know.  Information on upcoming events can be found below or by visiting    realtalkfl.org or  floridapta.org Also, if you would like to volunteer to be a part of our effort to improve public schools or you want to share a story about your experience with our state public education system, please   sign up here to become involved.  
 Leadership 
Welcome to Spring!  Can you believe there are just under 50 days of school remaining?  It seems like we just started. As we round out our year it is a great time to re-focus on reflection; what worked and what didn't?  This will help the incoming leaders be more prepared when planning their calendar.  We cannot continue to run programs or events "because that is the way we've always done them".  When reflecting, it is important to take the feedback from our peers, families and administration on how we can improve.  It is okay to have constructive criticism if that is all it is; feedback should never become personal. Take notes, the pro's and the con's and apply them. As leaders, we must always want to give our families programs and events that will serve them as needed.  If a program/event no longer works or does not seem to fit anymore, it is okay to change it up.  Maybe select a different program and try it out.  A break from the old could bring in new perspective.  This is not a reflection on a person or an idea, just a different approach to engage our families.  If you ever need guidance, your leaders are here for you and ready to assist when you need us!



This month's Leadership topic will be "Good leaders have a good attitude"

Good leaders have a good attitude.
"A good leader can hold his or her emotions in check, especially in tough situations. For example, maybe you lost your best client, or a deal you've been working on falls through. Regardless, it's important for leaders to guide a team through challenging times, encouraging them and remaining positive along the way. Team morale is heavily contingent upon a leader's attitude." - David Moore, founding partner and regional vice president of Addison Group staffing firm - See more at: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2730-leadership.html#sthash.BCLHNgrG.dpuf


 Membership Matters
As we approach the end of the school year take a few minutes and ask yourself these questions about your local unit's membership:

  • Have you sent in the dues for each member? Each month membership dues should be submitted as collected.
  • Do you still have membership cards in your possession?
    Membership is year round and you can still recruit for membership and yes, they still have a chance to benefit from great discounts from business partners such as Legoland, Hertz and Quicken Loans to name a few!   Click here to view your benefits!
  • Did you know your local unit may be eligible for one or more of our local awards? On the Florida PTA website, go to the Awards tab and you can apply for as many awards as you qualify for on or before May 1st, 2017. Just remember you must submit your membership dues.
Let's end this year off strong and go for the GOLD!!!

Membership Matters,
Charmain Postel
Florida PTA Membership Chair
 Diversity And Inclusion
Florida PTA has a history of recognizing the diverse nature of our population. We are committed to ensuring that our membership and leadership is more reflective of the diversity of the population of our state. Furthermore, we are equally committed to assisting our regions, councils, and local units in recognizing and reflecting their diverse populations.

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee has updated the Florida PTA Diversity and Inclusion Planand will be releasing a climate survey in the next few weeks. The committee encourages PTA leaders to complete the National PTA Cultural Competency e-learning module, share weekly & monthly Pop-Off's with the #weareallPTA and complete the day of service challenge with the #letthemseeus.

Suhailly Morales
Diversity & Inclusion Chair
Treasurer's End of Year Checklist
As we head into spring, treasurers must look toward the end of our fiscal year which is rapidly approaching. Included in this article is a list to help you prepare for the end of the year. Please remember to also check your Bylaws and P&Ps for any special requirements your unit may have.

 Thank a Teacher!
Teacher Appreciation Week is just around the corner (May 8-12) so National PTA invites you to view their #thankateacher toolkit!  Visit their website for some great information and resources.
 Amber Alert Information
Florida's AMBER Alert Program saves lives but we need your help
 
As part of National Missing Children's Day on May 25, FDLE is encouraging parents and teachers to learn about Florida's AMBER Alert Plan. By providing information about an abducted child to the public, AMBER Alerts allow the entire community to help search for a missing child. 
 
Florida's AMBER Alert Plan was established in 2000 for abducted children whose lives are in danger. In 2003, FDLE established the Missing Child Alert as a complement to the AMBER Plan for missing children who are not abducted, but an investigation shows their lives are in danger. 

AMBER Alerts are broadcast on local television stations, displayed on billboards, highway message signs, and on social media.  It's easy to receive AMBER and Missing Child Alert information.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FDLEpage/ or follow us on Twitter @fdlepio.   You can also search AMBER Alerts using #FLAMBER or you can receive alerts through email at www.missingchildrenalert.com

Safety tips for caregivers:
  • Never leave children alone in a car.
  • Do not visibly write your children's name on their clothing, jewelry, backpacks or toys.
  • Notice when someone pays undue attention to your children, even if it is a family member or friend.
  • Know who your children's friends are and maintain a list of their parent's names and phone numbers.
  • Encourage your children to communicate their feelings, and never belittle any fear or concern they have, real or imaginary.
  • Role play with your children: help them practice what to do if they are alone and are approached by a stranger.
  • Teach your children to look for a police officer, store employee or mother with children to assist them if they become lost.
  • Always keep a current photo of your children.
  • Have your children fingerprinted and keep the cards in a safe place.
  • Know where to obtain your children's dental and medical records.
  • Check the Florida sex offender website and sign up to receive notifications when a sex offender moves into your area.
  • When your children are traveling, know the license plate number of the vehicle they are traveling in, who they will be with, where they are going, which route they plan to take and what time they should be expected to return.
 Star Wars Day at Legoland! May 6 & 7 and May 13 & 14
Visit a galaxy far, far away during this Lucasfilm-authorized event, which features some of the most famous scenes from the Star Wars saga made out of 1.5 million LEGO bricks in our LEGO Star Wars MINILAND Model Display. Activities will include appearances by costumed Star Wars fans, LEGO building activities inspired by Star Wars characters, settings and stories, and a Star Wars-themed costume parade for kids. It's the only LEGO Star Warstheme park event in Florida!  Click here for tickets!   

 
 Get Your Spirit On!