Mission, Vision & Values
The Parent Teacher Association
Membership is open to anyone who believes in the mission and purposes of Parent Teacher Association.
Individual members may belong to any number of PTAs and pay dues in each. Every person who joins a local
PTA automatically becomes a member of both the state and national PTAs.
Together we are a powerful voice for children. With your help, we can continue to work toward PTA's goal of
a quality education and nurturing environment for every child.
PTA Vision: What the future will look like if PTA accomplishes its mission.
Making every child's potential a reality.
PTA Mission: The overall purpose of PTA
 A powerful voice for all children,
 A relevant resource for families and communities, and
 A strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child.
PTA Values: What PTA stands for
Collaboration: We work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organizations to accomplish our
agreed-upon goals.
Commitment: We are dedicated to promoting children’s health, well-being, and educational success through
strong parent, family, and community involvement.
Accountability: We acknowledge our obligations. We deliver on our promises.
Respect: We value our colleagues and ourselves. We expect the same high quality of effort and thought from
ourselves as we do from others.
Inclusivity: We invite the stranger and welcome the newcomer. We value and seek input from as wide a
spectrum of viewpoints and experiences as possible.
Integrity: We act consistently with our beliefs. When we err, we acknowledge the mistake and seek to make
amends.
PTA Purposes: Historical goals of PTA
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To promote the welfare of the children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
To raise the standards of home life.
To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate
intelligently in the education of children and youth.
 To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children
and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.
ADVOCACY
PTA Public Policy Agenda: National PTA has a long and successful history of influencing public policy on
behalf of children and education. NPTA develops this agenda based upon the following criteria:
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Timeliness of issues (is it being considered before Congress and the Administration)
Opportunities for PTA to provide leadership and expertise to Congress
Alignment to mission resolutions
Ability to achieve a meaningful policy change that will produce positive results for children and families
The 2012 Public Policy Agenda focuses on three key priorities: Family Engagement in Education and
Opportunity and Equity for all Children. PTA is working with Congress on the following legislation, which
address PTA's key priorities:
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A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD: PTA continues to advocate for family engagement
and overall improvements to general, special, and early childhood education. Additionally, PTA is
a strong advocate for increased education funding.
CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND NUTRITION: PTA prioritizes the health and well-being of every child
through implementation of and improvements to nutrition laws.
JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION: PTA fights to protect the rights of
children and youth involved in the justice system.
PTA Takes Action Network
PTA's advocacy network provides free information and tools to make your voice heard with federal, state and local
lawmakers, as well as the media:
 PTA Takes Action Updates- A monthly e-newsletter that provides up-to-date information on federal legislative
issues affecting families, schools, and communities.
 PTA Takes Action Alerts- E-mail advocacy alerts that highlights actions you can take to influence important
legislation that could affect children and education and connect you to your members of Congress.
To sign up for the PTA Takes Action Network, please visit www.pta.org/advocacy.
PTA Programs, Campaigns and Initiatives
National PTA has set two areas to focus its programmatic work:
 Family Engagement and Parent Involvement
 Opportunity and Equity for all Children
Family Engagement and Parent Involvement: PTA National Standards for Family-School
Partnerships
PTA's National Standards are helping more and more students realize their potential every day.
A suit of helpful tools and resources are available online to help you use the standards. Visit
www.pta.org/pta_pragrams to find these resources and more:
 National Standards for family-School Partnerships Implementation Guide
 National Standards Assessment Guide
 Family Advocacy
 Parent handouts
 PowerPoint presentations
 PTA Report to the Community (a template for documenting standards-based programs)
 E-learning's
Phoebe Apperson Hearst Family-School Partnership Awards-Think your PTA does a good job
implementing the standards? Apply for this award which recognize for their amazing work in increasing
parent involvement in their schools.
Outstanding Family-School Partnership Awards- An award of $2,000 to recognize one outstanding PTA.
Family-School Partnership Awards of Excellence- One $500 award given to six local PTA's.
Family-School Partnership Award of Merit- Given to all local PTAs that apply.
Applications available online at pta.org
PTA Take Your Family to School Week
This week is celebrated each February around PTA founders Day, February 17th, to pay tribute to PTA's
legacy of building family-school partnerships. Go to www.pta.org/familyToSchool. Schools that plan
events for this special week are eligible to apply for the $1897 grants, whose dollar amount celebrates
the year PTA was founded.
PTA Teacher Appreciation Week
PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week in 1984 to say thanks for the awesome women and men
who educate our children. These dedicated individuals are these alongside parents working to give
children the knowledge and skills they need for a bright future.
PTA offers ideas for public tributes, school events, and tokens of gratitude, with ways to involv parents,
students, business and the community at large at www.pta.org/teachers.
PTA Three For Me
Want an easy way to engage new parents with your PTA? Three For Me asks parents to get involved at
home, school and in the community to support their child's education. By asking parents to make a small
commitment to get engaged, they often go beyond all expectations!
Resources your PTA can access to run this program include the following:
 Sample forms and guidelines for an easy start-up
 A strategy for organizing activates around the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships
 An easy-to-use program to increase PTA to other group membership
Visit www.three4me.com for more information.
Urban Family Engagement Initiative
Once the global leader in education, the United Staes has lost its competitive edge and is slipping behind.
Urban communities especially lag behind in educational achievement, a disadvantage that an widen with
each generation.
To help close the educational achievement gap in a way that is inclusive of all parents. National PTA has
launched its Urban Family Engagement Initiative in 12 U.S. cities; Atlanta, Albuquerque, Baltimore,
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Washington DC, and Philadelphia.
Visit www.pta.org/urbandevelopment for more information.
Child Health and Nutrition
PTA Healthy Lifestyles
Does your PTA want to get involved in helping your school serve lunches or getting kids active because
PE has been cut? Your PTA can make a difference! The PTA healthy lifestyles Program emphasizes the
important role families can play in keeping their children healthy and ready to learn at home and at
school. PTAs across the country take action by starting running clubs after school, serving healthy snacks,
and planting school gardens, among other fun activities.
Resources are available online.
Each November, the PTAs celebrate PTA Healthy Lifestyles Monthly to bring attention to health and
wellness at their schools! National PTA offers PTA Healthy Liftestyles Grants up to $1,000 to local PTAs to
help fund these events. The Grants support PTA efforts to engage schools and families in:
 Increasing access to and awareness of healthy foods
 Increasing physical activity for students and families
 Providing healthier foods in schools
 Engaging and training family and community membership in promoting physical activity and
healthy eating habits
Student Success and Engagement
PTA Reflections Program
For more the 40 years, PTA's Reflections Programs has encouraged millions of students across the nation
and in American schools overseas to explore their artistic talents. Through Reflections, schools and PTAs
can showcase the importance of the arts in education, parents can encourage the creativity and lifelong
learning of their children, and students can receive recognition for their artistic endeavors. This exclusive
PTA program offers great value -and a sense of pride - to the students and school community.
You will find everything you need to launch a successful Reflections Program at www.ptareflections.org
The theme for 2012-13 is "Imagine".
PTAs receive grants up to $1,000 through a competitive grant process to establish or enhance arts
programs in one of more of the following arts areas; visual arts, photography, music (including dance),
and literature (including theater). Applications will be available only in the spring of 2013. To find out
more, visit www.pta.org/2032.asp.
PTA E-Learning
Available to PTA members at www.pta.org/e_learning.asp, PTA e-learning is no-cost way for you to
expand your PTA leadership skills from the comfort and convenience of your home, or anywhere you can
connect to the internet.
Advocacy
 Effective Advocacy for Your Child
Diversity
 Cultural Competency
Leadership
 Conflict Management
 Creating and Delivering A Speech
 Ethical Leadership
 Grant Writing
 Parliamentary Procedure
 Planning and Goal Setting
 Planning Your Year
 Preventing Theft in Your pTA
 PTA Basics
 Writing and Proposing PTA Resolutions
 PTA Program Essentials
 Creating Successful Family-School Partnerships for local PTA Leaders
 Creating Successful Family-School Partnerships for State PTA Leadership
 Reflections 101
 Running Successful PTA Programs
August 2012
Dear Administrators and Educators,
The Nebraska PTA Dr. Anne Campbell Memorial Scholarship was named in honor of an
outstanding educator, PTA supporter and volunteer, the late Dr. Anne Campbell. She was
the Commissioner of Education in Nebraska and also served at both the State and
National levels.
We urge you to inform all educators holding current Nebraska certification to apply.
Please encourage interested teachers who are current PTA members to apply. The award
is $500 and may be used for tuition, books, or other associated expenses. Presentation of
the award will be made in the spring with the recipient receiving the payment upon
verification of enrollment in a class or workshop at an institution of higher learning. The
recipient is to forward verification of enrollment to the Nebraska PTA State Office. The
recipient will also be recognized at the Nebraska PTA Annual Convention in the fall.
If you have any questions about the scholarship or application, please contact the State
PTA Office. The application package must be submitted by the last Friday in March. We
are pleased to offer this scholarship to a Nebraska educator.
Sincerely yours,
LeeAnna Espinoza-Farthing
Nebraska PTA President
www.nebraskapta.org
DR. ANNE CAMPBELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
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This application must be typed or printed legibly in blue or black ink.
Applicant must be a current PTA Member.
This application is open to all educators holding current Nebraska certification.
One signed letter of recommendation must be accompany application
The amount of the Scholarship is at least $500.00
This award is presented in the spring with the recipient receiving payment upon verification
of enrollment. Recipient will be recognized at the NePTA Annual convention
7. Application package must be returned by last Friday in March
Name _________________________________________________________________________________________________
Last
First
MI
School ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name
Address
Faculty _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Years as:
Nebraska Educator ____________________________
PTA ___________________________
PTA activities: Please list all PTA involvement (i.e. office held, committee, programs, honors,
etc.)
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Class, program, seminar, etc. you plan to attend (include cost, dates, and location)
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Describe why attending this class, etc. continue your professional growth
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Describe the communication methods you use to reach parents. How do you provide opportunities
for parents to be involved in their child's education?
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What innovative plans could be implemented in your school to increase responsible parental
involvement?
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Signature ____________________________________________________________ Date ___________________________
All material must be at the state office by the last Friday of the March. Faxes are not accepted.
Applications will not be accepted after this date.
Send to: Nebraska PTA
13304 West Center Rd STE 221
Omaha Ne. 68144
Phone: (402) 884-4048