PTA Directory

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Permalink Reply by Tricia on August 24, 2009 at 8:30pm

We do a hard copy paper PTA Directory parents have the option to include or not include the info they'd prefer. Generally yes it is alphabetized by last name and consits of child's name,siblings attending our school, grade, parents names, phone number and e-mail address. As far as I know we have never had a problem of it falling into the wrong hands.

Tricia

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Permalink Reply by Walkathon Guide on August 31, 2009 at 12:33pm

I like the one that comes with The Groupery (http://www.thegroupery.com). Parents sign up independently from the school and give permission when they sign up. The online version is free and anyone can order a paper version.

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Permalink Reply by Terri Wernick on September 1, 2009 at 9:13pm

We are on our 3rd annual School Directory now. It is sponsored by local businesses, which absorbs the cost of the printing. It is given to each family free of charge. We decided not to do the CD version for fear it wouldn't be as easy and convenient as a paper copy. It has the school administration, PTA board, PTA Calendar, children listed alphabetically and then listed again by teacher/grade. We send a sign up form to the parents and also at Open House (signature required) that allows them to include what they would like in print (Name, phone, email, address, siblings). On the permission/ sign up form and on the inside cover of the diretory is a disclaimer that individuals cannot use it as a source of advertising or forward the information outside of the school and also that the PTA is not liable for misuse. We've had a very large success with it. The first year we had 200 families sign up, the second year we had over 400. We have 700 students with approximately 500 families.

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Permalink Reply by Fratney PTA on October 8, 2009 at 1:00pm

Terry, CAny ould you tell me what software you are using to manage the directory?

How do you handle kids living in 2 different households?

Thanks for any insight.
La Escuela Fratney

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Permalink Reply by Terri Wernick on February 4, 2010 at 6:24am

We use Excel. Our computer resource teacher at our school showed us how to use it and we transfer the template to the next chair. We also have excess to an excel at school set up with a PTA file of it so if a chair doesn't have Excel, they can type the info at school.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Baker on October 24, 2009 at 6:44pm

There is a online software called PT Connect (www.parentteacher.net) that has some directory templates. It's a basic template though, but it sure makes it fast to make a directory without having to retype everything.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Taylor on December 31, 2009 at 3:54pm

We did hard copy directories too and had a local business sponsor it, but it was still expensive. This year we converted to an entirely online version that I wrote for the school. It was well received and has people logging into it daily.

I decided to create a public version with a bunch of enhancements based on feedback that I've had from our parents. You can find my project at www.addressmonster.com. The original one is at www.weddingtonpta.org (but it is password protected so you can't see too much) It is geared entirely at PTA and school needs.

Each family has the ability to control what information is displayed in the directory and can update their own information without having to get the PTA involved. It also supports having children in multiple schools so parents don't need to have multiple logins.

All of the access is logged and the PTA directory "owner" can see all of the activity from their administrative pages. They can also revoke access to the directory if they need to or force password changes.

I'd be happy to demo it for anyone that might be interested in using it.

Robert

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Permalink Reply by Tracie Oken on March 25, 2010 at 6:44pm

At our school we use MyDirectoryMaker (http://www.mydirectorymaker.com) It handles all the opt in/ out functions as well as multiple households. There are report templates for all kinds of designs. It was built specifically for managing the school directory so you don't have to do much work, just put in the family data and you've got a directory.

Tracie

Full disclosure - I helped design and build the software when I was tasked with the directory at my son's school. There are now hundreds of schools using the software, many of the PTA's. The membership features were designed around the PTA membership requirements and has a built in upload option for the PTA specifically.

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