HISD Council of PTAs Encourages Parents to Get Involved
President-elect says parents needed now more than ever because of state budget cuts
August 10, 2011
Marilyn Comeaux, the president-elect of the HISD Council of PTAs, was at first a little hesitant at volunteering at her children's schools. "My son had just started kindergarten and he actually volunteered me to be the president of the school's PTA," she laughs. "I graciously accepted and I have been volunteering every since."
Comeaux's son is now in college, but the longtime volunteer is still committed to public education and to HISD. In her new role as president of the HISD Council of PTAs, Comeaux is on a mission to get more HISD parents engaged with the district and with their children's individual schools. "With the recent state budget cuts, now more than ever, parents and community volunteers are needed to help teachers ensure that our children get a quality education," she says.
At a recent meet and greet reception at the district’s headquarters, Comeaux and other PTA council members shared their reasons for volunteering and brainstormed about ways to increase PTA enrollment.
"We are all one big family," says HISD Council of PTAs Treasurer Percy Lowe. "It doesn’t make any sense to say we are going to go through HISD, get our child out of school, and never look back. Along the way, we should grab as many kids as we can to help educate them along with our children."
Outgoing PTA Council President Caronetta Jones agrees. "It's absolutely necessary that our children understand that we are on the same page as their teachers," she says. "We are there to help them and assist them in any way we can to work with our children."
Jones encourages parents to volunteer when they can, even its only one day or one hour a month. "Anything helps—you can read to children, they can read to you, you can volunteer in the office, you can be a school chaperone; just get involved and make a difference."
For more information, contact your school's PTA or visit www.hisdcouncilofptas.org.