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From YouTube: Parent Connection - October 2016
Description
Teresa talks with Allison Pickard, President of the Anne Arundel County Council of PTAs.
A
Thank
you
for
joining
us
for
Parent
Connection.
Today
our
guest
is
Allison
Picard,
the
president
of
in
Toronto
county
council
of
ptas
Allison
thanks
so
much
for
joining
us
today.
Thank
you
for
having
me.
So
how
did
you
become
president
first
of
all
tell
us
a
little
bit
about
yourself
and
then
how
you
became
president
of
the
council?
Well.
B
I
started
with
PTA
and
parent
involvement
back
in
about
2010
when
my
family
moved
into
the
county.
I
have
three
children,
a
seventh
grader,
a
fourth
grader
and
a
first
grader.
So
when
I
got
involved
at
Oakwood,
elementary
I
started
out
and
I
stepped
up
to
be
Secretary
of
the
PTA,
they
were
needing
an
officer
and
I
did
that
role
for
a
year
and
then
I
got
into
some
special
projects.
B
Building
a
garden
and
some
other
things
and
as
time
went
on
I
took
over
the
PTA
and
became
president
for
two
years
and
have
remained
very
active
with
oak
wood.
I
then
took
a
big
chance
and
applied
to
be
to
get
appointed
to
the
school
board,
and
that
was
very
exciting
and
I
served
last
year,
a
full
year
of
service
to
the
Board
of
Education,
and
when
that
term
ended,
I
was
approached
and
about
running
for
president
for
the
council
and
I
thought.
B
A
Glad
that
you
did
the
other
thing
that
I
think
we
should
point
out
is
that
you
were
chosen
as
volunteer
of
the
year
one
year
for
some
of
the
great
work
you
did
at
oakwood
and
really
some
of
the
out-of-the-box
things
you
did
with
the
partnerships
that
you
created
with
the
school
I.
Think
that's
really
important,
because
that's
what
so
many
schools
are
looking
for.
How
can
they
partner
in
the
community?
We.
B
We
just
got
a
lot
of
yeses,
so
our
school
garden
that
we
had
thought
would
take
three
to
five
years
to
build
and
and
to
build
out
all
the
different
aspects
of
it
really
only
took
18
months
through
a
lot
of
hard
work
from
our
parents
and
and
lots
of
support
from
the
community,
and
it
was
a
lot
easier
than
I
thought.
A
lot
of
community
groups
and
small
businesses
and
churches
are
really
willing
to
help
our
schools.
It
was
very
exciting
and.
A
We
hear
that
a
lot
of
times
people
you
they
just
need
that
ask
you
know
they
really
need
you
to
come
out
with
a
specific
what
you
need.
It's
sometimes
a
lot
of
times.
We
just
say
we'd
like
to
have
a
partner.
We
want
you
to
be
involved,
but
they
really
want
a
specific
ask.
What
do
you
need
from
me
and
then
lots
of
times?
There
really
are
willing.
They
want
to
be
part
of
the
community
and
they
know
that
partnering
with
the
school
is
a
great
way
to
do
that.
Definitely.
A
B
Churches
looking
for
a
service
project
or
their
local
business
would
like
to
give
back
and
they
just
need
to
make
the
connection
for
us.
So
I
think
sometimes
it's
just
getting
over
the
fear
of
maybe
someone's
going
to
say
no,
like
someone
might
say,
no,
it's
not
right
in
their
business
plan.
But
then
you
just
move
on
to
the
next
light
and
try
again
and
it's
it
is
easier
than
it.
Then
it
might
look
right.
A
B
The
county
council
is
made
up
in
similar
ways
to
your
local
PTA
at
the
school
level.
There's
a
president
we
currently
have
to.
We
have
a
first
vice-president
and
a
vice
president
of
legislation
and
then
a
secretary
in
a
treasurer,
and
then
we
have
lots
of
committees
that
are
working
out
in
different
aspects:
a
health
and
health
and
wellness
committee
that
helps
support
our
after-prom
programs
and
other
wellness
initiatives
around
the
county.
We
have
a
bylaws
committee
there.
B
B
Founders
day,
that's
right
now
we
are
we're
always
looking
for
committee
members.
So
that's
when
we
were
looking
to
maybe
change
things
up
this
year
a
little
bit.
We
might
try
to
get
it
a
little
more
exciting,
I,
don't
know
so
we're
looking
for
people
with
their
ideas.
The
council,
like
like
local
ptas,
most
of
the
council
members,
have
served
in
some
capacity
and
they
have
that
experience
and
that's
really
helpful
when
we
serve
on
the
council,
because
we
go
out
and
support
our
local
units.
B
A
Think
that
is
sometimes
we
hear
what
is
the
difference
between
PTO
and
PTA,
and
a
lot
of
the
difference
is
PTO
is
more
for
that
one
school,
the
local,
where
PTA
is
more
every
child,
so
you're
looking
to
really
work
with
in
advocacy
and
different
things
like
that,
let's
talk
a
little
bit
about
the
purpose
of
TTA.
Well,
the
mission.
B
Of
PTA
is
to
support
parents
and
students
in
their
school
communities,
and
we
can
do
that
through
advocacy
because
there
are
over
12,000
members
of
PTA
in
Anne
Arundel
County
amongst
our
89
different
units.
Together,
we
have
a
very
strong
voice
if
we
choose
to
use
it,
but
PTA
is
working
to
educate
parents
on
public
education
and
advocate
for
public
education
not
just
locally
but
at
the
state
and
at
the
national
level.
So
we
have
a
lot
of
great
support
systems
that
help
us
to
do
the
work
that
needs
to
be
done
and.
A
A
B
The
history
of
PTA
dates
back
to
nineteen
eighteen,
ninety,
seven,
it
it
predates
women's
right
to
vote
right,
but
mother's
got
together
collective
and
decided
they
needed
to
push
for
better
schools
and
education
of
our
of
their
children,
and
it's
a
pretty
awesome
story
and
it
as
you
follow
it
along
all
the
way
up
to
2016.
It's
pretty
cool
well,.
A
C
Corporal
gamble
with
an
aura
county
police
in
regards
to
school
safety,
there
are
certain
items
that
are
not
allowed
in
school
weapons.
Anything
that
can
be
construed
as
a
weapon
cannot
be
brought
to
school
things
like
switchblades
knives.
Anything
with
the
sharp
point
finger,
nail
files
guns
of
any
sort
cannot
be
brought
to
school.
Also,
illegal
drugs
prescription
drugs
unless
they
are
issued
by
the
health
room,
cannot
be
brought
to
school
tobacco
products
of
any
sort
alcohol.
Anything
of
that
nature
is
not
something
that
you
can
have
in
school.
B
I
have
several
goals
that
I'd
like
to
accomplish
in
in
my
term
of
service.
We
have
already,
since
taking
over
leadership
july.
First
we've
already
worked
really
well
with
practically
a
school
in
every
cluster
to
support
their
their
local
unit
and
the
work
they're
doing.
But
I'd
also
so
I'd
like
to
continue
on
that
and
increase
communication
between
the
council
and
the
89
ptas
and
make
sure
that
they
feel
supported.
And
we
can
build
on
that.
B
A
C
A
A
B
At
the
mic
and
be
surrounded
by
matching
t-shirts
from
your
school
and
whatever
you're
advocating
for
whether
it's
some
construction
issues
you
have
going
on
or
a
policy
you're
not
happy
with
or
or
whatever
it
is
you
want
to
advocate
for,
but
I
think
I
think
we're
all
very
busy
parents
are
busy,
and
but
we
do
need
to
engage.
We
do
need
to
engage
if
we
want
to
get
out
of
our
public
schools
what
we
think
our
children
deserve
and
to
have
your
to.
A
B
I'd
like
to
try
I'd
like
to
take
some
time
to
involve
parents
from
all
the
different
clusters
in
our
local
units
to
be
on
some
of
our
committees.
I
know
it's
another
meeting,
but
there's
also
some
cool
ways
to
do.
Some
committee
work
via
conference
call
or
something
else
that
I'd
like
to
try
out
or
Facebook
I'm,
not
even
sure,
but
I've
heard.
There's
some
really
neat
ways
where
you
don't
actually
all
have
to
physically
be
in
one
place
at
one
time
to
get
the
work
done
of
a
committee.
B
I
think
that
would
be
really
fun
using
some
of
the
different
technology
that
exists
out
there,
but
also,
as
we
engage
with
our
local
units,
I'd
like
to
provide
more
training
at
different
times
and
I'd
like
to
get
out
and
see
some
PTAs,
and
we
we've
had
a
really
great
success
in
the
early
start
of
this
of
my
term
in
getting
veteran
veteran
folks
they're,
not
even
they
they're,
taking
a
leadership
role
in
the
council,
but
they're
also
going
out
and
serving
and
meeting
local
PTA
officers
directly
to
support
their
their
needs.
I
think.
A
I
know
there
are
meetings
going
on
with
different
members
of
the
council
all
the
time
now
with
local
units,
as
you
said,
just
giving
them
that
boost,
because
sometimes
just
knowing
that
you
have
someone
you
can
call.
If
you
have
a
question,
gives
you
the
confidence
to
take
that
next
leadership
role.
Well,.
B
Exactly
we
always
provide
training
for
current
new
presidents
and
treasures
I'd
like
to
add
some
training
like
PT,
a
360
for
folks
who
aren't
currently
in
a
leadership
role
to
try
to
demystify
what
it
means
to
be
an
officer
on
PTA.
Some
people
see
IRS
forms
and
nonprofit
status
in
501,
C
3,
and
it's
just
sort
of
an
alphabet
soup
and
it's
a
little
stressful,
any
time
you're
talking
about
the
IRS,
but
really
to
do
that
work.
It's
once
you
do
it.
B
B
So
if
you
could
have
someone
I'm
going
this
afternoon
actually
to
meet
and
help
someone
through
their
financial
audit-
and
they
just
want
to
get
it
right
and
they
don't
want
to
be
turning
in
something,
you
know
the
shows
very
daunting
when
it
I
sure
after
we
sit
down
she's
going
to
be
like
okay,
it
wasn't
as
hard
as
I
thought,
but
I
also
want
more
parents
to
feel
comfortable.
Taking
these
roles,
I
want.
A
A
That's
another
thing
that
brings
me:
you've
had
really
good
working
relationships
with
the
principles
of
the
schools
that
your
children
are
in
and
with
that
working
within
PTA.
What
are
some
suggestions
you
can
give
to
parents
and
PTA
members
and
leaders
on
how
to
establish
a
really
good
working
relationship
with
your
administrator
at
the
school
and
your
teachers?
Well,.
B
B
Sometimes
we
couldn't
meet
in
person,
but
we've
talked
on
the
phone
to
make
sure
that
we
were
always
on
the
same
page
and
I
promised
her.
That
I
wouldn't
surprise
her
in
a
meeting,
and
she
promised
me
she
wouldn't
surprise
me
in
a
meeting
was
something
we
hadn't
talked
about
and
I
think
that
goes
to
build
a
lot
of
trust
and
parents
need
to
feel
like
they
can
reach
out
to
their
teachers
and
the
administration
as
well
beyond,
not
even
outside
of
PTA.
B
A
B
A
And
I
think
that
somewhere
sometimes
that's
where
my
bro
will
come
in
as
a
superintendence
representative
to
PTA
to
work
with
the
administrators
and
the
parent
groups
to
talk
through
problems
that
they
may
be
having
and
and
sometimes
it's
on
both
sides.
Sometimes
principles,
don't
understand,
maybe
they're
new
and
they
weren't
with
the
PTA
before
the
rules
that
PTA
has
to
follow,
and
sometimes
ptas,
don't
understand
that
the
principal
runs
the
school
and
anything
that
happens,
whether
it's
the
parent
group
or
anything,
it's
going
to
fall
to
the
principal's
responsibility
so
lots
of
times.
A
Just
that,
like
you,
said,
open
communication
and
explaining
those
roles
to
people
really
is
all
that's
needed.
Sure
I
know
lots
of
times
when
we
go
in.
What
has
happened
is
just
exactly
what
you
just
said.
You
made
that
commitment,
never
to
surprise
the
principal
and
the
principal
made
the
commitment
back
to
you.
Never
to
surprise.
You
I
feel
like
that's
one
of
the
biggest
issues
that
happen.
A
B
Right
there
are,
there
are
restrictions
and
there
should
be
right
as
as
pta's
there
nonprofits
as
they
raise
money
as
the
members
themselves
are
fundraising,
but
the
the
fundraising
dollars
are
really
to
benefit
the
entire
school
and
the
students
and
enhance
enhance
learning
and
achievement
sort
of
tricky.
When
we
get
into
some
some
things
that
want
to
get
be
purchased
or
right.
D
B
B
Can
get
a
little
sticky
but
the
way
to
the
way
to
deal
with
that
is
just
communicate
and
if
you
set
up
in
the
summer
after
you
finish
a
year,
if
you
agree
to
have
a
planning
meeting
with
the
administration
and
an
active
teachers
about
what
they
would
like
and
what
goes
along
with
the
curriculum
and
what
would
be
a
great
enhancement
to
the
next
school
year
and
the
PTA
talks
about
their
ideas.
And
you
come
to
some
mutual
agreements.
And
then
you
move
forward.
It's
the
easiest
way
to
go
right.
A
I
I
think
that's
so
important.
We
talked
a
little
bit
about
pta's.
Fundraising
and
you
know
some
people
TAS
are
really
bringing
in
a
lot
of
money
and
that's
really
with
parents
working
hard
to
make
that
happen.
It
doesn't
ever
just
happen
at
the
schools,
but
ptas
are
known
for
that,
but
really
that
is
a
secondary
purpose
of
a
PTA.
Really
PTA
is
more
of
an
advocacy
group
that.
B
B
A
B
I'm
hoping
to
be
able
to
do
include
in
our
regular
scheduled
training
some
advocacy
training,
because
we
are
all
you
know,
we're
all
parents
of
multiple
children
and
busy
lives
and
to
working
buh-buh-buh-buh
up.
But
with
just
a
little
bit
of
information.
Parents
could
be.
They
could
get
a
little
more
proactive
with
some
of
the
policy-making
process
rather
than
reactive
and.
D
B
Council,
that's
where
we
can
step
in,
because
we're
not
doing
some
of
the
things
of
a
local
unit.
That's
where
we
can
help
local
units
stay
on
top
of
things
and
there's
definite.
Every
every
family
has
a
different
policy
that
that
that
they
want
to
understand
they
want
to
have
their
feedback
on
it.
You
might
not
be
writing
your
emails
on
every
policy.
Some
some
you're.
B
Not
as
interested
in,
but
that's
not
something
the
board,
the
board
doesn't
know
so
I
know
it's
frustrating
from
a
board
member
previous
board
member
perspective
is
to
pass
a
policy,
and
then
people
coming
out
and
like
well.
Where
were
you
who
are
you
90
days
ago,
when
we
were
really
wanting
to
talk
about
this?
So
that
would
be
helpful
on
that?
That's
just
that's
just
education
and
that's
a
key
part
of
what
PTA
does
I
think.
A
That
that's
an
important
part
and
you're
advocating
for
every
child.
That's
another
thing:
it's
you're
not
just
advocating
for
your
child
you're
advocating
for
children
who
may
not
have
that
voice
or
parents
who,
just
for
whatever
reason,
are
not
able
to
be
involved
as
much
so
you're
really
kind
of
taking
on
their
causes
as
well.
That's.
B
That's
correct:
we,
our
motto
is
every
child
one
voice,
and
we
definitely
PTA,
wants
to
have
a
collective
message
out
there,
making
sure
that
our
school
districts,
our
schools
and
our
our
state
is
thinking
about
all
of
our
children,
not
just
a
certain
subset
and
that's
really
important.
That's
a
huge
point
that
I
would
like
to
stress
over
the
next
two
years
is
my
term
of
service
and
I.
A
Know
at
the
council
level,
you're
you're
reaching
out
to
locals
all
the
time,
and
you
know
you're
trying
to
get
that
message
out
there.
Hopefully
this
will
help
as
well,
but
really
trying
to
tell
them
that
there
are
people
there
that
will
help
you
and
then
you
have
in
PTA
it's
the
local
unit,
the
County
Council
PTAs
Maryland,
State
PTA
and
the
National
PTA.
Who
really
has
lots
of
information
that
parents
can
utilize
the.
B
Web
that
both
at
the
state
level
and
the
national
level,
the
PTA
websites
are
pretty
amazing.
They
have
resources
beyond.
They
have
resources
available
for
every
topic,
whether
it's
literacy,
you
may
common
core,
there's
all
kinds
of
resources
that
you
wouldn't
you
wouldn't
you
might
not
think
about,
and
but
going
to
PTA
org
and
seeing
what
kind
of
toolkits
they've
put
together
it's
it's
a
it's
a
great
resource.
I
know.
A
That,
even
in
my
role
as
a
senior
manager
for
school
and
family
partnerships,
we
work
with
parent
engagement,
family
involvement.
That's
you
know
our
mission,
that's
what
we're
always
looking
for
and
I
will
utilize
National
pta's
website,
because
they
have
whole
sections
on
different
suggestions
for
how
to
get
parents
involved
and
have
different
ways
that
parents
might
want
to
be
involved.
So
it's
a
good
thing
for
local
chapters
to
use
because
it
talks
to
how
to
create
different
volunteer
opportunities
within
the
school
will.
B
Be
having
some
networking
opportunities
for
local
units
too,
and
I'd
like
to
engage
local
units
in
bragging
about
some
of
the
things
they
do
really
well
and
what
they
do
really
well.
Another
PGA
may
be
struggling
with
and
they
could
really
I
mean
I
love
to
I
love,
to
sort
of
not
have
to
recreate
the
wheel,
so
I
loved.
C
B
We
just
noticed
the
other
day
at
Belvedere
Elementary.
They
put
these
really
neat
stickers
on
the
door
for
teachers
who
have
joined
PTA
to
let
the
parents
know
that
this
teacher
is
a
PTA
member
and
I
know
we
did
that
at
Oakwood,
but
other
parent
other
schools
might
not
be
doing
that,
but
that's
a
really
great
way
to
get
teachers
to
remember
to
join
PTA.
Oh
I
need
my
sticker.
B
I've
got
to
turn
in
my
form
and
that's
just
a
small
example
of
the
different
really
cool
things
that
are
happening
deal
Elementary
is
using
social
media
really
well
and
they
could
probably
trained
some
other
people
about
how
to
maximize
social
media
to
stay
connected
with
their
parents.
I
know
when
I
first
started
in
Oakwood.
Someone
turned
me
on
to
sign
up
genius
and
that
revolutionized
right.
B
Because
you
know
they
signed
up
for
gardening
day
and
watering,
and
there
are
just
little
tidbits
that
you
don't
think
about,
and
you
get
so
you
get
so
into
what
you're
doing
at
your
own
school,
that
I'm
hoping
to
provide
more
opportunities
for
inside
the
clusters
and
outside
their
individual
clusters
to
meet
and
and
brag
about
themselves
network.
Well,.
A
We
just
don't
know
how
to
make
it
work
within
our
teachers.
Schedule,
and
you
know
the
children
have
to
read.
How
is
that
going
to
run
and
showing
them
that
bringing
in
the
volunteers
are
working
with
your
PTA
to
get
the
word
out?
Sometimes
you
can
they'll
just
take
over
the
program
for
you
and
it
runs
effortlessly
and
that's
because
of
a
lot
of
hard
work
from
the
parents.
But
just
hearing
that
and
hearing
about
other
opportunities,
I
think,
is
really
valuable
to
all
of
the
local
units.
Definitely.
A
B
B
We
definitely
will
be
doing
that
in
the
near
future,
but
I'm
excited
I'm
excited
about
the
the
year
ahead.
There's
lots
of
work
to
be
done,
but
the
parent
involvement
it
takes
so
many
different
shapes
and
that's
the
other
thing.
I'd
like
parents
to
understand
you
don't
have
to
be
at
every
PTA
meeting.
You
can
be
involved
in
your
school
on
different
levels,
right.
A
To
really
do
that
County
Council
PTAs,
as
your
first
stop
call
them.
When
there's
any
issues
that
you're
going
to
get
support,
people
are
not
going
to
browbeat.
You
they're
going
to
talk
to
you
through
whatever
the
problem
is
and
if
they
may
need
to
take
you
to
the
next
level
and
help
get
help
from
the
state
they're
going
to
do
that
too.
So
I
think,
just
knowing
that
you
all
are
there
and
a
great
resource
yeah.
B
I
hope
I
hope
we
can
communicate
that.
That's
the
first
thing
I
want
people
knows
we're
here
to
help
we're
not
here
to
get
you
in
trouble.
We
can
work
through
any
situation
together,
right,
so
yeah
I
hope
to
relay
lay
some
fears
because
I
want
to
keep
people
involved
every
time
we
turn
over
a
new
unit.
There's
people
our
people
have
their
anxiety
about
taking
on
especially
the
role
of
treasurer
and
they
hear
IRS.
But
the
council
is
here
to
help
them
and
it's
it
ends
up
not
being
as
complicated
as
people
think
I.
A
D
Hi
I'm
Jody
rissy
the
host
for
food
for
thought.
Later
today,
I'm
joined
by
Erin
Kennedy
High,
some
from
the
Maryland
State
Department
of
Education
Erin.
How
important
our
partnerships
for
the
communities
that
we
serve?
Partnerships
allow
a
variety
of
different
players
to
work
together
to
achieve
a
common
goal
that
betters
the
entire
community
to
watch.
The
full
interview
join
me
later
today:
I'm
food
for
thought.