Although the Parent Teacher Association (P.T.A.) has long been thought of as an organization for overzealous parents and exhausted teachers in the eyes of many students, it actually is not. While at the middle school level, the organization is known as the P.T.A. Ninth thru 12th grade, it becomes known as the P.T.S.A. (Parent Teacher Student Association), which means that students are welcome to participate, as well as parents and teachers. According to the Texas P.T.A. website, “P.T.S.A.s actually provide youth members with the opportunity to make a difference by developing leadership skills, learning about the legislative process, increasing self-esteem, and contributing to the school. In turn, adult members gain a new perspective for program development, as well as acquire a better understanding of the youth of today.” P.T.S.A. membership also looks impressive on a college resume and provides the opportunity for national discounts as well as local scholarships.
Scholarships are enticing membership benefits in the Wolf Den P.T.S.A., including the P.T.S.A. Senior Scholarship, one of which is given to each senior high school in the district. Seniors who are members for two years are eligible for scholarship drawings, which take place during the senor lunch in May. There are no other requirements for this particular scholarship.
“We wanted to offer another incentive for the students to join the Wolf Den P.T.S.A.,” P.T.S.A. vice president of membership Becky Byrley said. “It was also another way for the P.T.S.A. to give back to our student members.”
The PISD Council also holds one scholarship drawing at the end of the year. One name per senior high is pulled from a hat for this $500 scholarship. The only requirement is P.T.S.A. membership in the student’s senior year. Wolf Den P.T.S.A. offers two other scholarship opportunities. The Community Service Scholarship does not require membership, but does require an application, essay and community service documentation. Scholarship drawings donated by P.T.S.A., booster clubs and outside organizations also take place during the After Prom party sponsored by P.T.S.A.
“You learn to support an organization,” P.T.S.A. president Andi Rosenfield said. “P.T.S.A. does not require you to attend meetings, go to service projects or track hours for eligibility. But it gives students opportunities to volunteer and get involved.”
The organization also finds ways to give back to the community and school as a whole.
“P.T.S.A. supports our school, and your membership shows that you care too,” Rosenfield said. “We provide refreshments for homecoming, donate the Blue Nation t-shirts that you are wearing this year, plan the After Prom party and put on the Senior Lunch in May.
The organization is a foundation of the school’s activities and has always been a support system.
“We support school beautification projects and grant teacher wish list requests,” Rosenfield said. “Hopefully, our students will use their membership in the P.T.S.A. as a springboard for involvement in other advocacy organizations, because that is what P.T.A. is, an advocate for all the children.”
