Council Unplugged - Live from the 2025 NYS PTA Convention

This episode was recorded live at the NYS PTA Convention in Niagara Falls, NY on Sunday, November 16, 2025. Includes your podcast hosts Robin Brumfield, Kathleen McEnroe, Mary Sotomayor & Sonya Verrillo as well as panelists Brenda Cardoza and Maria Sanders. Ideas were also shared by PTA leaders who attended the workshop/recording.Summary: This conversation explores the multifaceted roles and challenges faced by PTA leaders, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, volunteer engagement, financial accountability, and fostering a supportive culture within the organization. The speakers share personal insights and strategies for building effective teams, recruiting and retaining volunteers, and navigating the complexities of budget season, all while highlighting the collaborative nature of PTA work.TakeawaysPTA leadership is filled with unexpected challenges, and building a strong team often requires reaching beyond traditional members to bring in new voices and perspectives. Micro-volunteering can significantly ease the workload by allowing people to contribute in smaller, more manageable ways, while innovative approaches help PTAs operate more effectively in today’s busy school communities. Volunteers should always feel valued and recognized for their contributions, and maintaining strong financial accountability is essential to the success and credibility of any PTA. Councils should serve as supportive allies rather than overseers, helping local units feel empowered rather than directed. When leaders focus on creating a culture of trust, it encourages open communication and stronger collaboration among schools, which in turn enhances overall community engagement. Through it all, PTA service builds meaningful experience and develops transferable skills that are valuable in many professional settings.  Sound bites"Micro volunteering is key.""PTA is a business.""We are not the boss of PTA."Chapters00:00 Welcome to Council Conversations Unfiltered04:42 Building Effective Teams in PTA09:23 Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers14:15 Navigating Budget Season and Financial Accountability17:24 Understanding the Role of Council24:34 Creating a Culture of Trust and SupportKeywordsPTA, leadership, teamwork, volunteers, budget, council, support, community, education, collaboration