Check out our 2020-2021 Reflections Virtual Art Showcase!

This is a multi-media Showcase event! Guests are able to view the dance and film pieces, listen to the music composition, read the literature pieces, and view the photography and visual arts pieces.

All 229 Northshore PTSA Council Qualifier student artworks are on display and we've listed the State Qualifiers and Judge's Choice Award recipients in each arts category.
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We wish we could be with you all in person but have great hopes for the in person Art Celebration next year! For now, visit the Virtual Art Showcase link so you can enjoy and marvel at the courage and creativity of our Northshore student artists!

Please note, the Virtual Art Showcase will be available for viewing for one week only: Friday, February 26th through Friday, March 5th.

Election Information:

At the close of the self-nomination period, if there is any contested position we will send out an electronic voting method to Northshore PTA/PTSA presidents and vice-presidents. If no position is contested, we will hold the election by voice vote during our next General Meeting, on Monday, March 15th, 2021. Click here for meeting information.

Slate of Candidates:

In the 2021 Nominating Committee Report, the following slate of candidates were put forward for 2021-2022:

• For Office of President: Jane Chiodo
• For Office of First Vice President: Mary Khouzam
• For Office of Co-Secretary: Pauline Wray
• For Office of Co-Secretary: Cheri Hardin
• For Office of Treasurer: Serena Xu
• For Office of VP of Events: Karrie Palis
• For Office of Co-VP of Advocacy: Diana Christiansen
• For Office of Co-VP of Advocacy: Jennifer Drury
• For Office of VP of Communications: Rachel Fitzgerald
• For Office of VP of Elementary Support: Grace Jurado
• For Office of VP of Secondary Support: Brenae Brix​

Anyone self declaring for a 2021-2022​ Northshore Council Elected Board Position must meet the following qualification requirements.

Qualification Requirements

Per the 2020-2021 Council Standing Rules:

All Candidates:

• Any position may be held jointly by two (2) people, except the role of Treasurer. 
• Nominees must be at least 18 years of age.
• Nominees must be a current member of at least one local PTA that falls within the Northshore Council PTSA membership area. 

Candidates for the office of President and First Vice President shall also:

• Have two years of elected officer experience on Northshore Council PTSA; 

-OR -

• Have served as President of a local PTA for at least one year and have one year of serving in an elected position on Council or higher.

Candidates for the offices of VP of Elementary Support and VP of Secondary Support shall also:

• Have served in PTA a minimum of 2 years, with one year as a local PTA President and one year in a board position at the educational stage that they are going to support.

Below is a brief job descriptions of Council positions. For a more detailed job description, click here.

President: The President has many important jobs including serving as the official contact, communicator and representative of Council. They oversee and coordinate the work of the executive board, preside over meetings, are ex-officio members of all committees (except Nominating Committee) and are designated as an authorized signer for checks, contracts and authorizations for payment. But, most importantly, they work to connect PTAs which in turn helps them support families, schools and the community to work towards overall student success.
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1st VP: Must be familiar with the Council president’s duties and responsibilities. Act as an aide to the president and perform the duties of the president in his or her absence. Is in charge of advertising and organizing the Council Grant Program and yearly Awards.
 
Treasurer: Is the authorized custodian of the funds of the association and receives and disburses all monies in accordance with the budget as approved by the  membership.

Secretary: Keeps an accurate record of meetings, which become part of the permanent history of the PTA. Also responsible for taking attendance and monitoring quorum at meetings.

VP of Events: Plans and coordinates Councils yearly events including Presidents and Principals Brunch, Reflections Celebration and Spring Recognition Event.

VP of Communications: Works to facilitate Northshore Council PTSA communications in order to inform, engage, educate and inspire local PTAs and beyond.

VP of Advocacy: Help to educate local PTA's and disseminate information about current WSPTA and National PTA legislative priorities.

VP of Elementary Support: Act as a conduit of information for local elementary PTAs. Helps to answer questions local PTA's may have and works to recognize and celebrate local PTA's.

VP of Secondary Support: Act as a conduit of information for local secondary (high school and middle school) PTAs. Helps to answer questions local PTA's may have and works to recognize and celebrate local PTA's.

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Join us virtually on March 4th at 7:00PM for this upcoming Parent Education event: A Solution for (Almost) Every Struggle: Parenting Outside the B.O.C.S.!

Have you ever felt defeated by your child's behavior?  Do you recall a time when you were at a loss for how to manage your child's big feelings or felt your own pulse rise over the latest annoyance or transgression?  Then join us for this webinar where you will learn real, practical parenting tools to help you parent with heart!

This “Live” Workshop is presented by Parent Coach® Christy Keating, J.D. who will explore a new framework for addressing (almost) any conflict or challenge that arises with children, whether they are toddlers, teens, or in-betweens, and helps parents when that “I don’t know what to do or say” feeling happens.

Topics during the workshop will include:
• How our brains hijack our best intentions while parenting;
• How to respond rather than react;
• What our children’s challenging behaviors may actually be telling us and how to decode the messages;
• Why time-outs, rewards, punishments, and bribes don’t work and what to do instead;
• How to problem-solve with our children; and
• How to ensure our solutions help our families THRIVE.

Drawing on principles of positive discipline, research and writings by Dr. Daniel Siegel, Jane Nelsen, Lynn Lott,
Rudolph Driekurs, and her own experience as both a parent and parent coach, Christy teaches parents a new
framework for interacting with their children and solving problems. Attendees will walk away with clear
strategies they can use to parent in a way builds love, joy, connection, along with important social emotional
skills.

Register to attend at: https://heartfulparentacademy.mykajabi.com/northshore. **Space is limited**

Questions? Contact us!

This event is co-sponsored by Northshore Council PTSA, Cottage Lake Elementary PTA, and Hollywood Hill Elementary PTA.

Check out the flyer below or download it by clicking here.

Northshore Council PTSA is proud to announce the recipient of our third round of Educational Speakers & Community Events Grants for 2020-2021!

• Woodin Elementary PTA - "Guide to Helping Your Children Succeed in Elementary and Beyond" (en español) presented by Sistema Escolar USA - April 6, 2021

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Local PTAs/PTSAs interested in partnering with Northshore Council PTSA to host speakers or events were able to apply for a Northshore Council PTSA Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant. 2020-2021 grants were offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and applications were reviewed by the Northshore Council PTSA. Submissions are no longer being accepted for the 20-21 school year, but this program will return in the fall of 2021. 

For more information about the grants program, visit our Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program page.

Why have a Nominating Committee?
The Nominating Committee serves the vital role of finding and recruiting the most qualified people to fill your PTA’s elected positions. Because of this, this committee can shape the nature of your PTA and can help set your PTA up for future success. The executive committee (the elected roles on your PTA board) are in office for a one year term (with a term limit of two consecutive years). This means that there are new PTA officers entering into leadership every year! Finding passionate and qualified volunteers for these roles is the work of your Nominating Committee.


Who can serve on a Nominating Committee?
The Nominating Committee consists of three PTA members who are elected at a membership meeting at least 30 days before the officer elections take place.

Things to keep in mind when electing your Nominating Committee:
   • Members of the Nominating Committee must be elected. They may not  just volunteer for the job and they cannot be appointed by the board of directors or president.
   • A candidate for the Nominating Committee must be a member of the local PTA for at least 15 days preceding her/his election.
   • The Nominating Committee cannot include the current PTA president or school principal. Neither the PTA president nor the school principal may participate in the committee’s deliberations.
   • Nominating Committee members may not serve on the committee for more than two consecutive years.
Additionally, the members of the Nominating Committee members should have a strong knowledge of the PTA’s goals, needs and culture as finding qualified PTA officer candidates can be a challenge. Connections within the school community are helpful in reaching potential candidates. Don't forget - Nominating Committee members are still eligible to be nominated for an elected office!


When should your Nominating Committee be elected and start work?
The goal of the Nominating Committee is to present to your membership a signed and dated report stating the names of one or more candidates for each office to be elected at least 15 days prior to the election.
Giving your Nominating Committee time to locate candidates allows for the best possible slate of candidates. State guidance suggests that the Nominating Committee be elected at the first general membership meeting of the school year. This  may be difficult for PTA’s that are still getting their year organized. Having the committee in place by the first of the year is a great goal, this way the committee will have a few months to work prior to the election.


How can your current board support the Nominating Committee?
Setting up your Nominating Committee for success is very important! It is recommended that the PTA president conduct an orientation meeting shortly after the committee is elected.

Topics to discuss at this first meeting include:
   1. The president must not be involved in the Nominating Committee process or selection of officers.
   2. The committee must hold its own counsel and have honest discussions about individuals being considered for nomination.
   3. The committee must keep their work confidential and the group should discuss what confidentiality means.
   4. Develop a committee calendar and double-check relevant dates and deadlines paying special attention to your electronic voting policy if needed:
   • Dates of PTA events for the year.
   • Dates of local PTA membership meetings.
   • Date of the meeting during which the election is to occur.
   • Date the nominating committee report is due to the local PTA members.

At this orientation meeting, the president can assist the committee by providing:
   • The PTA’s current membership roster
   • The WSPTA Uniform Bylaws*
   • The current WSPTA Nominating Committee Handbook*
   • The local PTA’s standing rules
   • Job descriptions for all elected positions
   • A sample “Nominating Committee Recommendation Form”*
   • A sample “Nominating Committee Report”*

*These forms can be found on the WSPTA PTA Leaders webpage under either Governance or Leader Resources.

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What does a Nominating Committee need to consider when choosing a candidate?
Nominating Committee meetings give committee members the opportunity to review the roles that need to be filled and any potential candidates, including recommendations from board members and/or their PTA community. All candidates must be given the same scrutiny and evaluation. Candidates who wish to be considered for co-officer positions can be considered together as long as the opportunity to serve together is something that both candidates agree to prior to the election. 
According to the WSPTA Uniform Bylaws, there are also some minimum qualifications for any role under consideration.

​The Nominating Committee is the responsible for confirming the following for each candidate being considered:
   • Candidate is a PTA member (though not necessarily a member of the pertinent PTA) at least 15 days preceding the election for local PTAs.
   • Candidate must be willing to attend required PTA training for the position to which he or she will be elected.
   • Candidate must be enthusiastic and supportive of the local PTA.
   • Candidate must believe in the purposes of PTA. 
   • Candidate should have previous experience in PTA, though other association work may also be considered.
   • Candidate should have knowledge of PTA and its role in the school and community.
   • Candidate should be relied upon to give PTA a satisfactory level of priority and commitment.
   • Candidate should have good relationships with people.
   • Candidate must be fair, objective, able to subordinate personal interests to the interests and well-being of the local PTA or council.
   • Candidate should have vision and be innovative.
   • Candidate must be at least 18 years old.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I make a recommendation to the Nominating Committee, will that person automatically be on the Nomination Report?
A: All recommendations received by the Nominating Committee are recommendations rather than nominations. Think of these recommendations as suggestions that the committee will then take and use to help inform their decision-making process.
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Q: Does the Nominating Committee elect the officers?
A: The Nominating Committee is the group that will NOMINATE someone for election via its report to the members. The members of your PTA will be the ones who officially elect officers during a general membership meeting.

Q: Should the Nominating Committee find someone for every role?
A: That is the goal, however, the Nominating Committee should only put forward individuals they feel are well qualified for the position for which they are running. Individuals who are not well-suited or who are not qualified for the position should not be nominated by the committee, even if that position must be left open on the nominating committee report. Just because someone is interested in a position does not mean the committee should put the name forward. 

Q: If someone isn't nominated by the Nominating Committee, can they still be elected to a role?
A: Every qualified person has the right to be “nominated from the floor”, whether in-person or virtually, in the event that they want to run for an office and is not on the Nominating Committee Report of presented slate of candidates.

Q: Is the Nominating Committee obligated to nominate a current officer for a second term?
A: Current officers are not guaranteed a nomination the second year. Current officers should be evaluated just as you would any candidate. If the committee finds a more qualified candidate, that's who they should nominate. 

Q: Can a member of the Nominating Committee run for an elected position?
A: Yes! However, the committee member should recuse themselves from and leave the room during all discussion about their nominations, including discussion about other potential nominees for that position.

Q: What do you do if you cannot find a candidate for a position?
A: This is an especially relevant question this year! Because we have been virtual with no in-person events in which to meet and greet with those in our community, it could be harder than ever to find candidates for PTA officers. Here are a couple of ideas to broaden your reach when searching for candidates:

• Be sure to market your PTA! Let your community know what your PTA is doing to support them, the school and the students. The more they know about you, the more likely they will want to join your awesome team.
• Reach out to incoming families! If you are a secondary school, reach out to your feeder school PTA’s to put the word out that you are looking for recommendations for nominations. If you are an elementary school, consider reaching out to families of incoming kindergarteners. There’s no better way to get to know a school and its administration than volunteering for a PTA position!
• Hold an “Open House” type event. Whether virtual or in-person, this type of event is great for introducing people to your PTA and answering questions about PTA elected positions and their function.
• Make a personal ask. Do you know someone who you think would be great? Reach out to them and have a one to one conversation about why you think they would be the perfect fit.
• Advertise your search for candidates EVERYWHERE! Put it on your website, put it in your newsletter, post about it on all your social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc.), send an email directly to your members, or even send snail mail (like a postcard) to your members. Tips: NSD PTAs/PTSAs are eligible to use the Northshore School District Graphics Center for printing & bulk mailing. If you are looking for a school directory to help you connect to the families in your school, contact Council's Secretary to request one. 

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What if you STILL can’t find a candidate for a position?

• If there is an open position on your slate of candidates, you can leave that position vacant. At an in-person meeting, the president will ask if there are any nominations from the floor. In the case of a virtual election, there will be a period of time allowed for self nominations prior to the membership meeting that mimic the function of “nominations from the floor”. Someone may step forward. 
• Consider whether you have enough time to continue your search. Can you send out another call for recommendations for nominations?
• If a position remains open, it is possible, depending on what is stated in your Standing Rules, for your Board of Directors to appoint a person into that position in the interim. The search for a candidate can continue with the hopes that someone can be elected at the next membership meeting.
• If you have some officers willing to stay on as interim, try again at the beginning of the next school year. People may be willing to jump into something new in September than at the end of a long school year when they’re looking forward to summer break.

Have another question about the Nominating Committee that wasn't listed here? Contact Council and we can help!

Additional Election Information:
As stated earlier, elections of officers will happen during a general membership meeting. The Washington State PTA offers a script for the proper language to conduct elections in the Nominating Committee Handbook. In the case of an in-person meeting, additional nominees from the floor can be submitted at the time of the election if the candidate was not part of the presented Nominating Committee report. In the case of a virtual election, there will be a stated time that self nominations may be submitted prior to the meeting. Please referrer to the handbook for more information on holding elections.

Resources:
   • Nominating Committee Handbook 
   • Nominating Committee webinar
   • Sample Recommendation for Nomination (pdf)
   • Sample Nominating Committee Report (pdf)

On February 4th, 2021, Northshore Council sent a letter to the school board for Public Comment. This letter was read by Northshore School District Board Member, David Cogan, during the February 8th, 2021 meeting. The letter speaks to addressing the mental health needs of children and youth and asked that the district continue to make mental health a priority in our schools.

See below for a full copy of the letter. Click here to download or print.

Resources Linked in Letter
National PTA: Resolution on Mental Health Programs and Services (pta.org)
Washington State PTA: Advocacy (wastatepta.org)

Be a part of Northshore Council's newest committees! We are searching for members to be a part of two new committees; one on Equity and the other on Mental Health. Read more about each of these new committees below and find out how you can get involved!

Washington State PTA gives out two types of PTA Membership Awards:

• Membership Growth Awards which are automatically calculated and awarded to local PTAs and councils that reach the required criteria levels for Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum recognition.
• Membership Achievement Awards which are the highest membership honor a local PTA can earn. They include the 100% PTA Membership Award and the 100% Staff Membership Award.

Membership Growth Awards Levels
Bronze: Recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling at least one more member than their previous year’s total membership.

Silver: Recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 105% of their previous year’s total membership.

Gold: Recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 110% of their previous year’s total membership.

Platinum: Recognizes local PTAs, in good standing, for enrolling PTA members equaling at least 120% of their previous year’s total membership.

Membership Achievement Awards
​100% Staff Membership Award: Recognizes local PTAs that have at least as many school staff members enrolled in their PTA as there are full-time, certificated staff members employed at the school associated with that PTA. Check out our previous blog for to learn about achieving 100% Staff Membership – it’s easier than you think!

100% PTA Membership Award: Presented to local PTAs that enroll at least as many members as there are full-time enrolled students at the school associated with that PTA. Our very own Sunrise Elementary PTA earned this award in 2019-2020!

Membership Achievement Awards require a local PTA to complete a simple form (available here), get it signed by the principal of the school associated with that PTA, and submit it to WSPTA by March 15. Submissions can be done by mail or scanned and sent via email.

Please join us for our 4th general membership meeting of the year on Monday, March 15, 2021 via Zoom.

In addition to our regular business items, during this meeting we will be holding elections for our 2021-2022 officers. For more information on elections, visit our 2nd Notice of Elections post.

​We'll also be hosting a brief Q&A session with Dr. Reid during this meeting.