Communications is a key bridge between your PTA/PTSA and the school community.
For PTA/PTSA, communications is more than sending emails or maintaining website or posting on social media. It is how the organization keeps members informed, builds trust, creates connection, encourages participation, and makes sure families can access opportunities and resources.
PTA/PTSA Communications Goal
The goal of PTA/PTSA Communications is to provide clear, timely, accurate, inclusive, and accessible informationthat keeps members and families informed, connected, and engaged with the work of the PTA/PTSA.
Effective communication should help our community understand who we are, what we do, why our work matters, and how they can participate. Through consistent communication across newsletters, email, websites, social media, school partnerships, and other channels, we aim to:
- Keep families and members informed about PTA/PTSA programs, events, meetings, advocacy, volunteer opportunities, and important resources.
- Make information easy to understand, find, and act upon.
- Increase awareness and participation in PTA/PTSA activities and opportunities.
- Build trust through accurate, consistent, transparent, and respectful communication.
- Ensure communications are welcoming and accessible to the diverse families within our school communities.
- Highlight the impact of PTA/PTSA programs, volunteers, partnerships, and advocacy.
- Strengthen connections among families, schools, PTA/PTSA leaders, and the broader community.
- Support other PTA/PTSA committees by helping their programs, events, and resources effectively reach the audiences they are intended to serve.
- Create opportunities for two-way communication so families and members can ask questions, provide feedback, share ideas, and feel heard.
Role of the PTA/PTSA Communications Director/Chair
The Communications Director/Chair helps guide and coordinate how the PTA/PTSA communicates with members, families, the school, and the broader community.
Depending on your PTA/PTSA structure, responsibilities may include:
- Develop a communications plan — Determine what needs to be communicated, to whom, when, and through which channels.
- Coordinate communication channels — Help oversee newsletters, email, website, social media, flyers, and other communication tools.
- Work with PTA/PTSA leaders and committees — Gather information and help programs, events, and opportunities reach the appropriate audiences.
- Maintain consistency — Help ensure messaging, branding, tone, and information are consistent across communication channels.
- Keep information timely and accurate — Verify important details such as dates, times, locations, registration links, and deadlines before publishing.
- Make communications accessible and inclusive — Consider language, format, accessibility, and different ways families receive information.
- Build relationships with the school — Coordinate with the principal, school staff, and/or district communications when appropriate.
- Promote engagement — Help move communication beyond simply sharing information by encouraging families to participate, volunteer, attend, or take action.
- Protect privacy and follow PTA/PTSA guidelines — Be thoughtful about student information, photos, email lists, social media, and other privacy considerations.
- Measure what works — Pay attention to newsletter engagement, website traffic, social media reach, event registrations, and community feedback to improve future communications.
What Does Communications Mean for a PTA/PTSA?
PTA/PTSA communications is the bridge between the organization and the community it serves. It is not simply about sending out more information—it is about making sure the right information reaches the right people, at the right time, through the right channels.
Strong communications help turn information into awareness, awareness into engagement, and engagement into stronger school communities.
Council Communication Chair:
Laura Ni, communications@issaquahptsa.org