Mission & Goals
Our Mission
Rockwell PTA is dedicated to enriching the lives of our students and strengthening our community by providing opportunities, resources, and advocacy for a safe, healthy, and engaging learning environment.
2025-2026 Goals
Broaden Volunteer Participation Across the Rockwell Community
Goal: Increase the number and diversity of volunteers so events are supported by a wide range of parents, reducing burnout for the core group and strengthening community connection.
Strategies & Measurable Targets:
- Event Leadership: Aim for at least one non-board member to serve as chair or co-chair for every major event.
- Grade-Level Involvement: Secure 1–2 parent volunteers from each grade level for all major events.
- Dad Engagement: Increase male volunteer participation by at least 50% (e.g., from 4 to 6+ dads volunteering regularly).
- Targeted Outreach: Personally invite new families and dads to sign up for one-time, low-commitment roles. Host a volunteer fair at the beginning of each year to recruit new volunteers.
- Recognition: Publicly thank and highlight volunteers in newsletters, social media, and at school events. This will include featuring two “Volunteer of the Month” recipients each month to celebrate contributions and inspire others to get involved.
Success Measure: By year’s end, meet or exceed the above targets, with at least 50% of volunteer roles filled by individuals outside the current regular group.
Strengthen Family Communication & Engagement Beyond PTA Events
Goal: Foster stronger connections among Rockwell families by offering opportunities for support, learning, and community building outside of traditional PTA events and programs.
Strategies & Measurable Targets:
- Support & Learning Opportunities: Host at least 4 family-focused sessions during the year (e.g., parenting workshops, informational meetings, resource nights).
- Casual Connection Spaces: Hold quarterly “Water Cooler Chats” for informal conversation and relationship building.
- Shared Learning: Launch one schoolwide book club or reading list initiative with at least 15 families participating.
- Resource Sharing: Provide quarterly resource roundups (e.g., parenting tips, community services, educational materials) via newsletters and website.
- Two-Way Communication: Gather family input via two short surveys during the year to guide future offerings.
Success Measure: By the end of the school year, at least 25% of Rockwell families will have participated in one or more community-building opportunities outside of PTA events.
Improve Documentation, Transparency & Accountability
Goal: Ensure that all PTA board and committee roles are clearly defined, responsibilities are well-documented, and activities are transparent to both leadership and the Rockwell community.
Strategies & Measurable Targets:
- Role Documentation: Create or update written role descriptions for 100% of board and committee chair positions by October 31.
- Process Guides: Develop or refine step-by-step event and program guides for at least 80% of recurring events to support smooth transitions and reduce burnout.
- Meeting Transparency: Post monthly board meeting summaries to the PTA website or newsletter within two weeks of each meeting.
- Financial Accountability: Provide quarterly financial updates to members, including budget-to-actual comparisons.
- Board Transition: Conduct year-end transition meetings with incoming board/chairs to review documentation and answer questions.
Success Measure: By year’s end, all positions have up-to-date documentation, and at least 90% of recurring events have clear guides available for future leaders.
Prioritize High-Impact, Sustainable Events & Programs
Goal: Be intentional in planning PTA events and programs by focusing on those that provide the greatest benefit to students while staying manageable for our volunteer base.
Strategies & Measurable Targets:
- Impact Review: Evaluate all current events and programs by October 15 using clear criteria (student impact, alignment with PTA mission, volunteer needs, cost).
- Volunteer Feasibility: Establish a minimum volunteer threshold for each event—cancel or scale down events that do not meet this threshold two weeks before the scheduled date.
- Paid Support: Identify at least 3 events/programs where paid vendors or service providers can replace or supplement volunteer labor.
- Annual Planning: Create a year-long events calendar with identified lead chairs for each event before the school year starts.
- Community Input: Survey families twice a year to assess interest and satisfaction with events/programs and adjust plans accordingly.
Success Measure: By year’s end, 100% of events and programs will meet the volunteer threshold, and at least 75% will rate as “high impact” on the student/community benefit scale.
Letter from the President:
Dear Rockwell Families,
Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! I’m so honored to be serving my second year as your PTA President and to continue working alongside such a dedicated, caring, and fun community. With three kids connected to Rockwell—a son in 6th grade at RMS, a daughter in 4th, and another daughter starting kindergarten this year—this school truly feels like a second home for our family.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky to volunteer in many capacities both as a member of the PTA Board and as a parent volunteer in the classroom. What I’ve loved most is seeing how volunteering brings people together. When our children see parents, grandparents, and community members volunteering at school, they learn firsthand that this is a place worth investing in—and that their education matters.
I believe deeply that everyone belongs here—no matter your abilities, religion, race, cultural background, political views, or personal beliefs. Our shared goal is simple but powerful: to create a safe, enriching environment where our kids can thrive. And when we work together—parents, teachers, staff, and community members—that goal becomes a reality.
This year, I hope you’ll join us in whatever way works for you—attend an event, volunteer in a classroom, help with a project, or simply stop by to say hello. Every connection matters, and together we make Rockwell stronger.
Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!
Warmly,
Cydney Knapp
PTA President, Rockwell Elementary
