Dear PTA Presidents and Members,

If our children are the leaders of tomorrow, then you, PTA officers and members, are the leaders of today. It is a well-established fact that parental involvement in our schools is a key factor in our students’ success. In order to maximize student success, I believe that the role of the Irvine Unified Council should be primarily to enhance PTA members’ skills as effective leaders in our schools and our community.

In 2007-08, the Irvine Unified Council PTA (IUCPTA) has established three strategic goals: to provide resources, facilitate communication, and promote effective advocacy.

Provide Resources: The Irvine PTA Council serves a critical role in providing PTA presidents and members with information. We hope that the PTA Council and this website will serve as a vehicle for translating parents’ many years of experience into the best information available on such topics as effective leadership, potential speakers, successful fundraising strategies, and high quality educational programs. Why re-invent the wheel?

Facilitate Communication: Information overload may be the plague of our generation. I know many people who say they are “way too busy” to process all the important communications that comes their way. This year, we would like to focus on developing this website into an efficient tool for direct communications to PTA presidents and other members. We plan to develop and post FAQ’s, provide updated information on professional trainings, and perhaps start a BLOG to facilitate communication flow and mentoring.

Promote Effective Advocacy: The Council works closely with IUSD school board members and administrators, as well as the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, Families Forward, and many other community based organizations to support and promote our children’s education. Working together as a community can amplify our voice and further our successes in educational and legislative advocacy. In addition to the annual Sacramento Safari, we are planning an exclusive Sacramento trip for Irvine high school students, to engage these future leaders in the public policy process as early as possible.

I hope and believe that the IUCPTA will be one of your most important resources as a PTA member and a leader in Irvine schools. I look forward to a great year together, meeting the responsibilities and challenges we all face in helping our students achieve the best education we can envision.

Sincerely,
Kim Axene
IUCPTA President