Convention

Ohio PTA 117th Annual Convention
Flip the Script Red Carpet Extravaganza


April 12-14 2024

Nationwide Hotel and Convention Center
100 Green Meadows Dr. S
Lewis Center, OH 43035

This year, the Ohio PTA 2024 Convention workshops are focused on Advocacy, Prevention, and helping new and experienced leaders of PTA units and councils navigate the business end of PTA. We have workshops as well as guest speakers in general sessions to maximize our time and learning opportunities. We have also built in time to network with Ohio PTA Board members and Past Presidents as well as other local PTA leaders. Networking and collaboration are a wonderful perk of being at convention in person!

Please note: We may have to move workshops around based on the availability of some presenters, so we thank you in advance for understanding and schedule changes. Should a schedule change occur, we will get notice to delegates as soon as possible and most probably during the opening General Session. We will also have a First Timer’s Bingo and Scavenger Hunt for prizes throughout the weekend. Winners must be present to win too!!

Friday, April 12, 2024

Registration:                                            5:30-8:00 pm
Ohio PTA Partnership Meeting:           6:30-6:45 pm
First Timer Orientation:                         6:45-7:00 pm

Workshop Session 1                              7:00-8:15 pm

The Ohio Legislature and Caring for ALL Our Kids
Presented by Honesty for Ohio Education
What Families Need to Know – We will give an update on what is going on in the Statehouse, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Education and Workforce. We will also share how the proposed bills and rules would impact students in Ohio, their families, and their school districts.

Meet and Greet Networking Event:     8:30 pm-????

Join Ohio PTA Board members, Past Presidents, and your local PTA leaders to get acquainted and mingle at an offsite location TBD.

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Enjoy Breakfast at the Hotel Starting at 7:00 am
Registration:                               8:00 am-12:00 pm
Scholarship Basket Raffle:      8:00 am- 4:00 pm (main ballroom)
Volunteer Orientation:              8:00 am-8:15 am

General Session 1                     8:30 am-10:00 am

Workshop Session 2                10:15 am-11:15 am

  1. Summer Transition–Ensuring a Smooth Start to the New Term
    Presented by Susan Strandberg, Chris May and Jeanne Groetz-Shockling, Ohio PTA Region Advisors
    Create the pathway for a smooth transition to new officers and into the new school year with our tips, tricks and FAQs. Learn the basics of PTA business and what tasks are most important to complete throughout the year. Ohio PTA will provide a calendar template to help your board stay on task throughout the year with due dates and deadlines.
  2. How Families Can Engage in School Boards
    Presented by Honesty for Ohio Education and All in for Ohio Kids
    How We Work in Ohio Communities – We will share our latest initiative, Honesty Teams. Honesty Teams are being mobilized in school districts across the state to help parents better understand how local school boards work, and how they can interact and advocate for issues as parents in their communities.
  3. AIM Insurance–Bonding, Liability and Beyond
    Presented by Brittany Hernandez of AIM Insurance
    Join Brittany Hernandez of AIM Insurance, one of our gold-level sponsors, as Brittany describes the various types of PTA insurance and highlights the importance of your PTA securing the appropriate bonding and liability.
  4. Mock Meetings and Parliamentary Procedures
    Presented by Barb Bungard, Ohio PTA Parliamentarian and Venezuela Robinson, Ohio PTA Board of Directors
    Join Ohio PTA Board Members in an interactive workshop to learn or to refresh your knowledge of how to run a PTA meeting, handle motions and discussion, create an agenda and keep things moving!

Dedicated Exhibitor Time for Delegates      11:30 am-12:30 pm
Reflections Lunch                                            12:30 pm-2:30 pm

Workshop Session 3                                        2:45 pm-3:45 pm

  1. Maximizing the Givebacks Platform-Use It For More Than Just Membership
    Presented by Tony Rett, Ohio PTA Vice President of Field Service and Janice Wanko, Ohio PTA Region Advisor
    Membership is everyone’s responsibility, and it is a year-round ask! We will share new ways to engage current members and keep your membership numbers climbing this year. We will also discuss how to maximize the Givebacks platform for reporting members, Standards of Affiliation, Communications and Fundraising. You will also learn how Ohio PTA communicates with you through Givebacks and hear about upcoming enhancements to the Givebacks interface and how to use it throughout the year as a great resource to streamline information.
  2. Ask Us Anything- Join Ohio PTA Past Presidents for Q&A
    Presented by Ohio PTA Presidents: Barb Bungard, Gloria Cazan, Lisa Mack, Susan Hans and Jackie Arendt
    Join Ohio PTA Past Presidents to soak up their knowledge and ask them any questions that you or your unit/council might have. This group is a wealth of institutional knowledge about PTA from the beginning to the current day and everything in between. Policies, procedures, advocacy and best practices all in one place!
  3. 504s and IEPs-Navigating the Needs of our Students
    Presented by Angela Revay, Ohio PTA President and Linda Freeman Walker, Ohio PTA Office Staff
    Join us as we explain the differences between a 504 Plan and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Learn how to be an advocate for the education of students with extra needs. Find out what a “District Surrogate” is and the path to become one for your own and/or other school districts, as well as how to access your parent mentors as a resource.
  4. LegCon 2024-What Exactly Happens on “The Hill”
    Presented by Heather Ekechi, President of Parma Council of PTAs and Melissa Wolfe, Treasurer of Parma Council of PTAs
    Join Heather Ekechi and Melissa Wolfe, as they recap what it is like to attend National PTA Legislative Conference and hear about the five “asks” for 2024. There will be a review of where state representatives stand on these topics and what has occurred on Capitol Hill since our visit in early March. We invite you to join us for LegCon 2025!

General Session 2                   4:00 pm-5:30 pm
Awards Dinner (cash bar)      6:30 pm-9:00 pm
DJ & Dancing                           9:00 pm-11:00 pm

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Enjoy Breakfast at the Hotel Starting at 7:00 am

Workshop Session 4              8:30 am-9:30 am

  1. Managing Personalities with Purpose: Keeping the Peace in PTA
    Presented by Ohio PTA Past Presidents and Angela Revay, Ohio PTA President
    Join Ohio PTA leaders, past and present, to hear the tips and tricks for personality management and PR. This interactive workshop will engage participants in exercises designed to keep the peace and keep things moving in a positive direction. You will discuss leadership strategies to effectively deal with conflict when it arises, whether it is within your own group or with district or community leaders. Learn how to deal with situations internally and when to ask for help from other PTA leaders.
  2. Bylaws and Standing Rules- Review, Revise and Refresh
    Presented by Tony Rett, Ohio PTA VP of Field Service and Susan Strandberg, Ohio PTA Region Advisor
    Units and Councils, learn the importance of keeping your bylaws up to date and your standing rules relevant to how your organization conducts business. Learn how to set a schedule for review in your units or councils and how to pull together a committee to assist. Did you know that Ohio PTA approves your bylaws changes and that we are here to help you along the way with sample bylaws and guidance?
  3. Treasurers-Wrapping Up Your Year and Looking Ahead
    Presented by Dana Paul, Ohio PTA Secretary Treasurer
    Join Ohio PTA Secretary/Treasurer Dana Paul to discuss treasurer tasks and activities that allow you to successfully wrap up your year as treasurer. In addition, learn ways to prepare for the next school year, whether you will be repeating as treasurer or transitioning the role to a successor.
  4. National and Ohio PTA Awards–What, When, Who and How to Nominate
    Presented by Nicole Lesnick, Ohio PTA President-elect, Gerri Beres, Ohio PTA VP of Leadership and Lauren Suter, Ohio PTA Board of Directors
    Learn about the National and Ohio PTA Programs and Awards. Find out what each award represents and how you can nominate a council, unit or individual throughout the year. We will review new awards and incentives announced at convention and cover criteria, deadlines and recognition.

Free Time to Check Out      9:30 am-10:00 am
General Session 3               10:00 am-11:15 am
Group Training Session      11:30 pm-1:00 pm

For questions, email Marcella McCurdy at office@ohiopta.org or contact the Ohio PTA office at 614.781.6344.