The Orca K-8 PTSA Board works together with the Orca K-8 community of families, teachers, and staff to support our children, advocate for our families and school, and help foster a sense of community. The PTSA funds essential programs, supplements classroom supplies, and provides financial support for Orca families in need of help.
 
The Board meets at a mutually agreed upon time and location each month. Board positions are open to any member of our community. People from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply! Please consider contributing your time and talent to help us ensure that every student at Orca has what they need to thrive. 

• We believe our PTSA Board will be strongest if it reflects the beautiful diversity of our Orca community.
  
• No prior PTSA or Board experience is necessary.
  
• The Washington State PTA provides many training opportunities for free throughout the year.
  
• Former board members are available to answer questions when needed.
  
• Board work is flexible and can be done outside of your regular work hours.
  
• All board positions may be shared between two people if preferred.

To learn more about each position, nominate someone, or express your interest, please email President@orca-k8-ptsa.org.

President

• Serves as chief elected officer, and is a member of the executive committee. Attends required WSPTA trainings. Coordinates the work of all association committees and task forces except the nominating committee. Presides over all meetings of the board of directors and executive committee, and at general meetings, board retreats and any other meetings of the PTSA. Coordinates agenda material with the executive committee. Responsible to the board of directors and to the membership for seeing that programs and policies of the association reflect the needs of the PTSA membership. Consults regularly with the executive committee, school administration, and members of the board of directors.
  

Vice-President

• Serves as an elected officer and member of executive committee. Attends required WSPTA trainings. Acts as a support and mentor to other board members as assigned by the president. Acts as an assistant to the President. Performs the duties of the President in the absence or inability of the President to serve. Consults regularly with the executive committee, school administration, and members of the board of directors. Will ideally advance to the role of President. 
  

Secretary

• Serves as an elected officer and member of executive committee. Attends recommended WSPTA trainings. Supports policies, programs, projects, and activities adopted by the board of directors and committees by tracking committee assignments and tasks and reporting progress at board meetings. Responsible for other projects as assigned by the President. Keeps accurate minutes of executive committee, board, and general meetings, sends them out for review in a timely manner, and makes them available for review at the next meeting of each group. Maintains a record of all minutes, legal filings, other organizational materials, and board member information. Helps ensure website is up to date and creates and sends PTSA Digest to school community.
  

Treasurer

• Serves as an elected officer and member of executive committee. Attends recommended WSPTA trainings. Reviews financial information and provides monthly financial reports to the board of directors.  In collaboration with the President and executive committee, submits for adoption a proposed budget to the board of directors. Reevaluates the budget as needed. Co-signs association checks with the President or Vice President. Files 990 in collaboration with off-site bookkeeper. Files annual Corporations and Charities Renewal with Secretary of State, as well as Business License with the City of Seattle, and other filings.  Works with the Assistant Treasurer to ensure all funds are properly accounted for.  If there is no Assistant Treasurer, the Treasurer approves all expense reimbursements and works with the approved check signer to prepare checks for payment.
  

Assistant Treasurer

• Collects requests for reimbursements, ensures that the expenses is approved in the current budget year, and meets regularly with the other approved check signer to process payments.  Maintains supplies of checks, envelopes and stamps as needed.  Deposits cash and checks into the bank account as needed.  Enters deposit and expense information into Quickbooks accounting software. Will ideally advance to the role of Treasurer.
  

Fundraising and Membership Chair

• Manages the annual PTSA membership campaign. Works with the volunteer coordinator to recruit a Fundraising Committee, and manages their workflow to execute our annual calendar of fundraising activities including the Auction. Works with the Orca representative to the Southeast Seattle Fundraising Alliance. Collaborates regularly with the Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator.
  

Volunteer Coordinator

• Works with Orca families, staff, and the PTSA to find volunteers in our community and connect them with opportunities as they arise. Collaborates often with fundraising, events, and garden program. Works with Secretary to communicate about needs in the Digest and posts about them on the FB page. Helps identify and recruit room coordinators for all classrooms in partnership with grade band representatives, and serves on the nominating committee for annual Board elections. 
  

Garden Liaison

• ​Supports the Garden program and facilitates communication between the Board and Garden Instructor. Works directly with the Garden Instructor and the PTSA Board to support the garden program and its connected events like Harvest Festival, Plant Sale, and improvement projects. Works with the Volunteer Coordinator on special events and projects for the Garden. In partnership with the Executive Committee, conducts an annual job review and contract renewal with the Garden Instructor.
  

Legislative and Advocacy Chair

• Attends recommended WSPTA trainings. Attends relevant Seattle Council PTA and Washington State PTA meetings, tracks legislation impacting Seattle Public Schools, and keeps board apprised. Guides board and school community in appropriate advocacy efforts on behalf of the school community in collaboration with executive committee and relevant committees. Spearheads efforts for Student Council to visit State Capitol. 
  

Belonging Chair

• Guides the board and Orca community to foster diversity, equity and inclusion in PTSA work and policies and helps the board keep on eye on living up to our motto that at Orca “We All Belong”. Helps recruit and chairs the Inclusion Committee. Helps recruit BIPOC, multilingual, LGBTQ and a diversity of representation for membership. May host or support  occasional community events in specific communities. 
  

Grade band Representatives for K-2, 3-5, and 6-8

• Act as the liaison between grade band room parents and the Board, gathering and disseminating information, and advocating on behalf of grade band families and teachers. Grade band representatives are expected to attend the majority of Board meetings, and work on projects and committees as they arise. They help identify and recruit room coordinators for their grade band classrooms, and serve on the nominating committee for annual Board elections. 

SESSFA Representative

• Attends the South East Seattle Fundraising Alliance meetings and acts as a liaison between SESSFA and the Orca Board and community. Leads the kick-off and fundraising efforts for the annual SESSFA Move-a-thon which takes place in the Spring in coordination with the PE teacher and volunteer coordinator. Represents Orca's interests in the annual MOU agreement negotiations. Works with the President and Treasurer to facilitate contract signing and payment details.