2026 Virginia PTA Annual Meeting

Friday, June 5, 2026 — Training Day

A wide range of training sessions were offered to make sure your PTA is running at its best for next year.  Training opportunities included: President Training, Treasurer Training, Givebacks Training, Growing Membership, Incorporating Special Education Families Into Your PTA, Social Media Marketing for your PTA, and Local Advocacy Training.

Training Day materials:

Creating Sustainable Community Support for Your PTA – Strong PTAs are built through strong community relationships.  Thai workshop will help PTA leaders develop strategic fundraising and sponsorship practices that align with the mission and community goals.  Participants will learn how to identify potential partners, communicate impact, cultivate donor relationships, and create sustainable support systems for PTA programs and events.

Growing Your PTA Membership – Get the latest information to make a difference in your membership numbers next year.  Find out what works well at all membership levels.

Treasurer Training 101 – The PTA treasurer plays one of the most important leadership roles within the association. While many people think the job is simply writing checks and balancing the bank account, the role is much broader. The treasurer protects the PTA’s financial health, ensures good stewardship of member funds, and helps the board operate responsibly and transparently. Learn the basics of how to Build Financial Confidence, Transparency, and Trust in this training.
– Duties of a Treasurer handout (auto downloads)
– Treasurer’s Checklist handout (auto downloads)

Treasurer Training 102: Build a Treasurer’s Book – A walk through on how to build and maintain a PTA Treasurer’s Book. A well-organized Treasurer’s Book is one of the most important tools for financial transparency, compliance, and smooth leadership transitions. Whether you are brand new to the treasurer role or looking to improve your current system, this presentation will help you create a process that is easy to maintain throughout the year.

Treasurer Training 201: Spotting Fraud In Your PTA – Fraud prevention is not about distrust — it is about protecting volunteers, students, and the organization. Strong financial controls help honest people stay honest and help PTAs maintain community confidence. The objectives of this training are to understand common types of PTA fraud, recognize warning signs and red flags, learn internal controls that prevent fraud, know how to respond if fraud is suspected and to build a culture of transparency and accountability.

How to Run a Successful Reflections Program – Want to grow student creativity, increase participation, and make Reflections a highlight of your PTA/PTSA year? Join us for How to Run a Successful Reflections Program and learn practical strategies for planning, promotion, judging, and celebrating student artists from start to finish. Whether you’re brand new to Reflections or looking to take your program to the next level, you’ll leave with tools, tips, and ideas you can implement right away.

Beyond Bake Sales: Reimagining Middle & High School PTSAs – Middle and high school PTAs face unique challenges—but they also have incredible opportunities to make a meaningful impact. In Beyond Bake Sales: Reimagining Middle & High School PTSAs, we’ll explore fresh ideas for family engagement, student involvement, advocacy, fundraising, and community-building that resonate with today’s teens and their families. Walk away with practical strategies and real-world examples that can help your PTSA thrive beyond the traditional elementary school model.

Handout: Top 10 PTA Budget Tips (auto downloads Word Doc)

Building Belonging: Engaging Special Education Families in PTA (Presenters: Amanda Campbell and Ashley Smith) Students with disabilities represent nearly 15% of Virginia’s student population, yet many families continue to face barriers to meaningful engagement.  This session will help PTA leaders understand the experiences of special education families and explore practical strategies to increase accessibility, strengthen family partnerships and create a culture of belonging.  Attendees will leave with concrete actions they can implement immediately and an understanding of how SEPTAs can complete and enhance PTA efforts.

All In: A Practical Playbook for PTA Enrichment Programs (Presenter: Focus Sports)- A comprehensive workshop designed to equip Local PTA Units with the knowledge to establish and run before-school and/or after-school enrichment programs. This session will guide participants through core “Program Design Essentials” and help them clearly articulate “Why Enrichment?” is a critical addition to their school community. Attendees will receive actionable advice on navigating all aspects of program logistics—from daily operations to managing key elements like “Partnerships, Space & Budget.” By the end of the training, PTA leaders will have a clear roadmap for setting up these programs from the ground up, alongside a strong understanding of the various support options available to ensure their long-term success.

Fueling Students for Success: Advancing School Meal Programs through Community Engagement (Presenter: Virginia Department of Education) – School meals play a critical role in student health, academic performance, and overall well-being, yet many families are not fully aware of the opportunities to shape, support, and elevate their division’s school nutrition programs. During this session, participants will gain a clear understanding of how school nutrition programs operate, what federal and state policies guide them, and where PTA partnerships can make a real impact. The session will highlight proven approaches—like taste tests, garden programs, and local purchasing partnerships—that enhance meal participation, elevate menu quality, and strengthen connections between classrooms, cafeterias, and local agriculture.