PTPA Mid-Year General Meeting Minutes
Date: 2/13/2025
Location: Main Dining Room (MDR)
Facilitator:
Note taker: Cristy Mekras, PTPA Secretary 2024-2025
In Attendance:Andrea Penzini, Arlene Assalone, Rosemary Hartigan, Laura Ratmiroff, Ely Dominguez, Cristy Mekras, Parents at large, Head of School, Patrick Roberts, Rev. Sandra Curtis and PTPA Director of Parent Relations, Denise Gallardo
Andrea Penzini called the meeting to order at 8:12 a.m.
PTPA President - Andrea Penzini
● Welcome
Chaplain and Director of Spiritual Life - Reverend Sandra Curtis
● Opening Prayer
Head of School - Patrick Roberts
● Welcomed parents to the mid year meeting.
● Mr. Roberts recently visited a school in St. Petersburg, he enjoys visiting other schools because one learns from going to new places and realizing what you’re doing right.
● 72% of recipients are watching the Monday Missive videos.
● Two years ago, a new five-year strategic plan was unveiled. Today he will speak about Faculty for the Future:
○ Faculty as a priority was ranked #2 just behind “community”.
○ The school is working towards finding new ways to attract, retain and develop mission driver educators.
○ Shared the Portrait of a Teacher
○ 70% of our teachers hold a teaching certificate and all hold a BA.
○ Independent schools draw a wide range of individuals.
○ Mr. Roberts shared the recruitment and retention crisis facing the US, Florida schools and Independent schools.
○ 20% attrition is the standard, luckily PTS is way below that.
○ Many universities have shut down their education departments.
○ The #1 issue for Florida Heads of Schools is staff recruiting.
○ PTS is providing aggressive and attractive salaries and has increased compensation by 13% over a two year period.
○ At our recent hiring fair for 60 prospective candidates attended.
○ Opened the Floor to Q&A.
PTPA Report
PTPA President - Andrea Penzini
● Introduced PTPA Executive Board
PTPA Secretary - Cristy Mekras
● Approval of Minutes for 8/29/24 PTPA Meet & Greet and General Meeting.
PTPA VP of Community, Rosemary Hartigan
● Reviewed community highlights for the year, parent parties and STAC events.
PTPA VP of Planning - Laura Ratmiroff
● Reviewed highlights of the year thus far: increased Dad participation in bookclub, parent coffees, unicycles, raised over $115,000 at Sandy Golf, Annual fund, Social Committee, Chapel Altar Guild, Lessons and Carols, Bows and Bow Ties, Dads Club and Helping Hands.
PTPA President - Andrea Penzini
● Reviewed upcoming events for March, April and May.
● Shared video highlight of the year so far, prepared by Arlene Assalone.
● Next meeting is 5/22/25 at the volunteer appreciation breakfast.
● Thank You!
Meeting adjourned at 9:08 am