Welcome to a brand-new school year! 🎉 On behalf of the Duval County Council of PTAs, I want to thank you for stepping up to serve your schools, families, and most importantly, our students.

This year, our theme is “United for Students”. To me, that means none of us leads alone. Each officer, each volunteer, each unit is a piece of a bigger picture. Together, we make that picture stronger, brighter, and better for kids.

I know many of you are new to your roles and might be learning as you go. That’s perfectly okay! As Maya Angelou reminds us: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” We’ll all grow together this year, and the council is here to support you every step of the way.

Here’s what to keep in mind this month:

Membership Kickoff: Start promoting early! Members are the heartbeat of your PTA. 

Compliance Checklist: Don’t forget audits, dues, bylaws, and your IRS 990 filing. (We’ll train and guide you. This is our promise!)

Training Opportunities: The council will be offering a wealth of information at our general meetings, training events, plus Q&A sessions. Watch for dates in this newsletter, on our Facebook, and more coming soon.

General Meetings: We will have four general meetings this year. Make sure to send your delegates to be your voice and vote on Duval County PTA business matters.

Stay Connected: Reach out to us anytime. We have a new Facebook group created just for you. You can also find our emails on our website, contact us page. And if you’re still not sure who to ask, then ask me, and I’ll point you in the right direction.

You are doing important work, and you’re doing better than you think. Every flyer you send, every meeting you hold, every parent you welcome, it all matters. And when we do it together, it multiplies.

Here’s to a school year filled with teamwork, advocacy, and plenty of “PTA wins.” Let’s stay United for Students!

With gratitude and excitement,

Jennifer Gubat

President, Duval County Council of PTAs