The Peralta Parent-Teacher Group (PPTG)

Our elementary school is more than its buildings, gardens and murals. It is a community of people with shared interests in the health and education of children. Incorporated formally 1971, the PPTG is a group of parents and teachers that work together to raise funds, provide programs, and make decisions that affect everyone at the school. The vitality of the PPTG has been fundamental to the success of our school, which continues a legacy of over 125 years of parental involvement at the school site. 

Like “PTAs” at other schools, the PPTG meets monthly, follows a pre-published agenda, takes votes and gets things done. Anyone can speak at a meeting. All voices are welcomed because every parent at Peralta is a member of the PPTG and may participate in key decisions, including by voting to approve the PPTG Leadership and annual PPTG budget proposal.  

How can you get involved with the PPTG?

Attending PPTG monthly Community Meetings is a great way to contribute to PPTG activities, programs and fundraisers. The meeting schedule is published on the Konstella app and included in the monthly print-out calendars sent home with students at the beginning of each month. We recommend that parents take a moment to incorporate the PPTG meeting schedule into their calendars, along with the other school events and holidays.  

You can also contribute by volunteering and attending activities throughout the school year and even in the summer. There are many classroom volunteering opportunities. To learn more, contact the designated “room parents” for your student’s classroom (on Konstella, under ‘Committees’) and keep an eye out for special requests or reminders on volunteering sent via Konstella. All on-site volunteers must complete the OUSD Volunteer Clearance Process. 

Finally, volunteering for PPTG leadership positions is a great opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the school’s operations via fundraising, programming, and long-term visioning and planning. Read on to learn more about the PPTG’s Board, its Leadership Group, and monthly Community Meetings. If you would like to get more involved, attend a PPTG Community Meeting and/or email pptgchair@peraltaschool.org for more information about open roles and requirements. 

The PPTG Leadership Council and Committees

The PPTG is led Peralta parents and guardians who volunteer as PPTG Officers (i.e. Co-Chairs/President, Co-Treasurers, Co-Secretaries) and PPTG Directors (i.e. volunteers that lead fundraising, the Garden Committee, the Equity Committee, and other initiatives). Together, these volunteers comprise the PPTG Leadership Council, or “LC”. LC positions (ideally) involve a 2-year term to ensure smooth transitions between incumbent and new volunteers and to balance healthy turnover. To learn more about All of the PPTG leadership roles are listed in Konstella on the Committees page here: Directory > Browse Committees > PPTG Leadership. If there's an open position that you're interested in, you can nominate yourself and sign up!

The LC meets monthly during the school year to discuss issues and topics coming before the wider PPTG, to track fundraising initiatives, to draft the annual budget, and to organize monthly PPTG Community meetings. Volunteers in these roles may also inform long-range school visioning and planning in conversation with Principal Sudduth and other school leadership. LC meetings are usually hosted by volunteers at home, done by video conference, or held at local restaurants/establishments. Minutes are recorded and archived by the PPTG Secretary.  

In addition, the PPTG organizes two key school-wide committees. 

  1. The Garden Committee. This group organizes gardening Saturdays, during which the Perala community is invited to meet on campus for morning coffee and breakfast treats and help tend the school’s garden. In addition, the Garden Committee is a space where families, teachers, and staff can exchange ideas and plan activities for how to build greater awareness of sustainability, environmental stewardship, and healthy living for our students. To join the Garden Committee, attend the "gardening Saturdays" listed on the calendar.  

  2. The PPTG Equity Committee. This group offers support to the school community to foster a sense of inclusion and belonging, as well as to support the pursuit of equity goals and targets set in collaboration with the school's leadership. If you would like to get involved with the PPTG Equity Committee or have any questions or concerns, please contact Interim Co-Chairs Liz Morris and Rhiannon O'Leary: equity@peraltaschool.org. Specifically, the committee:

  • Advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion priorities that help provide an equitable experience for underrepresented and/or marginalized children and families in the Peralta community;

  • Meets regularly with Peralta’s leadership team including but not limited to Principal, Community School Manager, Teachers and others to formulate equity goals, set targets, and to move the ball forward on equity-related initiatives;

  • Supports educational opportunities to raise awareness and enable change in systems that disadvantage students of color and other members of marginalized families;   

  • Organizes inclusive school programs & and hosts events (i.e. the Diversity Dinner) where Peralta students & families can learn about different cultures and diverse ethnic/racial/class/religious/family structures/backgrounds, abilities and identities;

  • Applies an equity lens across all PPTG programming, communications and events (e.g. Welcome Back Affinity Groups, Diversity Dinner, educational materials, special events, trainings/workshops) and informs decisions on equity-related budget allocations;

  • Facilitates connections based on shared identities, interests, and experiences by helping to organize affinity group-forums on Konstella and family meet-ups;

  • Offers a point of connection for those seeking to share perspectives on improving a sense of inclusion and belonging within the Peralta community; and,  

  • Directs parents to the appropriate channels (e.g. classroom-level, school-level, district level) for expressing concerns and making complaints. 

Budget Processes and Meeting Minutes 

Access our Google document: PPTG and Leadership Committee Minutes

PPTG Mission Statement

The Peralta Parent Teacher Group (PPTG) is the supporting arm of Peralta Elementary School in Oakland, California. The PPTG is dedicated to supporting and enriching the education of our children through fundraising, community building, and recruiting and coordinating parent volunteers. The Peralta Community is committed to the development of the whole child. We value a safe, welcoming environment for students to develop high self-esteem, compassion and respect for others, and a love for learning. Our goal is for every child to reach his or her potential as a knowledgeable, caring, responsible citizen who makes contributions to our world and embraces options for their own growth.

Questions for the PPTG?
Send an email to pptgchair@peraltaschool.org