We no longer have anyone serving as MCCPTA Cluster Coordinator for the Blair area schools. We need 1–2 people to step into this role.

Each cluster can have up to three Cluster Coordinators. Right now, Blair has only one — Adam Lee — who is covering the role on a temporary, as-needed basis.

Why This Matters Right Now

This isn’t a moment to leave the role empty. Two big issues are heading our way that our cluster needs someone paying close attention to:

• Capital Improvement needs — it will soon be time to advocate for funding and projects that affect our schools.
• The MCPS ES Boundary Study — a process that could directly affect where our children go to school. Our cluster needs someone tracking this closely and speaking up on our behalf.

Without dedicated Cluster Coordinators, our schools risk being left out of these conversations at exactly the moments when input matters most.

What Does a Cluster Coordinator Do?

Please see the information About the Role for full details on the role.

Who We’re Looking For

Ideally, this is someone who:

• Is willing to reach out across all the schools in the Blair cluster to gather input and feedback
• Does not currently hold a Board position at any of the schools, to keep the role independent
• Cares about staying informed and being a consistent, engaged voice for our schools

How to Get Involved

If you or someone you know might be a good fit, please reach out to Narissa Johnson as soon as possible — the sooner we fill this role, the better positioned our cluster will be as these issues move forward.

— Narissa Johnson, AVP, DCC <narissa.johnson@gmail.com>

About the Role:  Cluster Coordinator Job Description and guidance
In the world of PTA, Cluster Coordinator is a position unique to MCCPTA. It is simply defined in our
bylaws as:

Section 3. Cluster coordinators a. A cluster shall consist of a high school plus its feeder schools. Each cluster shall have a cluster coordinator(s), the total number not to exceed three (3). The cluster
coordinator(s) shall serve for a term of one (1) year, and not more than four (4) consecutive terms, until the election of their successors. An individual shall not serve as cluster coordinator for more than one
cluster at the same time. b. Cluster coordinators shall conduct meetings of the cluster PTA leaders; shall serve as a link between the area vice presidents and the local PTAs; shall represent the cluster at meetings
of the Board of Directors, at meetings with the area vice president responsible for the cluster, at meetings with MCPS, and at other meetings; coordinate testimony of the cluster before the Board of Education and the County Council; shall assist the area vice presidents in the administration of PTA business; and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned.

What is critical to note is that the Cluster Coordinators actually have 2 distinct roles. Their primary role, like all of us in MCCPTA is advocacy for every child, and in the case of the Cluster Coordinator that would be every child within their cluster. The secondary role is to represent the MCCPTA as the focal point for maintaining strong compliant local units and where necessary assisting in the creation or
recreation of local units.

Within our organizational structure, the Cluster Coordinators work with and are guided by the Area Vice President. Area Vice Presidents (AVP) are defined in our bylaws as:

Section 2. Area vice presidents a. An area shall consist of specific groups of clusters designated by the Board of Directors and approved by a delegate assembly. Each area shall have an area vice president. The area vice president shall serve for a term of one (1) year, and not more than four (4) consecutive terms, until the election of their successor. b. Area vice presidents shall help to extend PTA work in all local PTAs in the specific clusters which they represent; shall assist in the training of PTA leaders in their areas; shall assist in the organization of new PTAs in their areas; shall coordinate the work of cluster coordinators; shall meet with MCPS to coordinate between and among cluster schools; and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Basically, the CC is responsible for all of the schools in the cluster and the PTA organizations. They are the interface between the local unit and the MCCPTA as well as the interface with MCPS, the Board of Education and the County Council. All areas where they would represent the needs of their Cluster or any unit in their Cluster. As such, they are the spokesperson and/or the lobbyist for the cluster. It is important to note the split in their duties and their place in the hierarchy. In all cases, the Cluster Coordinators work with their Area Vice Presidents, who in turn work at the direction of the President of MCCPTA.

However, depending on which duty they are carrying out at the time, the CC and the AVP will find it necessary to coordinate with other members of the Executive Committee or committees under them. In the advocacy portion, working with the VP for advocacy and the committees thereunder such as the Capital Improvement or the Operating Budget committees. At other times they will need to coordinate with the VP for Administration when questions of the Standards of Affiliation come up, along with the Treasurer when a local unit needs guidance regarding reporting, records and accounting. It will be the duty of the Cluster Coordinators when they learn of an issue to take that issue to the appropriate responsible party for resolution, be that MCCPTA officers or MCPS staff. And it shall be their duty to follow up and protect the interests of the local unit and the PTA organizations

In every case, in all cases, the Cluster Coordinator is expected to adhere to the bylaws of MCCPTA,
operate and represent the individual cluster units in a manner consistent with the guidance of the Board of
Directors and the Advocacy Priorities as set in place by the Delegates Assembly.