Get to Know Us

Meet Our Team

The Please Touch Museum (PTM) is a beloved Philadelphia institution that has been engaging children and families in early childhood learning experiences for nearly 50 years. What began in 1976 as a Montessori educator’s idea is now over 18,000 square feet of innovative exhibits and programming in early childhood education. Each year the Museum welcomes approximately 500,000 children and families from the Philadelphia region and beyond. This growth would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of hundreds of workers over many decades. As a union of, by, and for the Museum’s workers, PTM United will honor and build on this amazing history and create an empowered workforce for our museum, our community, and each other.

Our Team & Our Mission Statement

Our Mission Statement:

The Please Touch Museum has been a space of play for generations of Philadelphia residents. Each year, PTM welcomes more than 500,000 children and families who enjoy programs and exhibits that we, the workers, make possible in every way. We are highly qualified professionals who love PTM, and we deserve to feel empowered, valued, and included in major decisions that impact our work and lives. We want PTM to be a workplace where dedicated staff can build family-sustaining, stable careers. For these reasons, we are forming a union. 

To live up to PTM’s mission and truly serve the Museum’s community, we need:

  1. Fair pay, affordable and comprehensive benefits, and a PTO policy that makes it possible to sustain a career at the museum we love;
  2. Robust and transparent processes for onboarding, scheduling, job training, and promotion; 
  3. A safe, inclusive workplace free from discrimination and harassment, and systems of accountability when discrimination and harassment occur; and
  4. A seat at the decision-making table to ensure that we have a say in the policies that affect us the most. 

The connections we have made with each other have inspired us to advocate for ourselves and our institution. PTM can be a place where families build memories for generations into the future, a place where employees have lifelong careers, and a place where we all feel safe, heard, and valued.

Our Team:

Visitor Experience & Admissions

Admissions Assistants are the the first line of contact for our patrons. We handle ticket and membership purchases, as well as fielding customer service requests in person, by phone, and by email.

VEAs help keep our visitors safe and engaged with our exhibits, and will help out other floor staff as needed. We are equipped to answer visitor questions, run programming, handle emergencies, work with AA at our front desk, and of course run the carousel!

Museum Learning (ML)

ML is the heart and soul of what PTM does – we craft and continuously improve programming that we bring to families at PTM. Our efforts have helped thousands of families develop and hone their passions for learning through play. We are proud to stand with PTM United.

Office Staff

Wall-to-wall support means all of us! We are PTM United from administration to development, marketing, and IT. We raise money for programs & exhibits, keep social media looking good, & ensure all systems run smoothly.