Stupid question. What do you call your kids’ teachers / principal / other school employees in emails?

[Anonymous]

Obviously in front of the kids I would always says Mr/Ms/Mrs So and So. But what about in an email - first name or Mrs So and So? Both options feel
weird to me

[Anonymous]

I always start with Mr. /Ms. Feels like the least I can do.

[Anonymous]

I initiate with Ms/Mrs/Mr but if they respond with Sally or Bob I call them by their first name.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, PPs!

[Anonymous]

Always Ms./Mr./Mrs. For some reason, I cannot bring myself to call teachers by their first names, even if I'm 15-20 years older than they are. It's bizarre.

However, I prefer that teachers (and everyone really) call me by my first name. So I'm not really a fan of formality, just with teachers apparently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I initiate with Ms/Mrs/Mr but if they respond with Sally or Bob I call them by their first name.

+1 This. I'd add please use "Dr." if appropriate. My kids have a teacher who also holds a PhD in her content area, and they appropriately corrected me when I accidentally referred to her as "Mrs."

[Anonymous]

Start with Mr/Mrs/Ms. Put your first and last name in your signature. If they respond with your first name, reply with theirs. This has worked well for me for elementary/middle/high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Always Ms./Mr./Mrs. For some reason, I cannot bring myself to call teachers by their first names, even if I'm 15-20 years older than they are. It's bizarre.

However, I prefer that teachers (and everyone really) call me by my first name. So I'm not really a fan of formality, just with teachers apparently.

Same here!

[Anonymous]

I prefer parents use Ms with me, and I do so with them as well. We aren’t friends and the conversation is professional, not personal, so we shouldn’t use first names, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Use whatever they use when they sign their messges.

[Anonymous]

Do not use first names. I detest parents who try to buddy-up to teachers and school personnel. That is not the relationship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Use whatever they use when they sign their messges.

So if they sign it Katie Smith, call them Katie? Or Ms. Smith?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not use first names. I detest parents who try to buddy-up to teachers and school personnel. That is not the relationship.

OP here. Certainly not trying to buddy up, lol. Just trying to not be awkward!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I prefer parents use Ms with me, and I do so with them as well. We aren’t friends and the conversation is professional, not personal, so we shouldn’t use first names, IMO.

I mean, devil’s advocate here but in any other professional setting I’ve ever been in where it’s 2 adults dealing with each other, first names are used. (That said, I’m definitely not advocating to use first names…just wondering what’s normal)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I prefer parents use Ms with me, and I do so with them as well. We aren’t friends and the conversation is professional, not personal, so we shouldn’t use first names, IMO.

I mean, devil’s advocate here but in any other professional setting I’ve ever been in where it’s 2 adults dealing with each other, first names are used. (That said, I’m definitely not advocating to use first names…just wondering what’s normal)

I’m the teacher PP. It’s not really like that, though. I’m not saying this is the exact equivalent, but it’s like how you wouldn’t refer to your child’s dentist as Jim when discussing your kid’s dental care plan. You would say “Hi, Dr. Jones!” We are professionals discussing education with you.

There is also to me the need to maintain that distance because you never want parents to get the idea that they’re special friends with you which could affect how they perceive how you treat their child. I’m warm, we are in this together, but I’m never going to call you Heather, I’m always going to use Ms. Smith and I prefer parents do the same.