How to you address your child’s teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost no teachers who are working in K-12 are professors. So you wouldn't call them Professor Biden, or Dr. Biden.

My kids teachers sign things with their first name, so I address them via writing, by their first name. In front of the kids I sometimes try to remember to say Mrs. Obama, but if I slip and call her Michelle, then no bid deal. I'm not a student - part of the awesomeness of being an adult is calling everyone by their first name.

Just saw this! Thank you too. So if they sign with the first name I use the first name?

Yes, that’s what most people do. By signing with her first name, she’s telling you she’s OK with you using it.

Most people do not do this around here. Not sure what PP's talking about. Most people use Mr./Ms. Lastname (I've worked in many schools).

That’s true for me until the teacher signs her first name. After that, I call the teacher by first name in email. I always sign my first name. -NP

[Anonymous]

1st name if they are under 60 years old

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! Related question. I noticed at work if someone sends an email to someone and address them as Mr/Ms lastname and then they respond and sign the email with their first name, then the original sender will start using the first name. Is it the same with teachers? Or should I continue to address the teacher as Mr/Ms lastname no matter how they sign their name? Or do I start using the first name? In my country the teacher would be addressed formally regardless.

Yes, if someone uses their first name in their response to you, you may generally use their first name when addressing them.

That said, I always refer to my children's teachers as Mr./Ms. Lastname in front of my children.

[Anonymous]

Mrs./Ms./Mr. Last Name. If they sign an email with their first name, then I'll continue all future correspondence with first name. That's happened maybe half the time (mostly with older teachers). I try really hard to make sure I address the new, young teachers very respectfully.

[Anonymous]

I always call them the same thing my child calls them. If a teacher invited me to use another name, I probably would, but in my experience, most teachers in DC like to maintain some professional distance with parents (which makes sense to me) and I think using their last name helps with that.