Response Time for Teacher Follow Up

[Anonymous]

I have sent several emails to DS's teacher this week. The first was some general info about DS. I received no response, so a few days later inquired. Teacher said they received it and would get back to my later that day via email--3 days later nothing. What would you do?

[Anonymous]

teacher here--our policy is 24 to 48 hour responses via email. Any longer, you need to mention it to the admin!

[Anonymous]

OP: Are you in public or private? I would definitely follow-up again.

[Anonymous]

OP,

I just went through the same thing. The response time at our school is supposed to be 24 hours, but the teacher was not responding to me at all. Luckily I was able to resolve my issue, before it went to the adminstration. But I would advise you to take it up to that level if that if you get no responses at all.

[Anonymous]

DH is a teacher. Response time is supposed to be 24 hours. But I believe that saying something along the lines of - I recieved your email and will get back to you" counts as responding. Keep in mind that it's a distraction for teachers to have email up all day and even though teachers are supposed to have planning time, etc. - usually that is sucked up by various meetings, assisting students, grading, etc. It's increasingly difficult to respond to so many parent emails (let a long admin and fellow teacher/team member emails) as timely as many of us parents would like. If it's not something urgent, take a deep breath and give it a little more time.

[Anonymous]

PP here - I meant "let alone" not "let a long" -- sheesh! Good thing I'm not the teacher!

[Anonymous]

OP -- How important was the information in your first email? You say it was just "general information"? What kind of response did you want from teh teacher, beyond just acknowledgement that she had received the information?

If it wasn't all that important, but yet more than just a FYI, I'd give it a week, then send in a request for a brief conference with the teacher. At the meeting go over the same points you sent in the email. Say something like, "I just want to be sure you have this information and we are on the same page regarding our expectations for my daughter".

If you send another email and do not get a timely response or followup, first I'd contact the teacher again and clarify if phone, or email, or handwritten note is the best way to reach her. If you still do not get timely responses, I'd wait until you are sure you have an item that is significant, and send a cc of the email or note to the principal. Do't do this however, for something that really doesn't deserve a quick reponse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is a teacher. Response time is supposed to be 24 hours. But I believe that saying something along the lines of - I recieved your email and will get back to you" counts as responding. Keep in mind that it's a distraction for teachers to have email up all day and even though teachers are supposed to have planning time, etc. - usually that is sucked up by various meetings, assisting students, grading, etc. It's increasingly difficult to respond to so many parent emails (let a long admin and fellow teacher/team member emails) as timely as many of us parents would like. If it's not something urgent, take a deep breath and give it a little more time.

You are so right; amazing that parents want teachers planning great lessons, yet at their computers all day responding to email with Michelle Rhee like zeal. It may have slipped from her mind - teachers are human--send it again with a re-phrase and you will surely get the answer that you seek. If not, then ask her if email is not her preferred form of communication to suggest another way, and then if not seek out supervisor. Parents have an absolute right to timely teacher response; but please do not allow the technological development of email and the way it has altered our sense of time/convenience completely change expectations of pace and courtesy.

[Anonymous]

The teachers at my child's school (Deal) all have team emails and they respond within a day!

[Anonymous]

My son's public school teacher in PG County has responded within the working day. But I will admit that the emails I have sent have been pretty time sensitive. Even so, I've been very happy with the responsiveness both from teacher and principal.

[Anonymous]

FFX Ctny parent here. I've always gotten responses, and usually substantive, w/in 24 hours from DC's teachers.

[Anonymous]

OP here. The messages are about things she was observing in the classroom. She had said she would call or email me that day. That was Wednesday. Still nothing.

Thanks everyone.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is in MCPS, suppose to be a good school area, her teacher never replied our emails.

[Anonymous]

OP can you catch her in the classroom before school starts just to ask what date/time would be good to discuss your concerns? It doesn't sound like you should have to wait until a formal teacher-parent conference is scheduled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP can you catch her in the classroom before school starts just to ask what date/time would be good to discuss your concerns? It doesn't sound like you should have to wait until a formal teacher-parent conference is scheduled.

FOrmer teacher here- i do not suggest trying to catch her before school starts- that is time to get things done, prepare for the day- and if you want your child's teacher ready- even if you take 5-10 min right before the kids come in, then do not drop by. The teacher can not give you the time you deserve and full attention you deserve at that time. I think 24 hrs is reasonable to say, got it and will respond more later. however, do realize that if you get immediate responses during the day your child's teacher is on the computer during the day..... which may be during his/her planning time, could be while students are working (they should be doing classroom related things, not email), lunch (they do deserve tiem to eat but their choice to do on email).... I always preferred not to hear from a teacher right away, I don't want him/her parked at her computer all day long! He/she should be engaging with the kids! Additionally, while email is GREAT- in a lot of ways, it is a HUGE pain for teachers in taht parents often email bits and pieces throughout the week, here and there. Takes up lots of time, when email was not available in the past, there was more purpose to the discussion rather than a teacher filtering through emails in the morning, "X got home from soccer late and may be tired today, let me know if....," "I have to go out of town for work today, please let me know if X is behaving...," "could you keep note of how many times X is going to the bathroon today, we tried a new medicine...," "is today a PE day, andif so can you be sure that X changes into her sneakers, she is wearign her fancy shoes today," "I would like to chaperone the next field trip, could you be sure I am on the list..." "your newsletter usually comes out on the 11th and its the 12th, where it is?" Really you have no idea what they have to filter through, process and respond to daily!